Our worship should not be a distraction from our circumstances.
Worship no matter the circumstances.
That was a concept from a sermon my youngest son heard and shared with me this past week; one that he put into practice particularly with an event in his life.
I had just arrived at my prayer garden one day when my phone rang. It was not a number I knew, but was in my area code so I decided to answer it. It was my son using his buddy’s phone. This son is quite skilled at prefacing things appropriately to make sure you know the most important details first. The first words I heard were, “I am okay. Everyone is okay. Everything is okay.”
He was longboarding (similar to a skateboard but longer) with a friend of his, ended up falling off, which resulted in the left side of his body being pretty scraped up. They had already assessed the situation with another friend, and he was seeking more medical treatment when he finally contacted me.
The worst of everything was needing three stitches in his chin but the fat lip, blue eye, scrapped up shoulder, left side and hip (the worst looking) made him look like he was in quite the battle!
The thoughts from the sermon came to his mind as soon as the accident happened. As they were driving to get assessed, they turned on Christian worship music to accompany their ride. He just kept worshipping the Lord despite the circumstances.
When the physician assistant went to stitch up his chin, she said it would sting. My son focused on praying and said he did not even feel anything. He really did not want stitches. I think he probably remembers when he was five-years-old, he had 13 stitches in his scalp because of falling while walking through bleachers at the end of swim lessons one day. At this time, our area was also dealing with a flood that closed one of our two hospitals. Even then, though, he was a trooper!
When my son returned home, he was giving praise and a big shout-out to the Lord for sparing him from a much worse outcome. He knows how fortunate he was to only need three stitches, with no bones being broken! God has more work for him to do here on this earth he concluded.
A pastor friend’s sermon that I recently heard reminded me of a good way to worship and pray. It is using the letters in the word “ACTS.”
Adoration–Let the Lord know the deep love and respect you have for Him. Praise God.
Confession–Admit that you are a sinner and that you need God’s forgiveness.
Thanksgiving–Thank the Lord for His goodness in your life.
Supplication–Bring your needs to the Lord, the prayers that are weighing heavy on your heart.
In my daily prayer time, I have been keeping that “ACTS” in mind. It is a great way to worship the Lord.
I encourage you this week to focus on worshipping the Lord in all circumstances and pray with “ACTS” in mind.
Keep in mind~~
Our worship should not be a distraction from our circumstances.
Worship no matter the circumstances.
Worship is what we should be doing continually in all things.
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise–the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. –Hebrews 13:15 (NIV)
Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe. –Hebrews 12:28 (ESV)
Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. –1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT)
