Tag: worship

Christian

The Importance of Truth

Cindy Dawson

1-minute devotion for Friday, 11/7/25

“But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.  For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” John 4:23-24 NLT Read full chapter

My thoughts: Have you ever noticed how often the Bible emphasizes the importance of truth? (In case you’re wondering, it’s over 380 times depending on the translation!)

In His Love, Cindy

Would you like to learn more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6

All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.

Photo by Jeff Arnold on Unsplash – Beautiful Kentucky!

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Christian

Why Am I Discouraged?

Cindy Dawson

1-minute devotion for Tuesday, 11/4/25

Psalm 42
For the director of music.
A maskil of the Sons of Korah

“Why am I discouraged?
    Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
    I will praise him again—
    my Savior and my God!” Psalm 42:11 NLT Read full chapter

This Psalm was written by King David when his son Absalom defected. The sons of Korah are the men David put in charge of the music in the house of the Lord, evidence that David placed great importance on worship through musical excellence, both instrumental and vocal.

When we worship and praise God we become aware of His magnificence. Suddenly the circumstances of life begin to pale when compared to the greatness of God. (Jeremiah Study Bible Notes)

In His Love, Cindy

Would you like to learn more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6

All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.

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Christian

Sunday’s Memory Verse, 11/3/24

Cindy Dawson

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2 NIV Read full chapter

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6

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Christian

What Kind of Worshiper Am I?

Cindy Dawson

Those bad Pharisees! I can’t believe how stubborn they were! I’m glad I’m not like one of them!

We tend to see the faults in others before we see our own. Isn’t that true? I’m pretty sure that’s called pride. So as we examine what the Bible says about worship, let us look inward, at our own hearts.

Jesus talked about two kinds of worshippers – “true worshipers” and those who “worship me in vain.” Do we really understand the difference? Let Jesus explain.

To the Samaritan woman at the well, Jesus said,

“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” John 4:23-24 NIV

But when Jesus spoke to the Pharisees, He said,

“You nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition. You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
 They worship me in vain;” Matthew 15:6-9 

The Greek word translated “worship” in the first passage is proskuneo. It means to prostrate oneself in worship, to reverence, to adore. To lie prostrate implies total surrender.

The Pharisees put on a show of reverence but were not totally surrendered to God. Interestingly, Jesus did not use the same word for worship in Matthew 15:9. He used the word sebomai, which means to revere. There is a big difference. The Pharisees honored God, but they were not surrendered to His will. Their hearts were somewhere else.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” Romans 12:1 NIV

Let us examine our hearts. What kind of worshipper am I? Is my worship pleasing to God? Am I surrendered to His will? Or, do I worship Him in vain? Do I give Him reverence, but cling stubbornly to my own will? Do I worry more about how I appear on the outside, or the condition of my heart?

Am I totally surrendered to Jesus?

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

Pray for Israel!

Photo: Woodlands Worship

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Christian

Quote of the Week, 10/2/24

Cindy Dawson

Music is not the origin of worship, but it can be the expression of it. Do not look to music to induce your worship; look to music as simply an expression of that which is induced by a heart that is rapt by the mercies of God, obedient to His commands.” GotQuestions.Org

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” Romans 12:1 NIV (emphasis mine)

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

Pray for Israel!

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Christian

Tuesday’s Verse, 6/6/23

Cindy Dawson

“But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.” John 4:23 NLT

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

Photo by Sean Oulashin on Unsplash

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Christian

Quote of the Week, 12/21/22

Cindy Dawson

To truly worship God, we must understand who He is and what He has done, and the only place He has fully revealed Himself is in the Bible. Worship is an expression of praise from the depths of our hearts toward a God who is understood through His Word.”

GotQuestions.org

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

Photo by Johannes Krupinski on Unsplash

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Christian

The Holy Spirit, Our Helper

Cindy Dawson

I went to my office, laid my head down on my Bible, and sighed in defeat, “Lord, I don’t know what to do.” As soon as the words slipped from my mouth, I remembered something that I had read earlier in the day.

When King Jehoshaphat was warned that a vast army was coming against him, he was alarmed and resolved to inquire of the Lord. He called a fast for all of Judah and the people came together to seek God.

King Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly and cried out to God in prayer. He ends the prayer with these words:

“We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you!” 2 Chronicles 20:12 NIV

I quickly found the passage in my Bible and read it over and over. God was telling me what to do: Keep my eyes on Him! I can do that! Immediately my anxiety melted away. My fear disappeared and I felt the comfort only God can provide.

I also remembered, “And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus” Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV

“I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
    With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Psalm 16:8 NIV

What does it mean to keep your eyes on the Lord? Here are some thoughts.

  1. Acknowledge that you can’t fix this in your own strength. Jehoshaphat knew that he was in for a battle that he was not strong enough to win and he didn’t know what to do. The enemy was getting closer every minute.
  2. When we realize that it isn’t within our own ability to fix the problem, only then can we really depend completely on the Lord.
  3. These kinds of opportunities will stretch our faith and bring us closer to God.

You might be wondering what happened to King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah when they fixed their eyes on the Lord instead of the problem.

This is what the Lord said, “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s. (v15) Stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you. . . Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged.”(v17)

“Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord. . .Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord . . . ‘Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.’ As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.” (v18&21)

Take away: They depended completely on the Lord. They worshipped Him. They thanked Him. They praised Him. The Lord threw their enemies into confusion and they were defeated.

Read more about Jehoshaphat’s battle here. (2 Chronicles 20:1-30)

When our battle is too hard, let us fix our eyes on Jesus. Let us worship His holiness, thank Him, praise Him, and give Him glory. When you read God’s Word, God Himself will teach you and encourage you because He says,

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,  so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

“But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 14:26 NIV

Thank you for letting me share my journey with you, today. Comments are welcomed and appreciated.

With Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? Check out my page Who Is Jesus?

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

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Christian

Verses for Meditation, 6/2/22

Cindy Dawson

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2 NIV Read full chapter

With Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? Check out my page Who Is Jesus?

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash

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Christian

Does My Life Glorify God?

Cindy Dawson

“…whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31

I want to share a true story with you, an example of how God glorified His name through a handful of praying Christians, many years ago.

Next month will mark the 204th anniversary of the church I attend. In 1818, a small church of about 26 people in Rockfield, KY began to pray that God would help them start a new church in Bowling Green, Warren County, KY.

Providence Knob Baptist Church sent 4 members to Bowling Green to start a new church. The church they started is the one I worship in today, 204 years later.

To put this in perspective, 1818 is the year the famous American Patriot, Paul Revere, died. In fact, Warren County was named after General Joseph Warren of the Revolutionary War, who dispatched Paul Revere on his famous midnight ride.

The population of Warren County was less than 12,000 then, as compared to over 125,000 at the present time.

Today, the church planted over 200 years ago thrives. A magnificent choir of 50 sings praises to our Lord. A team of singers and musicians lead the congregation in worship, and little children sing of Jesus’s love.  An orchestra plays heavenly music in praise to the Lord. People are being saved. The Word of God is being proclaimed. Missionaries are being sent abroad. God’s work is being done and God is glorified.

The obedience and prayers of those pioneers who, in 1818, prayed for God to build a church in Bowling Green resulted in God being glorified. When God answered their prayers, He did “immeasurably more” than all they could ask or imagine. (Ephesians 3:20)

Those faithful saints never really saw the fruit of their labor, but God was, and is, and will be, glorified in this place.

It made me think about my own life. Do I want to bring glory to God only? Or do I want glory for myself? Do I want God to do “immeasurable more” than all I ask or imagine? Do I want Him to use me according to His will, even if I never see the fruit of my labor? These are heart-searching questions. May we have the courage to ask them.

God’s plans are bigger than our ability to imagine. I understand now, that God’s plan for my life might bring forth fruit that I don’t live to see, just as these church planters didn’t live to see the fruit of their obedience and prayers.

I would imagine they probably became discouraged at times. It couldn’t have been easy to start a new church in a new city. But they persevered and God answered their prayers.

“Not to us, Lord, not to us, but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.” Psalm 115:1 NIV

Jesus prayed to His Father, 

“I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.” John 17:4 NIV

God has the plan. Will we surrender our will to Him? Our part is to be willing.  He will do the rest.

 “…for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” Philippians 2:13 NIV

We may not always see the fruit of our obedience and service, but if we are surrendered to His will and obedient to His Word He will glorify His name. This is God’s plan – To glorify His name.

With Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? Check out my page Who Is Jesus?

Photo by Pablo Heimplatz on Unsplash

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