Categories
Bible

Weekly Reflections 05: Stutter and Step

Photo by Clem Onohjeghuo

Introduction

I often times stutter when I speak, especially when I am really excited about something or when I speak Taglish (moving back and forth between English and Tagalog). Honestly, it gets annoying, “Th-th-th-this is wh-wh-what it so-so-sounds like (or reads like, in your case).” Eventually, I learned a couple things to help prevent myself from stuttering which helped improve my confidence. On the second day of our mid-year prayer and fasting I realized that we don’t just stutter when we talk, but we also stutter in life. We stutter before we take a leap of faith, before we make a big decision, when we are in a high-pressure situation, or when we are about to expose ourself to criticism. So I want to take this time to look at three (3) biblical characters who stuttered in life, but had three different responses.

Main Text

Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

Matthew 26:36-39
Observations
1. There is a place of testing.

Verse 36 shows us that they were in a place called “Gethsemane” which means “oil press”. You would make olive oil before by going through a back and forth process of rinsing and crushing olives. You would pick an olive from the garden, rinse it clean, then put it in an oil press to be crushed, and the process would repeat itself until you have olive oil. The garden of Gethsemane was a precursor to the crushing that Jesus was about to go through in order to save us from our sins.

What are the areas or seasons of your life where you experienced a great crushing or test? Where is your Gethsemane?

2. Not all who was with Jesus was able to go where He was going.

Our main text shows us how the apostles who accompanied Jesus slowly dwindled until Jesus was the only one left to move forward. Scholars believe this to be an illustration of the tabernacle where the first instance showed the outer court, the second instance showed the inner court, while the final instance where Jesus was alone showed the Holy of Holies, a place where only the high priest was allowed to enter. We also see how Jesus was progressively sharing his feelings the more He went in. There is a group of people with whom you can share your problems with, then within that group a select few with whom you can be more vulnerable with, and finally God, with whom you can “let loose” and be as vulnerable as you want to be.

Is these something that you need to pour out before God? What can you do to have a dialogue with Him?

3. There was hesitation

When Jesus said “if it be possible, let this cup pass from me” was the human side of Jesus saying “I don’t want this,” but he continued with saying, “not as I will, but as you will.” This moment of hesitation, this defining moment of Jesus’ life where the pressure is on and the stakes are high we see Jesus stutter.

What are the seasons and moments in your life when you stuttered? How did you respond?

The Response

At the edge of promise, when the story is reaching its highest point, we find ourselves stuttering. We have a moment of weakness and we find ourselves thinking “can I do this?” And we allow doubt to creep in, but it is our response to that moment that determines our destination. Let’s look at three (3) possible responses:

Give up

When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Matthew 18:22

A rich young man came up to Jesus asking what good he must do to have eternal life. Jesus tells him to follow the commandments, after Jesus clarified which commandments he needed to keep and the young man boasting about how he was able to keep them, Jesus finally gave him a proposition: sell all you have, give to the poor, and follow Him. It was in this moment that the rich young man stuttered and decided to give up.

What sins do you have the most difficulty giving up? What are the things that stops you from fulfilling your purpose or carrying out your goals?

Take matters into our own hands

Then the men were exceedingly afraid and said to him, “What is this that you have done!” For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.

Jonah 1:10

Jonah was called to go to Nineveh, but instead Jonah decided to take matters into his own hands and flee to Tarshish. Which led to them experiencing a storm, Jonah being thrown off of the boat, getting swallowed by a fish, until ultimately doing as the LORD asked him to. Another story where people took matters into their own hands were the people of Israel immediately after being freed from slavery. How their 12-14 days journey, turned into forty years of wandering in the wilderness. Yet in both of these stories, God continued to provide for them.

What areas in your life did you think you knew better than God, but failed in? How did you feel? What did you receive after yielding to God?

Step in faith

And going a little further he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

Matthew 26:39

We end where we began and see that the best response to the most challenging moments in our life is to seek God and step in faith. Sometimes stepping in faith means a step forward, while other times it means to step back.

What moment in your life did God tell you to take a step forward? What happened? What moment did God tell you to take a step back? What happened?

