Speaker: Ben Sigman

Theme: Worship

Weekend Music links on iTunes: Today is the Day by Lincoln Brewster; Run by Hillsong United; Love Came Down by Ben Cantelon; Desert Song by Hillsong United.

Read:  Job 1; Romans 8:4-5; Philippians 4:4-7

Think: Upon learning that Job worshiped God after hearing that his family had been killed and he’d lost everything, we are taken aback.  A fantastic prayer follows in Job 1:21 "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart.  The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised." 

Incredible as his response is, this is exactly what living according to the Spirit of God looks like.  If Job were in his old fleshly nature, he would probably have cursed God, wailed despondently, and hung his head in sorrow and anguish all of the days of his life.  But because of his deep love and faith in God, Job later explains “though He slay me; yet I will trust Him.” Job 13:15NKJV  Job’s hope and trust was in God alone.   

Praising God in difficult or horrendous circumstances can be a hard row to hoe.   1 Thes. 5:18 says “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Psalm 150 tells us to praise the Lord in everything.  What can we expect to happen if we do?  An excellent old book called Praise Works by Merlin Carothers shares many amazing testimonies of miracles that transpired when praising God was the response to trouble. 

I once heard someone say “Praise until the worship comes; worship until the glory comes.”  When the glory of the Lord is upon us, there is peace, comfort, conviction and a wealth of healing and restoration.     And the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory….

Do: Practice praising God as your response to the good, the bad and the ugly things that are happening in your life, trusting He is Sovereign over all of it.  Worship God by calling His attributes out by name.  Say His Name over again until you are not distracted and you are really loving your Savior and meaning what you say.  

Pray: Lord God, I give you everything and every one of my beloved and I trust you with them.  You are our Defender & Protector and I will not live in fear of my circumstances.  Help me to rejoice in You always and to experience Your glory.

The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.

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