Sometimes I need God to tell me explicitly what to do.
I was sitting in the car before work one morning feeling lost, confused, and uncertain about the future. I was contemplating whether to continue listening to worship songs or to read the Bible.
I decided to read the Bible because I had brought it along with me.
He tells us
I opened the Bible to my bookmark. Psalm chapter 66.
Verse 1 reads “Shout with joy to God, all the earth!”
I was instantly encouraged because I knew God was speaking to me. He was telling me what to do.
“Shout!”
God was telling me to shout, not in anger or frustration over my present circumstance, but to shout with joy.
To who? To God.
I was captivated to keep reading. My eyes quickly skimmed the first six verses because they were on the same page. The verbs at the beginning of those verses stood out to me.
Shout. Sing. Say. Come and see.
There is a reason we can do these things.
God is worthy and able
The psalmist says God is powerful. His works are described as awesome.
He is the God who performs miracles in nature and our hearts.
He is not passively watching us but protects us, bringing us to freedom.
He deeply cares for us; God listens and loves abundantly.
Bowing is uncommon in the Western culture, nor would we unconditionally praise a person’s name.
This God is beyond deserving of these gestures. He deserves our all.
Worship Him
Maybe there is something about praising and worshipping God. Something that turns the focus away from ourselves to God. Something that takes fear and anxiety away. Something that diminishes the size of our problems in the presence of the all-powerful and holy God.
That something is the perfect relational unity with God and untainted satisfaction and fulfilment in our purposes.
A lot of times in life we ask God to show us the future, to show us what to do in the circumstance. Psalm 66 tells us exactly that. It directs us specifically to what we should praise God for, what to tell God, and what actions to take. I was blessed by God through this Psalm; I was excited because God spoke to me that morning.
He told me to shout, to sing, to talk to him, and to see what he has done. He calls me to lead others to praise him, to bring him sacrifices and offerings and to listen to the testimonies of God.
These are seven ways to worship God and glorify him. Seven lessons to learn and work towards each day of the week.
During times of confusion, uncertainty and seeking, be distracted by worship. Let there be songs of praise playing on repeat throughout the day and night. Let these moments of perfection reign over your heart, soul and mind.