God presence is present

Is what we say more important than what we pray?  

In Psalm 94:9 (AMP), it teaches that "He who made the ear, does He not hear?  He who formed the eye, does He not see?"  

In other words, God is listening to every thing that we say, and watching every thing we do all the time.  

In I Thessalonians 5:17 (NIrV) Paul taught us to "Never stop praying".  The thought of continuously praying is mind boggling.  

How do we never stop praying?  

It is by becoming aware that God is always listening to what we are saying, and is always watching what we are doing.  

Prayer is continuously practicing the presence of God whether we are speaking to Him or not.  

In Psalm 139:1-4, David wrote... 

"Lord, you have seen what is in my heart.  

You know all about me.

You know when I sit down and when I get up.     

You know what I’m thinking even though you are far away. 

You know when I go out to work and when I come back home.   

You know exactly how I live. 

Lord, even before I speak a word,you know all about it."  

Praying is an awareness that God is  always listening whether I am addressing Him are not.  

Jesus continually practiced an awareness of God's  presence when...

In John 11 41B- 42A (NIrV): He said, “Father, I thank you for hearing me. I know that you always hear me." 

 Living aware of God's presence moves the heart of God.    

In Matthew 12:36-37 (ESV) , Jesus taught that what we say in front of God and not what we say to God determines our eternal destiny. 

" I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

In Mark 11: 22-24 (NIrV), 

"Jesus said. 

“What I’m about to tell you is true. Suppose someone says to this mountain, ‘Go and throw yourself into the sea.’ They must not doubt in their heart. 

They must believe that what they say will happen. Then it will be done for them. 

So I tell you, when you pray for something, believe that you have already received it. 

Then it will be yours."  

Notice, Jesus taught in this passage the importance of speaking in front of God before He taught of the importance of speaking to God.  

Always living aware of God's presence is a secret to answered prayer. 

M. H. Dennis 

The Why of Worship

Romans 11:33-36 (NIRV)

Praise to God

33 How very rich are God’s wisdom and knowledge!

    How he judges is more than we can understand!

    The way he deals with people is more than we can know!

34 “Who can ever know what the Lord is thinking?

    Or who can ever give him advice?” (Isaiah 40:13)

35 “Has anyone ever given anything to God,
    so that God has to pay them back?” (Job 41:11)

36 All things come from him.

All things are directed by him.

All things are for his praise.

    May God be given the glory forever! Amen.

We each have something to bring to our great God which gives worship and honor to Him.  We can offer to Him our bodies.

  

Romans 12:1 (NIRV)

12 Brothers and sisters, God has shown you his mercy. So I am asking you to offer up your bodies to him while you are still alive.

Your bodies are a holy sacrifice that is pleasing to God. 

When you offer your bodies to God, you are worshiping him in the right way. 

We not only give to Him our bodies, but also everything within it.  Do we give God our everything including in our worship?   

What is keeping you back from giving God your all?  The enemy wants you consumed by something else.  

A lifestyle of worship progresses from giving God something to giving God everything. Where are you on this journey? To progress on this journey, it requires us to change the way we think.

Romans 12:2  (NIRV)

2 Don’t live the way this world lives. 

Let your way of thinking be completely changed. 

Then you will be able to test what God wants for you. 

And you will agree that what he wants is right. 

His plan is good and pleasing and perfect. 

1. We must make our every moment about Him.

Jesus is called Emanuel.  He is God with us. Our every thought must be about Him.   

Have you ever been around someone who it's all about them?  This is called Narcissism.

Are you like that?  

Worship is the remedy for selfishness.  Sin is really fun in the moment.  It comes and goes quickly.  An obedient life produces joy for eternity. 

2. We must shape our every thought around Him.  

If we are to worship God, it must start with our thoughts.  

3.  We must commit our everyday to our praise and worship of Him.   

Psalm 150 (NIRV)

Praise the Lord.

Praise God in his holy temple.

    Praise him in his mighty heavens.

2 Praise him for his powerful acts.

    Praise him because he is greater than anything else.

3 Praise him by blowing trumpets.

    Praise him with harps and lyres.

4 Praise him with tambourines and dancing.

    Praise him with stringed instruments and flutes.

5 Praise him with clashing cymbals.

    Praise him with clanging cymbals.

6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord. 

Blue- Scriptures in blue.

Allen Pedram, Church of the Highlands, Huntsville Campus