"And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground." (Nehemiah 8:6)

Surrender. Reverence. Humility. Worship.

Worship is a spontaneous response from a heart overflowing with love and emotion. The response can come in many ways such as raising hands, bowing the head, lifting up the head, tears, loud praise, silent praise, and so on.

Your acts of worship will probably change each time you enter into His presence depending on how your heart is touched. The Old Testament high priest, when he entered into the Holy of Holies once a year on the Day of Atonement, carefully lifted the curtain, got down on his knees and crawled in backwards out of total reverence and fear of the Lord. We see evidence throughout scripture that the presence of God – encounters with the Holy One of Israel – were not to be taken lightly. God's presence was and still is an awesome experience for any child of God, whether a new convert or a seasoned saint.

There are many Hebrew words that have been translated as "worship". In today's verse, the word "worshipped" comes from the Hebrew word "shachah" which means to prostrate oneself, to bow down, to fall down flat, to humbly beseech, to make obeisance, do reverence, to worship. You can get a clear picture of the honor the children of Israel paid to the Lord through their acts of worship.

Search the scriptures today to find the references for worship; search out the postures, the responses, the actions, and even silence and see how they all play an important role in the believer's response in worship.

Love Him the way He deserves to be loved and don't be afraid to express your love according to the pattern found in the Word. He's worthy of our praise and worship. He's worthy of our deepest and most sincere worship.

Father, Your love for me is more than I can comprehend, many times I'm overwhelmed by the awesomeness of Your presence. Help me to learn to express my love to you through surrender, reverence, and humility, in ways that bring honor and glory to You and You alone! Amen and Amen!

"And all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded: and all this continued until the burnt offering was finished. And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all that were present with him bowed themselves, and worshipped." (2 Chronicles 29:28-29)

© Jan Ross
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"Moreover the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Take thou also unto thee principal spices . . . of cassia five hundred shekels . . . and thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil." (Exodus 30:22-25)

A few years ago my Pastor did an awesome series of sermons on "The Anointing". Many things stood out to me in that series that have caused me to do further study. The "cassia" as one of the ingredients in the holy anointing oil prescribed by the Lord through Moses is something that has just kept stirring in my heart. In order to walk in God's anointing, we need to understand that each ingredient divinely prescribed by the Lord has a purpose that still speaks to us today. Here is a brief overview of this one spice that obviously had great importance to the Lord.

The word "cassia" is translated from the Hebrew word "qiddah" and comes from the root word "qadad" meaning to bow down the head. A brief study of cassia will lead you to discover that cassia has a delicate yellow flower that "bows down". It comes from a tropical evergreen tree having aromatic bark. The spice was harvested from the bark of these tropical trees and it is a source of senna, a natural purgative or laxative. Keeping that in mind, let's think about the anointing and what it means to be anointed according to what we find in the study of the cassia.

"Cassia" tells us that first we must be humble (bowed down) and our humility is beautiful to the Lord. Beauty bowed low! What could be more beautiful to the Lord than worship? Psalm 95:6 says, "O come let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our maker." Cassia is a picture of reverence, worship, and humility!

The bark of the tropical tree is the source of senna, a purgative or laxative agent. Our lives are to be purged of all that is contrary to the Word of God. Psalm 79:9 says, "Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake." Purging speaks of cleansing and cleansing is the basis for everyone's relationship with Christ for by His blood we are cleansed and made whole.

Finally, cassia was extracted from the bark of the trees – the bark is stripped from the trees much like we must be stripped of all that is at enmity with God, i.e., our flesh. But even more than that, we must come naked and unashamed unto our God, hiding nothing, without pretense, and without shame – stripped of the veil of our flesh that stands in the way of the glory of God being seen in us and through us.

As you can see, the cassia tells a story in itself of worship in humility and beauty, being purged of sin and cleansed by the Blood of the Spotless Lamb, and being naked and unashamed in front of our God, hiding nothing, without pretense, allowing the glory of God to be seen in us and through us.

The beauty of the anointing, the power of the anointing, the cleansing of the anointing, and the cost of the anointing can be found in this one ingredient of the original anointing oil. Let's walk in the fullness of the cassia as revealed to us in the Word of God. As kings and priests were anointed as they were appointed, so too have we been anointed as kings and priests unto our God (Revelation 1:5-6). He which established us is Christ and He that has anointed us is God who also has sealed us and given us as a deposit of what is to come, the Spirit in our hearts (2 Corinthians 1:21-22).

Father, help me to understand all that You have to say to me through the cassia. Teach me to be "beauty bowed low" as I am ever learning humility in my bowing down before You. Father, purge me of all that is not of You; help me to walk worthy of the calling You have on my life. Take away all excess and burn out the dross, Lord, as Your all-consuming fire purges me and purifies me. Lord, help me to come before You without pretense, hiding nothing, naked and unashamed, so that nothing in me will hide the brightness of Your glory shining in me and through me. In Jesus' name, by His blood, and for His glory, amen and amen.

