In today’s fast-paced world, true worship is often overshadowed by trends that prioritize emotions, entertainment, and shallow participation, taking us away from authentic worship meant to deeply connect us with God. Worship is essential for spiritual survival, much like food is for physical survival. Without daily worship, our spirits become weak, disconnected from God, and unable to thrive. Making worship a daily practice helps us maintain a strong spiritual life, providing guidance, strength, and peace. It ensures our actions align with God’s will, helping us handle life’s challenges with grace. Through worship, we draw closer to God, experience His love, and gain the resilience needed to face difficulties. Just as a tree by a river thrives by drawing water, our spiritual lives thrive through regular worship. Let’s prioritize daily worship to experience God’s love and provision fully.
Neglecting worship can lead to spiritual dryness and a lack of purpose, just as neglecting to eat can cause physical illness and fatigue. Therefore, making worship a daily practice is crucial for maintaining a strong and vibrant spiritual life. Daily worship practices such as morning prayer, Bible reading, listening to worship music, reading devotionals, keeping a gratitude journal, memorizing Bible verses, evening prayer, and spending quiet time with God help us stay connected to Him. This daily dependence on God for spiritual nourishment is similar to how the Israelites relied on manna during their journey in the wilderness, teaching us to trust in God’s provision. Worship sustains our spiritual health, provides guidance, and strengthens our faith, helping us navigate life’s challenges with resilience and purpose. By prioritizing daily worship, we deepen our relationship with God, ensuring our efforts are purposeful and aligned with His will. True worship involves heartfelt engagement and reliance on God’s presence, guiding us and providing for us just as He did for the Israelites.
Beats From Your Pastor’s Heart
In John 13:1, “Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour was come that He should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end,” we see that Jesus’ love is enduring and eternal.
This is further emphasized in John 17:24 where Jesus prays, “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world,” and in Jeremiah 31:3, which states, “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”
Understanding this eternal love means recognizing that Jesus’ love for us began in eternity past and continues into eternity future, remaining constant and unchanging despite our sins, weaknesses, or life’s challenges.
John 15:9-10 reminds us, “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.”
Just as Jesus lived His earthly life in the Father’s love, we are called to do the same by keeping His commandments and abiding in His love.
As the church, the bride of Christ, we share in the love between the Father and the Son, and by living in this reality, we can face life’s difficulties with confidence, knowing that nothing can separate us from His love.
This eternal love, concentrated in the Son, is what we are called to partake in and constantly abide in, reflecting the depth of Jesus’ love for us.
As we praise God for His unchanging love, we should strive to abide in Jesus’ love, live out His commandments, and share His love with others, knowing that by doing so, we can confidently face life’s challenges, assured that nothing can separate us from His love.
Until Tomorrow
With A Shepherd’s Love,
Pastor Jackson
FRIDAY’S PRAYER REQUESTS
Joe Shelnutt – Surgery Today
Kathryn Raines
Tom Graham (Sandra’s Husband)
John McClain’s Mother
Amy Garner’s Mom & Dad
Coly/Connor – Allison’s G’sons
Dan Haines
Darlene Wiggins
David Burnette
Denise Hulsey – Jordan’s G’mother
Donnie Butler’s Dad
Doris Loyd
Dr. and Mrs. Davis
Ed Mays
Eric Magnusson’s Mother
Eric Ward
Faith Burnette
Freddie May’s Mom
George & Linda Alexander
James Burnette
Joanie/Jeanie Mom
Jodi Bateman
June Cronan’s Sister
Kailey Bateman
Kim McClain’s Mother
Krista Hilscher
Larry Barker
Lillanna Magnusson’s Mom
Linda Breedlove’s Sister – Sarah
Linda Hodges’ Sister
Lonzo Christin
Lori Blount’s Mother
Marynell Ford
Maureen Brown
Michael Stanley
Nora Allison
Pastor Driskell
Rose Fuller – Pruitt-Monroe Nursing Home, Forsyth GA
Scott Lanier
Tom Witcher