Conclusion

Life is full of challenges, but it is how we respond to these challenges that determines our trajectory. These challenges are places of crushing that allows us to move closer to Jesus. Sometimes these are places where we can get by with the right company, but other times these are silent battles in our mind that we have to face ourselves. However, we must always remember that we are never truly alone and we are never too far gone that God’s hand cannot reach us.

When Jesus was at the garden, He stuttered, but He responded in faith and in submission to the will of God, enduring the pain and the shame which ultimately led to our salvation. How will you respond to your Gethsemane? Will you run? Will take matters into your own hands? Or will you seek God and step in faith.

Categories
Bible

Weekly Reflections 04: The Sound of the Drill

Photo by Simon Impei on Unsplash

Introduction:

I have been listening to someone drilling holes into a concrete wall for three (3) hours now. Carrying a conversation with someone is difficult, especially when you’re within close proximity to the drilling. The only solution is to move further away from the noise to carry a better, less vocally straining conversation. It’s beautiful how despite the incessant drilling noise, we are able to receive a revelation.

Main Text

“Behold the hour is coming indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

John 16:32-33 ESV

Context

In the chapters leading up to this, Jesus was talking about how He was the way, the truth, and the life, He also gave the promise of the Holy Spirit, He also shared how He was the true vine, as well as being hated by the world. Jesus was preparing them for the works of His early ministry and how they will be facing a lot of hardships and persecution and this was a reassurance of sorts for His disciples.

Observations

1. Jesus foreshadows His death and what the disciples will do until He returns.

“Behold the hour is coming indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone.”

When Jesus was arrested all of the disciples abandoned Him returning to where they were from and doing what they did before they were called to follow Jesus.

2. Jesus reveals more about His relationship to the Father

“Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me.”

He not only reveals the omnipresence of God, but also His relationship as the Son of God revealing to us a small part of their union. Though He may seem physically alone, He is never truly abandoned.

3. He reassures them of what they are about to face

“In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

More prophecies about what is to come and the reassurance for the task they did not know they would be doing.

Application

So back to the drill. Imagine that the drill is the world, it’s blasting your ear with the need for more “more money, more power, more sales, more gadgets, more cars.” Godly ambition is good, but when that ambition turns into an endless desire for more forcing you to make more compromises with your values or deafening your ear to the voice of God, we begin to see problems. Sometimes, we are not even aware that we have a problem, or maybe we are but cannot seem to accept it. Let’s look at three (3) things that we can do in order to identify if we are listening to the world more than we are to God.

1. How has it been impacting your relationship with others?

“I, therefore, a prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

Ephesians 4:1-3 ESV

This verse shows us how we should be treating others: humility, gentleness, patience, love, and unity. I remember something I learned back in college, I forgot who said it, but I remember what he said very clearly: “You should not be shouting while you are leading.”

While it is applicable when it comes to leadership, it is equally applicable when it comes to relationship. If your manner of communication has turned from talking to shouting, there might be an underlying cause that you need to fix, something on their mind, stress, or something that is just bothering them.

2. Have you still been spending time learning God’s word?

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Psalm 119:105 ESV

Admittedly, going through our daily devotions can be tiresome, especially when we have a busy day, but when your major decisions are not both logically and prayerfully decided on, you might be relying on your strength over God’s.

The Word of God is difficult to pin down. It’s very old, yet still applicable in the modern age after some analysis. There is a wisdom you can only find when reading the word of God.

I remember an argument I had before I became a Christian, I said “I didn’t need the bible or prayer to know what I was supposed to do after careful logical consideration.” Now that I am a Christian, I realize something more: if the Word of God and logical analysis leads to the same conclusion, the bible said it first.

3. Do you sense God’s peace?

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV

Why do we have a lot of rich people who feel empty? Why do we sometimes feel like our large successes are not fulfilling? Why can we sometimes get exactly what we want, but not be happy? Because there is no peace. No matter how many lectures we go to, how much money we make, how many services we attend, how many ministries we volunteer for or how many good deeds we do, peace does not come from an action, but a person and that person is Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

Let’s conclude with something I heard from Pastor Jeremy Foster at Hope City “it can look and feel right, but if there is no peace then you need to reflect.” We can be in a great position in life, yet not find peace and get frustrated when we see people who are happier or more peaceful with less.

