Getting Ready for Thanksgiving
Day 2 - Getting Ready for Thanksgiving
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Emotion through Devotion
In 2006 my wife and I attended a real estate conference in Chicago. It offered some of the brightest minds in real estate and motivational speaking. We saw Robert Kiyosaki, Suzi Ormen, Donald Trump, and the one and only Tony Robbins. It was in the session with Robbins that I came to appreciate the principle that motion creates emotion.
Robbins knows how to put on a good show. He can transform an introvert into a high level extrovert. In a matter of seconds, the room went from sitting quietly to running around and yelling at the top of our lungs. The motion created emotion. But here’s the problem: it was short-lived. It was temporary. People quickly returned to being their low-motivated selves. This is not to be true for us as believers.
Psalm 100 gives us some great advice on creating lasting emotion through devotion. “Shout with joy to the LORD, all the earth! Worship the LORD with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy” (Psalm 100:1-2).
Three short commands in 2 short verses that impact joy and its close relative thankfulness: shout, worship, and come singing.
Shout: This is rare in most of our lives and our churches today. It’s not, however, uncommon in a sporting event or at a concert. But it really should be the opposite. The Psalmist says, “shout!” This is a loud, guttural yell. It’s full of emotion and conviction. It’s a loud declaration to the whole world that where God is, there is everlasting joy.
Worship: Who are we called to worship? The state football team? The 10-time Grammy winner? The celebrity preacher? No. God alone is worthy of such celebration and worship. But this worship is not begrudging. It’s joy-filled. It’s full of gladness.
Some Sunday mornings, my kids ask, “Do I have to go to church?” Who am I kidding? Some Sundays, I ask that same question. But that’s not worshiping with gladness. To enter the presence of God as the body of Christ is a privilege, so let’s do it with joy.
Come singing: This may terrify some of you. It does me. I am not a singer. I like to sing, but I am not a singer. My wife, however, is a singer of epic proportions. But here’s what I’ve discovered about God. God doesn’t care about the quality of your singing. He cares about the condition of your heart. God has a built-in “auto-tune,” so our joyful noise is truly music to His ears.
Today, don’t settle for short-lived parlor tricks that bring you up only to sink you down. Today, experience lasting joy and thankfulness through your devotion to God.
Receive: Read Psalm 100. This Psalm is divided into prescriptions for us and descriptions of God. What are we called to do? How is God described?
Reflect: What reasons motivate you to praise God? How will you worship Him today?
Respond: God, thank you for your goodness. I do not deserve your unfailing love. Help me to display this love to those around me. Amen.
In 2006 my wife and I attended a real estate conference in Chicago. It offered some of the brightest minds in real estate and motivational speaking. We saw Robert Kiyosaki, Suzi Ormen, Donald Trump, and the one and only Tony Robbins. It was in the session with Robbins that I came to appreciate the principle that motion creates emotion.
Robbins knows how to put on a good show. He can transform an introvert into a high level extrovert. In a matter of seconds, the room went from sitting quietly to running around and yelling at the top of our lungs. The motion created emotion. But here’s the problem: it was short-lived. It was temporary. People quickly returned to being their low-motivated selves. This is not to be true for us as believers.
Psalm 100 gives us some great advice on creating lasting emotion through devotion. “Shout with joy to the LORD, all the earth! Worship the LORD with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy” (Psalm 100:1-2).
Three short commands in 2 short verses that impact joy and its close relative thankfulness: shout, worship, and come singing.
Shout: This is rare in most of our lives and our churches today. It’s not, however, uncommon in a sporting event or at a concert. But it really should be the opposite. The Psalmist says, “shout!” This is a loud, guttural yell. It’s full of emotion and conviction. It’s a loud declaration to the whole world that where God is, there is everlasting joy.
Worship: Who are we called to worship? The state football team? The 10-time Grammy winner? The celebrity preacher? No. God alone is worthy of such celebration and worship. But this worship is not begrudging. It’s joy-filled. It’s full of gladness.
Some Sunday mornings, my kids ask, “Do I have to go to church?” Who am I kidding? Some Sundays, I ask that same question. But that’s not worshiping with gladness. To enter the presence of God as the body of Christ is a privilege, so let’s do it with joy.
Come singing: This may terrify some of you. It does me. I am not a singer. I like to sing, but I am not a singer. My wife, however, is a singer of epic proportions. But here’s what I’ve discovered about God. God doesn’t care about the quality of your singing. He cares about the condition of your heart. God has a built-in “auto-tune,” so our joyful noise is truly music to His ears.
Today, don’t settle for short-lived parlor tricks that bring you up only to sink you down. Today, experience lasting joy and thankfulness through your devotion to God.
Receive: Read Psalm 100. This Psalm is divided into prescriptions for us and descriptions of God. What are we called to do? How is God described?
Reflect: What reasons motivate you to praise God? How will you worship Him today?
Respond: God, thank you for your goodness. I do not deserve your unfailing love. Help me to display this love to those around me. Amen.
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DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER;JESUS PLEASE HOLY SPIRIT I REQUEST FOR A BUILT IN AUTO TUNE; SENSORS;ETC INTO MY BODY ALSO FOR MY 2 DAUGHTERS FOR YOUR NAME SAKE*THANKYOUJESUS*