Quiet Time: Serve Is Not a Bad Word

“Serve” Is Not a Bad Word

Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing. – Psalm 100:2

Serve
`abad  (aw-bad')
to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc.

In this Psalm, David, probably had in mind the service of those who worked in preparing sacrifices, as well as, the worshipers who brought the sacrifices. He was encouraging everyone who took part in this act of worship to make it more than a simple ceremony.  God wants our hearts, as well as, our hands.

But you know, we can serve the LORD with gladness every day, not simply on Sundays when we come together to worship. Life can be an act of worship.

Right now, before you jump into whatever it is you’re about to do, why not ask God to help you do it for Him. 

Quiet Time: Shout It Out

Shout It Out

A Psalm for Thanksgiving. Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth. - Psalm 100:1

I once asked a Christian coworker if he'd like to meet out back at the picnic tables behind where we worked for a time of prayer and bible reading. After reading several encouraging passages of scripture we stopped for a time of prayer; he prayed first. Boy was I surprised! As he began to pray he spoke loudly and by the time he finished he was hollering so powerfully that his voice was cracking.

 My coworker is a very sincere Christ follower, but that memory got me to thinking."Is shouting actually a do-able thing?"  I mean, think about, where can a guy go to actually shout praises in public? 

Perhaps, shouting is a lost art in the corporate worship experience, but it needn't be lost in our personal times of worship. Try it this morning. Shout praises to God in your car on the way to work or in your house, after everyone's gone. I tried it yesterday and found it to be a very unique and joyful experience.

Here are some things to shout about:


SHOUT: "GOD, YOU RULE"  Psalm 67:4
May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples with equity and guide the nations of the earth.

SHOUT: "GOD, YOU ARE MY SALVATION"  Psalm 95:1
Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.


SHOUT: GOD, YOU ARE LORD; GOD, YOU ARE HOLY" Psalm 99:9
Exalt the LORD our God and worship at his holy mountain, for the LORD our God is holy.