Our minds are always so pre-occupied with problems, worries, and anxieties and it’s starting to feel like a drill right next to our ears. When everything is begging for your attention that it starts to drown out the voice that is talking to you, it might be time to take a step back and move away from the noise and have a heartfelt conversation with God because when we move further away from the world and move closer to Him, we hear the world less and start hearing Him more.

Categories
Bible

Weekly Reflections 03: Identity Quotient

FOCUS: Identity

Introduction

Did you know that there are no duplicate fingerprints? There are billions of people but we all have something unique that is our own. We have something tied to our identity that 100% confirms our identity. Who we are is very important to us, but who He is is just as important.

Main Text: John 4:1-41

There are three (3) levels to this text:

  1. Personal level: The thirst for something
  2. Political level: The true worshippers
  3. Spiritual level: The identity of Jesus (Focus for this message)

Context: The people of Israel and Samaria were constantly at odds with one another.

Observations

  1. Jesus revealed that He was man

Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour._

John 4:6 (ESV)

We see here that Jesus, Son of the living God was subject to human fatigue. But it also shows us his social status, Jesus was poor because he was traveling on foot and not on horseback.

  1. Jesus revealed that He was divine

Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”

John 4:26 ESV

This happens before Jesus walked on water. He revealed His true identity to a woman of Samaria, by confirming that He was the promised Messiah.

  1. Jesus is refreshed by spiritual food

Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.

John 4:34 ESV

Just as physical food refreshes our bodies, spiritual food refreshes the spirit of Jesus. What was refreshing Jesus? Doing the will of God and accomplishing the work—preaching the gospel and dying on the cross.

  1. Jesus is the one who saves.

They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”

John 4:42 ESV

The woman got them interested, but it was Jesus that kept them interested and ultimately save them. They went from hearing a testimony to having a testimony.

What can we learn from this?

  1. There are times when Jesus asks something of us
  2. Because we didn’t know Him, we questioned Him
  3. Jesus makes himself known to us
  4. And we bring others to Him

Application

So we know who He is, what now? We need to be doers of the Word and not just hearers.

  1. Identify who He is to you

He said to them, “But who do you say I am?”

Matthew 16:15 ESV

People will claim Jesus to be many different things, in this context some were calling him John the baptist, some Elijah, etc. The world will try to influence you on who He is, but Jesus is here as if saying “Okay, that is who everyone thinks I am, but who do you think I am?”

People claim Jesus was a man who lived the perfect life. Some claim Him to be a prophet. Some remove the miracles of Jesus and only focus on His character and values. But who is He to you?

Who He is to you is the foundation of your faith. It must be real to you, not something someone else has influenced you with.

  1. Abide in Him and in good company

Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, _you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me._

John 15:4

Jim Rohn, a motivational speakers, says that “we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with.” If we take a biblical spin to it, we can find that 1 Corinthians 15:33 says the same thing “Do not be deceived, bad company ruins good morals”.

We need to be very wary of who we spend time with. We need people who KNOWs us and people who NOs us. But most importantly, we need to spend time with God in order for us to bear fruit.

  1. Move towards Him then move with Him

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.

John 14:12 ESV

The bible is full of words that shows movement like “go” or “seek” or “come”. Even when Jesus was here, it was all about movement, going from place to place, preaching the gospel. Christianity in itself is also a movement.

If you know who Jesus is and you spend time in His presence, it is impossible for you to not move with Him, want what He wants, go where He asks you to go, do what He commands you to do.

If God looks small, that’s because He is far away. As you move closer, He will increase while you decrease.

Reflection Questions:

  1. Who is God to you?
  2. Are there people around you who negatively influence you or put you in value compromising situations?
  3. Make a list of people who you trust and makes you feel refreshed.
  4. What area in your life can you move forward in faith?
Categories
Announcement

COVID19: How we can continue learning

Shalom! Peace Greetings! We are praying for the peace and protection that only God can provide during these challenging times.

The situation

As you all know, the COVID-19 global pandemic along with several health and safety precautions implemented by the government have greatly impacted school activities. This, however, allowed us the opportunity to explore alternative means to education.

The private schools in the division of Pasig City, under the leadership of our Department of Education (DepEd) Division superintendent, together with supervisors from the School Governance and Operations Division had a zoom meeting last Tuesday, 26 May 2020 in order to discuss some of the more pressing issues that schools might face as this pandemic continues as well as our way-forward steps in ensuring the ongoing delivery of education.

