Last week, I shared a song that had been on my heart called “I worship You.”
I grew up thinking to praise and worship God simply meant singing songs that talked about praising and worshiping God.
Yep. That sounded about right for 30 years or so.
But what did Jesus have to say about worship?
But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” John 4:23-24
OK… So what is true worship? One example that has really helped me is:
Worship is giving God the best that He has given you. Be careful what you do with the best you have… God will never allow you to keep a spiritual blessing completely for yourself. It must be given back to Him so that He can make it a blessing to others. – Oswald Chambers
The song I am sharing this week is meant to encourage all who listen to join in true worship by deciding to respond to the love of God with our absolute best, in all areas of our lives.
“…my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.” Philippians 1:20
My Utmost for His Highest… “My determined purpose is to be my utmost for His highest— my best for His glory.” – Oswald Chambers
About the song:
1 Samuel 18 tells the story of an amazing friendship. It talks about the brotherly love that a prince named Jonathan had for his best friend, David.
I often thank God for the “Jonathans” He has placed in my life to encourage me. Even more, I praise God (give Him my absolute best) for the gift of the Holy Spirit, given by faith, to reveal the life of Christ and give us the confidence in Him we need for today. It’s amazing that God loves each of us with the same love He has for His Son; we share in the same inheritance. (Romans 8:17)
One of the phrases that a brother of mine, Taylor, and I came up with a few years back was “Stay Flint!”(Is 50:7) Like Christ, we aim to face each today “set like a flint,” confident that we can overcome sin, with the complete help of The Holy Spirit, for the glory of God!
Today is also Taylor’s birthday! I actually had no idea that I would be sharing this song on His birthday. But God did!
Behind the lyrics:
I woke up one morning a few months back and wrote a poem while reflecting on God. I was really encouraged to see God’s love and promises written across each stanza. And to think, it’s not even a fraction of His love. Just a glimpse of the infinite promises available in Him.
The cadence was so fast that I didn’t think there would be any fitting music. The melody came several months later, while Pauline and I were hanging out with Bobby, Jess, and the kids.
My hope is that we all be found among the true worshipers, faithfully worshipping Him in spirit and in truth. Praise God that the Holy Spirit will reveal Christ to anyone who seeks to know Him more. (1 Peter 1:13)
Some parts of the song are pretty fast, so feel free to read the lyrics first, check out the verse references, spend some time reflecting on how God has been faithful in your life through those verses, and then watch the Youtube video that scrolls the lyrics. I hope as you experience each of the promises of God on each line, they encourage you to trust in Him more today! STAY FLINT! Let’s Go! To God be the glory!
Lyrics:
But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:23-24)
Lord! You are so holy Lord! (1 Sam 2:2)
And You still love me (1 John 3:1)
I need Your Holy Spirit Lord
Breathe on me today (John 20:22)
Spirit burning
Learning curve is
My soul, submerged in
His blood, purges (Heb 9:14)
Heart felt
Yearning in
Adoration
Of the King
Elohim (The Most High!)
Sitting down (Eph 1:20, Col 3:1, Heb 1:3, Heb 8:1)
Earthly crowns
Casted down (Rev 4:10)
At His feet
Look around
All creation
Rod of iron (Ps 2:9, Rev 2:27)
Light of God
Burn it up.
Every bit of
Dross in me (1 Peter 1:7)
I’m living in eternity
Father, Spirit
Son and me! (John 17:3)
I once was like
How can this be
That you would ever care for me?
But You were like
Just stick with Me
And learn to walk perfectly (Gen 17:1)
Lord! You are so holy Lord! (1 Sam 2:2)
And You still love me (1 John 3:1)
I need Your Holy Spirit Lord
Breathe on me today (John 20:22)
Who’s the King?
Strong and mighty!
Christ’s the King, strong and mighty! (Ps 24:7-8)
Awesome God!
I cry out
From my core
To bless me more (Gen 32:26)
To know Your heart (Ps 103:7)
Complete in You (Col 2:10)
No void word, Your love is true (Is 55:11)
Romans 1 (Rom 1:16-17)
The whole earth with me (Rom 8:22-23)
My Revelation?
Christ acquits me! (Rom 5:1)
Mighty One! (Luke 1:49)
Lifted up! (John 3:14)
Never despised
His Father’s cup (Luke 22:42)
Like the serpent (John 3:14-15)
John 3
More than words
Soak it up
All who thirst
Come and drink (John 7:37)
Sins defeated (Romans 6:10)
Life in Christ (Romans 8:2, Romans 8:10-12)
In Christ alone
My hope is found
In Christ alone
My hope is found (Acts 4:12, Ps 62:1-2)
[In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm] – Stuart Townend’s “In Christ Alone”
Keep me humble (1 Peter 5:6)
On the ground
Chief of sinners, Lord it’s me. (1 Tim 1:15)
I didn’t understand
You set me free. (John 8:32)
I’ve passed through
Now I’m Jubilee! (Luke 4:19)
I’m all washed up! (Ezekiel 16:8-9)
You cleansed me!
You picked me up!
You mended me! (Ezekiel 16:60)
You flipped the script
This life’s a vapor (James 4:14)
Keep my eyes
To Christ my Savior (Matt 1:21)
Suffering (1 Peter 2:21)
No misbehavior
Obedience (Heb 5:8)
It’s not too late
To give it all
All to Jesus
All to Him I freely give.
A timeless hymn
But is my life changed?
Death to life
Or is my love lame? (Rev 3:16)
Simple checkup
Where’re the tears? (Heb 5:7)
Salvation is for
He who fears the Lord.* (Phil 2:12, Prov 19:23, Prov 14:26. *Something I learned a few years back was to “fear the Lord” means to live life in a way that shows respect for Him. It does not mean to be afraid that He will cause us harm. We should respect God the same way a loving son would respect his loving father.)
Set like a flint (Is 50:7)
He rose again (Mark 16:9)
And by His blood
We’re born again! (1 Peter 1:19)
And I fight back (1 Cor 9:25)
Never backtrack (Proverbs 4:18)
Fire in His eyes (Rev 19:12)
Christ is the prize! (Phil 3:12-14)
Death to flesh! (Rom 6:11)
I’m spirit walking! (Gal 5:16-18)
Clothed in Christ! (Gal 3:27)
That’s Jesus calling! (Rev 3:20)
Lord! You are so holy Lord! (1 Sam 2:2)
And You still love me (1 John 3:1)
…
Breathe on me today. (John 20:22)
Verses that encouraged me this week:
Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Phil 3:12-14
A story that encouraged me this week:
I heard a story of a group of folks that were experiencing amazing things with God for 14 years straight. On the 15th year, it was clear that God’s presence was not as before. So the person leading the group asksed why this was happening. To my surprise, someone responds, “It is my fault, for the last 14 years God had given me a burden to pray for our group, this year I didn’t do that.”
I find it so amazing that it only took one person to be faithful with the burden God gave them in order for the presence of God to be experienced by everyone who came across them. When they were unfaithful, everyone was affected!
What a challenging example! I used to think the burden that God gave me was something that would only affect me. But I’ve seen it to be true in my life and in examples like this story that everyone who comes across a child of God can potentially be affected when that child is not faithful with what God has given them.
