Failure

Do you ever feel like a failure?  Especially when it comes to God?  I can tell you, a lot of the time, I feel like I have failed God.  Take Lent, for example.  I go into Lent every year with good intentions.  I want to pray, fast, immerse myself in scripture, spend time with God.  But, for some reason, I am a complete failure at it.  Maybe that is the point. 

I’m sure you’re thinking, “What in the world is she talking about?”, but I assure you, I have a point to this.  I recognize my shortcomings.  Do you?  If you are anything like me, then you do recognize your failures and shortcomings.  I’m saddened by the fact that I have no willpower, that I allow other things to influence what I spend my time doing, that I don’t spend the time that I should with my Savior. 

But read this:

Hebrews 2:14 – 18: “14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. 16 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest pin the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”

See that?  Jesus had to come to this earth to defeat my “slavery”.  My slavery to material things, my slavery to self, my slavery to others.  He did the same thing for you.  Jesus came to “make propitiation” for my sins, for your sins.  What does propitiation mean? Propitiation means “the turning away of wrath by an offering.”  That is what God sent Jesus to do for us.  He sent Jesus as an offering to cover our many sins. 

So, yes, I feel guilty for not being about to fully surrender myself during the Lenten season, for being a failure.  Yes, I feel guilty for not spending time with God in prayer, scripture study and supplication.  Yes, I feel guilty when I break every law He has told me not to break.  But, Jesus is there for me.  He is there to be my intercessor, to be my Savior, to be my defender.  And, he can be the same for you. 

In Christ alone my hope is found;
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all—
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save.
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied;
For ev'ry sin on Him was laid—
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine—
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death—
This is the pow'r of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home—
Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand.

Worship

What does it mean to worship?  Well worship is defined as "the reverent LOVE and devotion accorded a deity, an idol, or a sacred object."  God wants us to worship Him.  We worship God out of fear (not being afraid, but of awe), devotion, reverence.  How do we do that?  We can sing, shout, cry out.

Why do we worship?
For starters, we worship because of the blessings that He gives.  Second, we worship in spite of difficult circumstances.  And also, because of His grace and mercy.

Psalm 66:18 says, "If I had cherished iniquity (sin) in my heart, the Lord would not have listened."

What kind of worshiper does God want me (and you) to be?  He tells us in Psalm 1:12:  "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night." 

Stuart Townsend and Keith Getty penned the song "In Christ Alone".  You may have heard portions of it from the Newsboys in a song by the same name.  It says these profound words:

"In Christ alone my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my song; this Cornerstone, this solid ground, firm through the fiercest drought and storm."

Psalm 34 tells us how to praise and worship and the promise that comes from that action. 

Let's look at those verses:

Action                                                       Promise
(v.1)    extol (praise)                                always speak His name
(v.2)    boast                                              rejoice who God is
(v.3)    magnify                                         exalt His name forever
(v.4)    seek                                                deliver from fears
(v.5)    look to Him                                  never be ashamed
(v.6)    cry                                                  save from troubles
(v.9-10) fear                                              not lack good things

My final thoughts I will close with Psalm 103:1, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name!"