Our Response

Since the onset of the pandemic, we have been seeking possible platforms, attending various webinars, and focusing our efforts to ensure the best possible adoption of online distance learning approaches. This approach, while appropriate for our present circumstance, presents us with new challenges. Since our philosophy advocates interactive and experiential learning through socialization in order to maximize a student’s potential and limit the use of electronic gadgets as the overall learning tool, we found ourselves conflicted. However, our desire to provide our students with a safe learning environment as well as our dedication to continuous learning have allowed us to consider this online medium, if not momentarily.

Online Classes

Recently, we have had several meetings related to online learning. We will be adopting an online distance learning approach for as long as this pandemic poses a threat to the health and safety of our students. Through the use of pre-recorded videos with supplementary worksheets, online assessments, and video conferencing tools we have begun to adjust our lessons to better accommodate this “new normal” we find ourselves in. The decision to go with a “learn at your own pace” model was to make sure that our students will not spend long hours in front of the screen. We shall also have a regular schedule for students to interact with the teachers and help address any learning challenges they may be facing through video conferencing platforms such as Zoom.

Parents Training and Class Size changes

To ensure that the individual needs of every student are met, we will only be assigning eight (8) students per teacher. Our lessons shall also require the participation of the parents to reinforce learning. In order to do that, each lesson shall contain a section where instructions shall be given to the parents in order supplement the learning objectives. We are also preparing a training video to help parents understand their role in helping us educate their child.

Communication

Communication is very important, even more so for online learning. We shall be providing our parents with updates as often as we can through text message. We shall also be posting majority of our announcements and notices on our official social media pages so please follow us on social media and turn on notifications. We shall also be sending text blasts to make sure you are notified when we make an announcement.

Safety precautions

Once it is declared safe for students to continue learning within the four corners of the classroom, we have prepared a comprehensive disinfection and environmental safety procedure and we will ensure our classroom and facilities shall observe proper social distancing measures.

Education never stops, it evolves

In light of all of this, we are proud to open our Online Enrollment for S.Y. 2020-2021 from 1 June 2020 until 31 July 2020.

We will also schedule our Online Parents Orientation on Friday, 14 August 2020followed by the Online Learning Training Session on Saturday, 15 August 2020.

We are praying for your support and trust as we continue to partner with each other in the continued development and education of your children. We hope that this message helped shed some light on the direction of the school and assured you of our dedication in giving not only you, but also your children the best we can offer.

For inquiries feel free to contact us through telephone at 02 7964-5327 (from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday to Friday only) or mobile phone: 0917-513-8601 (Globe). You can also reach us through any of our official social media pages.

We are very excited to share this experience with you. We also have a lot of improvements coming soon, so we hope you are just as excited as we are.


Together, let us keep shining for Jesus!

Categories
Bible

Weekly Reflections 01: Thirst Quencher

Focus: Intimacy

Introduction:

There is this thing on Twitter called “Thirst Tweets” where men or women are very openly talking about their sexual desire over a celebrity or artist. There is a YouTube segment where these celebrities read and respond to those thirst tweets on video. Thirsting over someone is described by pop culture as someone who is giving too much attention or too much interest in the person they are attracted to.

Question: Is thirsting really just a strong interest and desire over someone or is it a cry for help from someone who wants love and intimacy?

Main Text: John 4:7-30

There are three (3) levels to this text:

  1. Personal level: The thirst for something (FOCUS for this message)
  2. Political level: The nature of worship
  3. Spiritual level: The identity of Jesus

Observations:

  1. Jesus comes to us.

A woman, a Samaritan, came to draw water. Jesus said, “would you give me a drink of water?” The Samaritan woman, taken aback, asked, “How come you, a Jew, are asking me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?” Jesus answered “ _If you knew the generosity of God and who I am, you would be asking me for a drink, and I would give you fresh, living water.”_

John 4:7,9-10 MSG

The woman came to draw water, but Jesus came for the woman. Not only does he come to see her, but also to offer her— living water.

  1. The woman thirsts for something she cannot explain.

The woman said to him, Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.” Jesus said to her, ‘Go, call your husband, and come here.” The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.”

