Stuff That Stuck Out:
- The deepest level of worship is praising God in spite of pain, thanking God during a trial, trusting him when tempted, surrendering while suffering, and loving him when he seems distant.
- To mature your friendship, God will test it with periods of seeming separation--times when it feels as if he has abandoned or forgotten you.
- God admits that sometimes he hides his face from us.
- The most common mistake Christians make in worship today is seeking an experience rather than seeking God. Seeking a feeling, even the feeling of closeness to Christ, is not worship.
- God is always present, even when you are unaware of him, and his presence is too profound to be measured by mere emotion. He wants you to sense his presence, but he's more concerned that you trust him than that you feel him. Faith, not feelings, pleases God.
- How do you praise God when you don't understand what's happening in your life and God is silent?
- Tell God exactly how you feel.
- God can handle your doubt, anger, fear, grief, confusion, and questions.
- Focus on who God is--his unchanging nature.
- Praise him because:
- He is good and loving.
- He is all-powerful.
- He notices every detail of my life.
- He is in control.
- He has a plan for my life.
- He will save me.
- Trust God to keep his promises.
- When you feel abandoned by God yet continue to trust him in spite of your feelings, you worship him in the deepest way.
- Remember what God has already done for you.
- If God never did anything else for you, he would still deserve our continual praise for the rest of your life because of what Jesus did for you on the cross.
- Jesus gave up everything so you could have everything.
Verse To Remember: "For God has said, 'I will never leave you; I will never abandon you.'" Hebrews 13:5 (TEV)
Question To Consider: How can I stay focused on God's presence, especially when he feels distant?
1 comment:
What a powerful reminder, thank you!!!!!
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