Devotional for the Week 24th April 2005

This Week's Devotional | 2004 Devotionals | 2005 Devotionals

Devotional For the Week 24th April 2005

WORSHIP - PLANNED FOR GOD’S PLEASURE — The Purpose Driven Life – Part 2

MY 1st purpose IN LIFE is to WORSHIP GOD

"You (God) created everything, and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created." Rev. 4:11b (NLT)

“Love the Lord your God... This is the first and greatest commandment.” Matt. 22:37-38 (NIV)

“Because of God’s great mercy to us... Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to His service and pleasing to Him. This is the true worship that you should offer.” Rom. 12:1 (TEV)

1. WORSHIP is MY RESPONSE to God’s love.2. WORSHIP is GIVING BACK to God.

“Love the Lord your God... This is the first and greatest commandment.” Matt. 22:37-38 (NIV)

GOD WANTS ME TO LOVE HIM...

THOUGHTFULLY “with my mind”

PASSIONATELY “with my heart and soul”

PRACTICALLY “with my strength”

1. WORSHIP IS FOCUSING MY ATTENTION ON GOD.

“You have looked deep into my heart, Lord, and you know all about me. You know when I am resting or when I am working...You notice everything I do and everywhere I go.” Ps. 139:1-3 (CEV)

“Focusing on yourself is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, and ends up thinking more about self than God.” Rom. 8:7 (Msg)

“Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God.” Rom. 12:2a (Msg)

“Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense His grace.” Matt 6:6 (Msg)

“Worship Him continually.” Ps. 105:4 (TEV)

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, whose thoughts are fixed on You!” Isa. 26:3 (NLT)

2. WORSHIP IS EXPRESSING MY AFFECTION TO GOD.

“We love Him, because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19 (KJV)

“I don't want your sacrifices -- I want your love! I don't want your offerings --I want you to know Me!” Hosea 6:6 (LB)

“He is a God who is passionate about His relationship with you.” Ex. 34:14b (NLT)

“Give yourselves completely to God since you have been given new life.” Rom. 6:13 (NLT)

3. WORSHIP IS USING MY ABILITIES FOR GOD.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for people.” Col. 3:23 (TEV)

“Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering.” Rom. 12:1a (Msg)

“So we make it our goal to please Him...” 2 Cor. 5:9 (NIV)

Prayer Response

Let's pray. “Dear God, I wouldn’t even exist if it weren’t for you. Forgive me for all the times I think and act like You don’t matter. Today I’ve realized You made me to love me and that the first purpose of my life is to know and love You back. I’m amazed that You long for a relationship with me and I’m amazed You’re interested in the details of my life. But most of all, I’m amazed You would come to earth to die for me. I don’t understand it at all. But I say wow! Please forgive me, God, for not worshipping You. I want to learn how to focus my attention on You throughout my day. I want to turn my work into worship. I want to learn to love you with a love that You deserve, thoughtfully with my mind, passionately with my heart and soul and practically with my abilities. When I go back to work on Monday, I’m going to be working for You, doing my job as if You are the boss.”

If you have never opened up your life to Jesus Christ, why don’t you add this sentence, “Jesus, thank You for giving Your life for me. As much as I know how, I want to give my life back to You. In Your name I pray, Amen.”

Pastor Rick Warren, Saddleback Church – Lake Forest, Calif.

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This Week's Devotional \| 2004 Devotionals \| 2005 Devotionals Devotional For the Week 24th April 2005 *WORSHIP - PLANNED FOR GOD’S PLEASURE — The Purpose Driven Life – Part 2* MY 1st purpose IN LIFE is to WORSHIP GOD "You (God) created everything, and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created." Rev. 4:11b (NLT) “Love the Lord your God... This is the first and greatest commandment.” Matt. 22:37-38 (NIV) “Because of God’s great mercy to us... Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to His service and pleasing to Him. This is the true worship that you should offer.” Rom. 12:1 (TEV) 1. WORSHIP is MY RESPONSE to God’s love.2. WORSHIP is GIVING BACK to God. “Love the Lord your God... This is the first and greatest commandment.” Matt. 22:37-38 (NIV) GOD WANTS ME TO LOVE HIM... THOUGHTFULLY “with my mind” PASSIONATELY “with my heart and soul” PRACTICALLY “with my strength” 1. WORSHIP IS FOCUSING MY ATTENTION ON GOD. “You have looked deep into my heart, Lord, and you know all about me. You know when I am resting or when I am working...You notice everything I do and everywhere I go.” Ps. 139:1-3 (CEV) “Focusing on yourself is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, and ends up thinking more about self than God.” Rom. 8:7 (Msg) “Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God.” Rom. 12:2a (Msg) “Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense His grace.” Matt 6:6 (Msg) “Worship Him continually.” Ps. 105:4 (TEV) “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, whose thoughts are fixed on You!” Isa. 26:3 (NLT) 2. WORSHIP IS EXPRESSING MY AFFECTION TO GOD. “We love Him, because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19 (KJV) “I don't want your sacrifices -- I want your love! I don't want your offerings --I want you to know Me!” Hosea 6:6 (LB) “He is a God who is passionate* about His relationship with you.” Ex. 34:14b (NLT)* “Give yourselves completely* to God since you have been given new life.” Rom. 6:13 (NLT)* 3. WORSHIP IS USING MY ABILITIES FOR GOD. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord* and not for people.” Col. 3:23 (TEV)* “Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering.” Rom. 12:1a (Msg) “So we make it our goal* to please Him...” 2 Cor. 5:9 (NIV)* Prayer Response Let's pray. “Dear God, I wouldn’t even exist if it weren’t for you. Forgive me for all the times I think and act like You don’t matter. Today I’ve realized You made me to love me and that the first purpose of my life is to know and love You back. I’m amazed that You long for a relationship with me and I’m amazed You’re interested in the details of my life. But most of all, I’m amazed You would come to earth to die for me. I don’t understand it at all. But I say wow! Please forgive me, God, for not worshipping You. I want to learn how to focus my attention on You throughout my day. I want to turn my work into worship. I want to learn to love you with a love that You deserve, thoughtfully with my mind, passionately with my heart and soul and practically with my abilities. When I go back to work on Monday, I’m going to be working for You, doing my job as if You are the boss.” If you have never opened up your life to Jesus Christ, why don’t you add this sentence, “Jesus, thank You for giving Your life for me. As much as I know how, I want to give my life back to You. In Your name I pray, Amen.” Pastor *Rick Warren*, Saddleback Church – Lake Forest, Calif.
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