John 4:15-18 ESV

Jesus wanted to reveal himself, but also give the woman what she has been thirsting for. The woman of Samaria has been trying to quench her thirst with something physical because she did not understand what she was thirsting for. Jesus comes in to reveal that her thirst was spiritual in nature. Her desire for intimacy and love cannot be quenched by man, but by God.

  1. The woman finally had her thirst quenched.

Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?”

John 4:28-29 NIV

Her original purpose for going to the well changed after her encounter with Jesus. She went as a seeker and returned as a preacher.

Truths

There are three (3) powerful truths we can relate to:

  1. We have an indescribable desire for something.
  2. We fill that desire with things that do not fit.
  3. We realize only Jesus can fulfill that desire.

Application

They say that man has an endless thirst for knowledge, but through this text we learn that we also have an endless thirst for intimacy with God.

Question: How can we quench the thirst?

  1. Acknowledge God.

O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you; as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

Psalm 63:1

I really love how David is a man after God’s own heart. The way he thirsts for God and the way he seeks Him is a sight to behold, but it always starts by acknowledging God and His position in your life.

  1. Seek God.

You will seek me and find me, when you seek with all your heart.

Jeremiah 29:13

We get used to the famous quote from Jeremiah that says “For I know the plans I have for you…”, but let us look at something else. Something that is within our control.

When you do not study for your exams, is the teacher’s fault you failed? When you do not attend service, is it the preacher’s fault you did not receive the Word of God? When you do not open your bible, is it God’s fault you did not hear His voice?

Often times we say “I’m waiting for God,” when God is saying “I’m waiting for you.”

How have you been seeking God?

  1. Know God.

For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.

1 Corinthians 2:11-12

You know God by knowing Jesus and the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is like defibrillators—the devices used to restore a normal heartbeat by sending an electric pulse or shock to the heart. It is used to prevent or correct an uneven heart beat, one that is too slow or too fast. It can also restore the heart’s beating if the heart suddenly stops.

The Holy Spirit is tied to our heart. It helps steer us away from sin, it helps us from growing too cold in our faith, and it can help restore a faith that has already died.

Categories
Bible

Weekly Reflections 02: Pouring Out

FOCUS: Worship

Introduction

I love burgers. I remember back in college when I first had Zarks, because it was located in Taft most of the people there were from La Salle and CSB. But just because I was from UST that did not mean I was not allowed to like their burgers. Just because Mang Tootz is near UST, that doesn’t mean only people from UST are allowed to eat there. The same goes for worship.

Main Text: John 4:20-39

There are three (3) levels to this text:

  1. Personal level: The thirst for something
  2. Political level: The true worshippers (Focus for this message)
  3. Spiritual level: The identity of Jesus

Observations

  1. Jesus reveals the place of worship (Where)

John 4:21 ESV
Woman believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.

In these times, there were appointed places to worship God. Typically within temples or altars built by the Jews, usually found in Jerusalem. What mountain was Jesus referring to? The people of Samaria built a temple on the mountain in order to worship God.

Question: What is their dilemma?

Jesus reveals that worship is not limited to any physical location, but our spiritual frame of mind. When you are not in a place or a situation that inspires worship, but you are in a spiritual frame of mind to worship, worship can happen.

Recall: When I was at Vertis, because it is a shared workspace, I was with managers who also owned a laptop. I remember I was listening to this message by TD Jakes called “Chain Breaker” and he was so on fire, I was losing my mind, and because everyone else was working, I was quietly going wild.

  1. Jesus reveals the reason of worship (What)

John 4:22 MSG
You worship guessing in the dark; we Jews worship in the clear light of day. God’s way of salvation is made available through the Jews.

Question: you are coming to church, singing worship songs, but do you understand who you are worshipping?

While the people of Samaria kept worshipping out of what they received, the Jews worshipped for what was to come, because the Savior will be born in a Jewish nation.

He reveals that worship is not about what God has given us, but about what God is at work doing. Anticipation for what is to come, a celebration of a promise. Back then it was about how the promised Messiah would bring the salvation that we have always longed for, now it is a celebration of that salvation, an anticipation for Jesus’ return, and something that rightly belongs to God.

Be very careful about who and what you worship.

  1. Jesus reveals the manner of worship (How)

John 4:23 ESV:
But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.

