Welcome to Summer at Counting My Blessings!
I’m taking a bit of a writing break so I can fill this space with fresh new content beginning in August. So, for the next eight weeks, I’ll be sharing the Summer Sizzle Blog Hop 2018 each Monday.
And…
A Countdown of my most popular posts here at Counting My Blessings each Friday.
Of course, I’m looking forward to welcoming you here each Friday for the Faith ‘n Friends Link Party!
Today – I’m starting with the 8th most visited and most popular post here at CMB.
7 of the Best Verses To Inspire Your Worship of God
I walk outside in the morning and lift my eyes. Trees blow in the breeze as clouds drift across the sky. Birds sing as squirrels and chipmunks scurry and I stop for just a moment to watch my little world and worship the Creator.
The One who alone is worthy of my praise.
Then I start my day and busyness creeps in and my thoughts wander (not always in a good or worshipful way) and I fail again to give Him my all.
Like Paul, the good I want to do, well . . . I just don’t do it.
I know there is nothing good in me, that is, in my flesh. For I want to do good but I do not. Romans 7:18
I want to be completely surrendered to God’s love . . . to give Him my heart, mind, soul, and strength. But in the daily, in the living, I fail to worship Him fully and faithfully.
Look at this quote from Brother Lawrence…
“To worship God is to admit that we are entirely contrary to Him and that He is willing to make us like Himself.”
Don’t you love that?
God already knows you and I are contrary. He knows we’re not going to do life “right”not any part of it—even worship.
So, He’s given us what we need. Examples. Words of worship in the Scriptures to get us started.
Because…
Psalm 103:1-4
with my whole heart,
I will praise His holy name.
Let all that I am praise the Lord;
may I never forget the good things He does for me.
He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.
He redeems me from death and crowns me with
love and tender mercies.
Many believe David wrote Psalm 103 later in life because it is written with such humble awareness of God’s amazing grace and tender mercy.
You and I can know, like David, that no sin is too great and no sinner too flawed. God redeems broken people and that alone is an awesome reason to worship Him.
Isaiah 25:1
I honor you and praise You because
You have done amazing things.
You have always done what You said You would do;
You have done what You planned long ago.
God always keeps His promises. He always has and He always will!
You and I can count on His promises in a world where we can’t count on much.
What promise are you holding close today? You can count on God! You can trust Him!
Psalm 63:3–4, 7–8
Because Your love is better than life, I will praise You.
I will praise You as long as I live.
I will lift up my hands in prayer to Your name.
Because You are my helper,
I sing for joy in the shadow of Your wings.
I cling to You;
Your strong right-hand holds me securely.
Scholars believe David wrote Psalm 63 while he was in the wilderness running from his son, Absalom, and those who were attempting to dethrone him.
Can you imagine? Stopping and writing a song of praise while you’re running for your life from your own child.
No matter what is going on in your life . . . God is there. He loves you. His mighty strong right-hand is holding you securely and He will not let go of you.
Ephesians 3:20–21
Now to Him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Paul wrote this from a Roman prison. Why was he imprisoned? For preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
When you are discouraged or afraid because of the way Christians are being persecuted around the world remember, God is on the throne. He is at work and able to accomplish far more than you could ever ask or imagine.
Exodus 15:1-3
“I will sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously;
He has hurled both horse and rider into the sea.
The Lord is my strength and my song;
He has given me victory.
This is my God,
and I will praise Him—my father’s God,
and I will exalt Him!
The Lord is a warrior; Yahweh is His name!
Imagine yourself trapped next to a sea … your enemy is coming for you and getting closer. Suddenly the waters part and you cross safely to the other side on dry ground and as you look back from safety those chasing you drown when the sea returns to normal.
Exodus 15 is Moses’ “Song of Deliverance.”
Are you going through a storm? Do you feel like your enemies are gaining on you? Is fear distracting you and making it hard to worship?
God is with you. He is the God of miracles. He is able to deliver you to safety.
Psalm 100
Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!
Worship the Lord with gladness.
Come before Him, singing with joy.
Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
He made us, and we are His.
We are His people, the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving;
go into His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him and praise His name.
For the Lord is good.
His unfailing love continues forever,
and His faithfulness continues to each generation.
Any collection of worship verses must include Psalm 100. It’s my favorite.
We don’t know who wrote it but historians believe it was written as a call to worship when the Temple was restored and the exiles returned to Israel.
God made you. He claims you as His own. He is good and His love is unfailing. This is a great Word to write in your prayer journal so you have it close when life’s problems make it hard to worship.
Whatever our circumstances … God is worthy of our worship and praise!
Revelation 4:11
“You are worthy, O Lord our God,
to receive glory and honor and power.
For You created all things, and they exist
because You created what You pleased.”
And the song of worship and praise will continue for all eternity.
You were created because it pleased God to create you. He wants a relationship with you.
Imagine that . . . the God of the universe loves you and wants a relationship with you.
I can’t think of a better reason to praise and worship Him today, tomorrow and forever.
Finally, a quote to inspire you…
“Many Spirit-filled authors have exhausted the thesaurus in order to describe God with the glory He deserves. His perfect holiness, by definition, assures us that our words can’t contain Him. Isn’t it a comfort to worship a God we cannot exaggerate?” ~Francis Chan
I pray these verses bless your worship of God!
This Week’s Friday Favorites
Highlights from the Week!
It’s O.K. if You’re a Dandelion
by Jen Avellaneda
@ Rich Faith Rising
When the Lies You Believe Beat You Down
by Mari Hernandez-Tuten
@ Inspired by Family
Learning: Six Things for Spring
by Rebecca Hastings
@ My Ink Dance
AND the…
Faith ‘n Friends Link Party
I’m so glad you’re here!
This is a place to share faith, make friends, and have fun.
I’d love to connect with you on social media!
[Tweet “I’m finding #Friendship and #Inspiration at #Faith ‘n Friends #LinkUp Come join the fun! “]
Deb Wolf
Facebook / Twitter / Pinterest
No More Rules Link Party
Add 1-2 of your favorite faith/life posts.
Then just make friends and have fun.
You know they love it when you stop by and say “hello.”
I would really appreciate it if you would
Grab my Link Party Button above and link back to CMB.
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May your week be blessed with faith, love, and friendship!
Don’t forget to leave your prayer requests…
and pray over the list left by our friends.
I always enjoy hearing from you! Please take a minute to say ‘hi’ and share your thoughts in the comments below.
Have you visited the Faith ‘n Friends Link Party Board on Pinterest? It’s a great place to catch up with past posts you may have missed here at the party and/or save them for a future read! If you’d like to become a contributor to my Pinterest Group Boards – email me at deb@debwolf.com with a link to your Pinterest home page.
And if this article blessed or helped you today — would you share it with someone? Maybe a friend, family member, coworker, or through the links below…
