Courage For Today

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Worship is a Person Not a Place

Strength

“All the earth will worship You, and will sing praises to You; They will sing praises to Your name.” (Psalms 66:4)

When we think of the word “worship,” a lot of thoughts come to mind.  Worship implies celebration or reverence or praise and can come in a lot of different forms.  We can worship our jobs or careers.  We can worship money or finances.  We can worship sports or hobbies.  We can worship other people such as Movie stars, Sports stars, or Politicians. Worship can even take place in Church auditoriums as we listen to inspirational music.

Worship, at its core, is not about how we feel towards things or people or even how we feel during inspirational music.  Worship is recognizing that it is God who gives us our everything.  It is God who directs our every path.  It is God who meets our every need, even when we don’t know what’s best for ourselves.  It is God who comforts us at times of loss.  It is God who gives us meaning for our very existence.

Worship is an adoration and appreciation of our Heavenly Father for who He is and what He has done by giving His life for us.  Worship doesn’t require a place–it only requires a relationship with Him.

Courage Thoughts for Today:

  1. What are you worshiping today that is getting in the way of worshiping the true God?
  2. Does your worship require you to be in a “place” or are you worshiping from your heart?
  3. What will you do TODAY to change how you Worship?

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They Were UnEducated and UnTrained

Self-Worth

I’ve been fortunate in life to cross paths with many, many different types of people and personalities.  I’ve met Presidents and CEO’s of Major Corporations.  I’ve met famous politicians. I’ve even met popular sports figures.  All in all, I guess you could say that I’ve been able to meet a lot of individuals that are held in fairly high esteem by the World’s standards.

The World would look at these people and come to the conclusion that they were at the top of their respective fields.  Afterall, the Presidents and CEO’s certainly must have advanced degrees and education.  The politicians certainly must have education plus all the “people” skills necessary to influence others.  And, of course, the sports personalities surely must devote their energy to hours upon hours of dedication and practice.  I think all of these things are probably true for the most part, but somehow that just doesn’t impress me.

Maybe it’s because I’m getting older in life, I don’t really know.  But, I can tell you that credentials from people just really don’t mean much to me any more.  I’m not saying this is always true, but it just seems like most of who I used to call “Big Whigs” seem to be so insincere and pretentious.  It’s almost like they flaunt their power and degrees and success and are saying to me:  “I’m important and you’re not.”

I compare these individuals to others I have known over my years; those that the World would not hold in high esteem.  Individuals that are not even on the radar and would be unnoticed.  I’m thinking of my first real friend in elementary school who stood by me when others wouldn’t. I’m thinking of a youth counselor that led me to Christ when others rejected me.  I’m thinking of my first Boss who gave me a chance and saw something in me that others didn’t.  I’m thinking of my wife who has stood with me year after year, despite my many faults.  And, I’m thinking of my parents who always taught me to do the right things, even when it wasn’t popular.

What’s different about those individuals?  They weren’t really educated or trained by today’s standards.  They didn’t really hold high positions.  What set them all apart was that they had all accepted Christ as their savior.  There wasn’t anything hypocritical or arrogant about them.  They didn’t think they were better than anyone else.  They were just real and they cared about others.  The moment you met them, you knew immediately that they had been with Jesus.  It showed in everything they did.

At one time in my life, I wanted the fame and importance that the world offers.  Not any more, because it really has no lasting affect on anything or anybody.  Instead, I’ve learned that I want to help others as I can and for others to look at me and know immediately that “he’s been with Jesus.”

If you’re you’re feeling lost and insignificant, I would encourage you to be thankful and not regretful.  There is nothing about you and your God-given gifts that is insignificant in God’s eyes.

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Never Doubt That The Loser Takes All

Faith

I am a very competitive person.  It doesn’t matter what game I’m playing or what contest I’ve entered, I want to win.  I want to win badly.  If it was a game of Tiddly Winks, I want to stomp you decisively.  Don’t get me wrong.  I’m not a sore loser if I happen to be on the losing side of things, but I’ll do everything I can to win in any situation.

I suppose most people are competitive to some degree.  Our Society and way of life forces us to be this way.  We’re competing against others for employment opportunities.  We’re competing in our businesses against other businesses. We’re competing against other students for the best grades in our schools and universities.  We’re competing against each other on the roads and highways to get to our destination faster and faster.  Our Sports World is driven by the desire to win the next Super Bowl, World Series, or Stanley Cup.  I could go on and on, but you get the drift.  We’re taught and conditioned that second place is for losers.

In Luke 9:23, the Lord says “….if anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (NAS).  In another translation of the Bible, “The Message,” the same verse reads “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead.  You’re not in the driver’s seat—I am.”  I have to confess that I’ve always struggled to follow this verse.  Not because I didn’t believe it or because I didn’t want to.  My competitive nature to win left no room for anyone else, least of all God.  There were times when I just didn’t want God to lead.  Quite honestly, I was afraid where God might lead. I felt like I knew what was best for me and I would just let God catch up with me at some point.  Afterall, HE had more important things to worry about.  I was always confident that God would ultimately approve of my direction.  Unfortunately, I couldn’t have been more wrong.

God always wants me to be second to HIM.  HE wants me to allow him to lead, even when it makes no sense to me.  Obviously, this is where trust comes into play.  I can’t let anyone, God included, lead me if I don’t have confidence in where they’re leading.  Without question or hesitation, I can honestly say that God has always shown me the right path and led me in the direction I should go, even when I’m being dragged kicking and screaming and not understanding why, where, or when.  It’s at those times when I’m truly allowing God to lead that I’m at that perfect place God wants me to be.

I’m still competitive in sports and activities, but as for my Christian Walk, I’ve learned that losing isn’t so bad afterall.  It’s at those times of letting God lead, that I’m actually a winner because only then can I tap into the everlasting resources of our Heavenly Father.

Where are you today in your Walk?  Are you allowing God to lead in all you do, or are you wanting to lead God instead?  Remember, losing is actually winning when you recognize God is in the driver’s seat, not you.

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