John 4:23 MSG:
But the time is coming—it has, in fact, come—when what you’re called will not matter and where you go to worship will not matter. It is who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That’s the kind of people the Father is out looking for: _those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration._

Jesus reveals the manner we must worship. He tells us to worship in spirit and truth. The honest desire to reveal ourselves and truthfully acknowledge him.

Questions: Have you ever cried while you worshipped?

I have, plenty of times, Shine has too and this is what we had in common. It was because we completely exposed our spirit to the presence of God. We allowed our burdens to be cast on the feet of Jesus, we allowed ourselves to be vulnerable in His presence.

Recall: I remember when we were unlocking the gift of tongues during Victory Weekend, Pastor Christian said we just had to close our eyes and continually thank and praise God, to pour out our hearts, and when we no longer have the words, continue to praise Him with words you cannot find.

Truths

There are three (3) truths in this text:

  1. Sometimes we think there is only a particular place you have to worship
  2. We often think worship is a sign of gratitude for what we have been given
  3. We think worship is an act not an attitude

Application

There is this saying “Men fall on the weight of worship” Why is that? Because worship is not a form, but a substance. We fall on the weight of worship because we are not fit to be worshipped. We can be praised, we can be thanked, but we cannot last long under worship. Notice how you feel weak and physically tired after worshipping God? Worship is not a form, it is a substance, it has weight. Two things that have weight in the bible: worship and glory.

Question: How can we worship?

  1. Position your heart

Isaiah 29:13 ESV
And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, _while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,”_

Worship is not about what we say or do, but about our heart.

Are you worshipping from a position of pride demanding for what you think is rightfully yours? Are you worshipping because everyone else around is worshipping? Are you worshipping because that’s what you were taught while growing up? Or are you worshipping because of who He is.

Worship is not about words, but about heart.

  1. Overlook your situation

Acts 16:25 ESV
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God and the prisoners were listening to them.

There is no direct relationship between worship and situation. You do not worship God because you are in a favorable position, you worship God regardless of your position.

I am sure we all have comfort food. This snack or meal that makes us feel a little more comfortable regardless of what we are going through. Or some of us have a tendency to stress eat whenever we find ourselves in high pressure situations.

We fill our bodies with food to make us feel a little better and fuel ourselves to keep going, and that’s what worship is—food for our soul. When you stress eat or indulge in comfort food, does that take you out of your situation? No, but it helps you go through it. That’s what worship does, it does not take us away from our situation, but helps us go through our situation. It gives us the spiritual strength to go through it.

  1. Understand His character

Psalm 103:8 ESV
The LORD Is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

I actually love Psalm 103 because it shows the need for us to revisit, review, and recalibrate our own understanding of God. It is a man commanding his soul to never grow tired or weary of worshipping God.

Question: Do we stir ourselves up when we worship God or do we only worship when we feel like it?

Command your soul to worship.

  1. Jehovah Jireh—the LORD will provide (Genesis 22)
  2. Jehovah Rapha—the LORD that heals (Exodus 15:22-27)
  3. Jehovah Nissi—the LORD is my banner (Exodus 17:8-16)
  4. Jehovah Shalom—the LORD our peace (Judges 6:11-27)
  5. Jehovah Raah—the LORD my shepherd (Psalm 23)
  6. Jehovah Tsidkenu—the LORD our righteousness (Jeremiah 23:1-8)
  7. Jehovah Shammah—the LORD is there (Ezekiel 48)

God has so many different names, He is whoever you need at whatever time you need Him. He is both the source and the resource.

  1. Rest in His presence

Psalm 144:2 ESV
he is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me.

You know how music affects our mood? Back when I was still competing as an athlete, I would always listen to heavy metal to hype myself up for either my performance or my fight.

You know how music brings back certain memories or transports us to certain places in our imagination? That’s what worship does.

Worship is the quickest way from the cares of this world to the presence of God. We often use this expression “buti nalang nandito ka” because it is being in the presence of someone that we are able to find rest and security. What more if we were in the presence of God?

Reflection Questions

  1. Where is your heart when you worship God?
  2. What difficult situations are you facing right now? How can you worship God despite what you are facing?
  3. What identity of God do you need the most in this season of your life?
  4. How can you find rest and comfort in His identity?