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Excellence In Worship

Welcome to the Journey To Excellence!  This is my New Year's plan (versus resolution) to become intentional in striving for excellence.

January will find me focusing on worship.  Seems appropriate for the New Year, the first month to focus on the Giver of all and seeking to acknowledge Him and His greatness.

When we think of worship, church services usually come to mind.  In churches today "worship"  coverse a broad range.  There are churches with lively, expressive worship down to quiet, heartfelt worship.  Whichever element of worship we find ourselves in, remember that true worship comes from the heart...and...it's all about Him.

In John chapter 4, Jesus met with a woman of Samaria.  This woman was living in sin and Jesus had just called her out on it. She quickly changed the subject from her sin to 'worship'.  She acknowledged that He must be a prophet and then began recounting the differences in worship traditions of the Jewish and Samaritans.  Jesus answered her "Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father...But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”  God is not limited by time or distance.  Christians can commune with God anytime and anywhere.  Jesus changed the topic of location to make worship a matter of the heart.  The issue is not where a person worships, but how and whom.
  
May this year push aside the thought that worship is only for 'church time' and open my heart to worship the Lord anywhere and at anytime.  May my prayers begin to change from what my needs are to acknowledge how great He is. 

By taking time to worship Him instead of focusing on my needs, He is placed in priority position - FIRST!  It has been said "There is never enough time for anything, unless you MAKE the time."  New habits don't just happen, true worship doesn't just occur.  Our minds and hearts need to be trained to acknowledge Him and His greatness.  Some simple changes for this journey include:
  • Acknowledge Him first thing in the morning. Mornings are precious times that set the day. What we begin the day with will set the tone for the rest of it.
  • Take a few moments for worship in the Word.  Read a Psalm a day.  Pray those inspired Words to the Lord.
  • Remember that He is always near.  Through the day, look for Him and His blessings, remember to thank Him.  Tell Him He is worthy of worship.
  • Write a praise Psalm down and carry it through the day. Be reminded of His glory.
  • Find some reasonably priced inspriational home decor.  Fill your heart and  home with precious reminders of God's Word.  Gaze upon it throughout your time at home.  Let it be a witeness to your visitors.
  • Watch what we allow to enter our eyes and ears.  Listen to worship music, read quality, inspriational books.  Refuse to be distracted by the clamoring of the world through music and television. 
  • Focus on the best choices in words, attitudes and thoughts.  What goes in is what comes out!
 Will you join me step by step this month to worship Him greater?  He is looking for a true worshipper!

Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, You are very great: You are clothed with honor and majesty.  Psalms 140:1

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