Humans are people of conditioning and we are conditioned to respond. We respond to a change of temperature in a room. We respond when we hear an infant cry. We respond when someone hurts or offends us or when someone gives us an unexpected gift. Many times we respond openly and unashamedly. Other times, we try to hide our response because of fear or embarassment. However, no matter how hard we try, it is very difficult to withhold the actual response itself.
At some point in life, every person has an opportunity to respond to God's grace. Many people respond to God's invitation to grace as if it is an extravagant gift. Others turn away in offense because they are unwilling to admit thier need for mercy.
Although everyone must respond initially, the best response to grace is one that is never ending. A healthy and maturing relationship with Christ is demonstrated by infinite responses-God continues to offer His grace and we continue to respond.
A continued response to grace is most often demonstrated by visible changes in a life. When we truly accept God's grace and are filled with the power of the Holy Ghost, the old man within us begins to die. The habits, thoughts, and desires of the old self will no longer be able to live in agreement with the identity of the new nature. They will have to find another place to dwell.
Shedding our 'old clothes' and putting on garments of righteousness is just one continued response to grace. A greater love for God, His Word, and His Ways is another. When we accept this magnificient and unimagineable gift, we will want to better know the One who gives to us so generously. Our committment to experience Him on deeper levels demonstrates a continued response to grace.
Have you accepted God's abundant grace? Has He forgiven your sins, erased your failures, and pardoned your unfaithfulness? In addition, has He blessed you more than you ever thought possible? I know that I will never be able to thank Him for all He has done for me!
What has your response to His grace looked like thus far? Was your response a momentous but one-time occurrence that hasn't required much thought since? Or are you continuing to daily respond to the grace He offers? Take a minute and reflect on your responses. What evidence have they produced in your life? Responding to God's grace is a lifelong process. Continue to respond so He can continue to conform you to His image!
The LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. Isaiah 30:18
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Pala Praise
I have always enjoyed corporate worship. I love to lift my voice with others in praise to a Magnificent God. I love when God responds to our praise by descending on a congregation in such a sweet and even tangible way. To bask in His Presence is like no other feeling in this world. Where else can one experience such unimagineable love and sweet peace? Unfortunately, I do not experience this sweet escape everytime I enter the doors of my local church.
There have been many times when I've entered into corporate worship and my mind is far from Him. In those times, the worship my voice sends up doesn't result in a sweet experience with Him. Afterward, I walk away unchanged and empty-handed. I have discovered that an extraordinary encounter with God almost always begins with my sacrifice of extraordinary praise. According to John Kohlenberger's A Concise Dictionary of Hebrew, pala is a word that means "to separate, distinguish, to be wonderful; wondrous things." In scripture, pala is used primarily of God to denote the fact that He does things that are beyond the bounds of human powers or expectations. However, it can also be used to describe the actions and attitudes of man. If I long to encounter God in a life-changing way, I have to be willing to demonstrate pala praise.
I must be willing to separate myself solely unto Him; pushing all the cares of life from my focus until He is all I see. When I am able to accomplish this, the praise coming from my heart is a truly wondrous thing. But how is it that these moments of purest worship seem to be scattered in between so many times of mediocrity? It is because other things become the object of my infatuation. I obsess over earthly things and forget that I belong to a kingdom that is not of this world. During those times, Jesus subtly slips from my adoration to an obligation. When this happens, my worship becomes more of a struggle and less of an experience.
My Redeemer has already proven Himself to be Wondrous. The earth abounds with wonderful things He has created. I am a living example of His love and mercy; two unexplainable and wonderful things. Although He continues to bestow blessings on me, it is He alone who is worthy of wonderful and distinguished things! He deserves more of me than I have yet to give him. Who am I to dare approach this King with words that are spoken absentmindedly and without pure intent? Lord help me to always come before You with a pure heart, full of gratitude, and with a willingness to give you pala praise.
O LORD GOD Almighty, who is like you? You are mighty, O LORD, and your faithfulness surrounds you.
Psalm 89:8
There have been many times when I've entered into corporate worship and my mind is far from Him. In those times, the worship my voice sends up doesn't result in a sweet experience with Him. Afterward, I walk away unchanged and empty-handed. I have discovered that an extraordinary encounter with God almost always begins with my sacrifice of extraordinary praise. According to John Kohlenberger's A Concise Dictionary of Hebrew, pala is a word that means "to separate, distinguish, to be wonderful; wondrous things." In scripture, pala is used primarily of God to denote the fact that He does things that are beyond the bounds of human powers or expectations. However, it can also be used to describe the actions and attitudes of man. If I long to encounter God in a life-changing way, I have to be willing to demonstrate pala praise.
I must be willing to separate myself solely unto Him; pushing all the cares of life from my focus until He is all I see. When I am able to accomplish this, the praise coming from my heart is a truly wondrous thing. But how is it that these moments of purest worship seem to be scattered in between so many times of mediocrity? It is because other things become the object of my infatuation. I obsess over earthly things and forget that I belong to a kingdom that is not of this world. During those times, Jesus subtly slips from my adoration to an obligation. When this happens, my worship becomes more of a struggle and less of an experience.
My Redeemer has already proven Himself to be Wondrous. The earth abounds with wonderful things He has created. I am a living example of His love and mercy; two unexplainable and wonderful things. Although He continues to bestow blessings on me, it is He alone who is worthy of wonderful and distinguished things! He deserves more of me than I have yet to give him. Who am I to dare approach this King with words that are spoken absentmindedly and without pure intent? Lord help me to always come before You with a pure heart, full of gratitude, and with a willingness to give you pala praise.
O LORD GOD Almighty, who is like you? You are mighty, O LORD, and your faithfulness surrounds you.
Psalm 89:8
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