"As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit-just as it has taught you, remain in him. And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him." (1 John 2:27-29)

© Jan Ross
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"This is the man upon whom I will look, he that is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word." (Isaiah 66:2)

When was the last time we trembled at God's Word? How seriously do we take our study of the Bible?

These are questions the Spirit of God is leading us to use to examine our own hearts today. These questions are probing my very heart as I pen this devotion.

What does it mean when God says "trembles at my word"?

I love the Word of God! I love to study the Word and learn more about the writer, what he is saying, looking at his words through his own eyes and his own culture. But I find myself asking if I am one who "trembles at [God's] word". How seriously do I take His Word? How careful am I to handle His Word with fear and reverence?

The word "trembles" comes from the Hebrew word "chared" meaning "fearful; reverential". It comes from a root word "charad" which gives further understanding: "to shudder with terror; to fear, also to hasten (with anxiety): to be (or make) afraid, be careful, quake, tremble".

The Amplified Bible helps us understand: "… who trembles at My word and reveres My commands."

Do we really tremble at God's Word? Do we take our duty to "revere" His commands seriously? Or, are we counting on God's mercy while we simply live our lives the way we see fit?

The problem is that most of us are so busy trying to make a living, raise a family, pay the bills, keep up with society's demands, etc., that we have lost the fear of God-the reverential awe of His Word and the careful attention to DO and LIVE the Word of God. In most of our lives, the Word of God takes a small place (if any at all) in our lives while we rush through our day to complete our busy schedules.

God says that those He is looking for are those who consider His Word as the very essence of life, as necessary as breath.

John Wesley once said, "I have thought I am a creature of a day, passing through life as an arrow through the air. I am a spirit come from God, and returning to God, just hovering over the great gulf, till a few moments hence, I am no more seen; I drop into an unchangeable eternity! I want to know one thing-the way to heaven, how to land safe on that happy shore. God himself has condescended to teach the way; for this very end He came from heaven. He has written it down in a book. O give me that Book at any price, give me the Book of God" (from the preface of Sermons on Several Occasions by John Wesley, originally published in 1771).

My prayer today is that we ALL crave, yearn, hunger and thirst for the living Word of God so that we will become that man or woman whom God will look upon, the ones with humble and contrite spirits, the ones who tremble at His Word.

Lord, I repent for not taking Your Word seriously enough, for not considering my time of study important enough to change my busy schedule. I confess that life's responsibilities all too often crowd out my time of searching out Who You are and what You want me to know. Convict me, Holy Spirit, and draw me into deep and abiding relationship with my Father through His Word. I submit myself to You to learn of You and fear You with a holy and reverential fear. In Jesus' precious name-the Living Word-amen and amen!

"May my cry come before you, O LORD; give me understanding according to your word." (Psalm 119:169)

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"Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist." (2 John 1:7)

"Many" deceivers? That's an understatement! Everywhere we turn we find a different gospel being preached and the sad thing is that people will believe it more quickly than they will receive the Truth. What makes people so resistant to the Truth that they would rather believe the lie than walk in Truth?

The lie says that there are many ways to heaven. The Truth says there is only one: "I am the way, the truth and the life; no man cometh to the Father but by me." (John 14:6)

The lie says that there are no absolute rights or wrongs. The Truth says, "if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." (1 John 1:8)

The lie says if you believe anything hard enough, you'll be saved. The Truth says, "salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

The lie says man is good and if you live a good life, you'll go to heaven. The Truth says, "there is none righteous, no, not one". (Rom 3:10)

The lie says there is no God. The Truth says, "the fool hath said in his heart, there is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good." (Psalm 14:1)

The lie says Jesus was a good man and possibly a prophet. The Truth says, "that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Phil 2:11)

We could go on all day disproving the lies of deception flooding the earth today and still not cover them all. But for every lie, there is Truth. The Word of God is Truth (John 17:17). The problem becomes ours when we don't know the Truth, when we haven't taken the time to "study to show ourselves approved, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of Truth." (2 Tim 2:15)

We depend on all too often on pre-digested manna—basing our belief system on what others teach and preach, depending on them to receive Truth and feed us what they have already "digested." So many fail to understand the Manna from Heaven, Himself, is longing for us to gather from Him daily as the Israelites did every morning while in the wilderness. Their gathering was personal, it was an individual gathering enough for himself and his household. They couldn't depend on someone else to do the gathering for them.

How can we know the deception unless we know the Truth? How can we know the Truth unless we partake of the Truth? How can we partake of the Truth unless we discipline ourselves to study to show ourselves approved?

The Word doesn't change us or equip us by osmosis; we have to make a concerted effort – every one of us – on a daily basis. It's more important to us than physical nourishment, more important than anything and everything we find to do that sustains and supports our lifestyles.

Will we know the deceiver when he comes knocking at our door? We need to be prepared. We need to be intimately acquainted with the Truth – the Word of God so we will quickly recognize the lie…there is no other way.

Father, I confess to You that I long to know Your Word and to be fully equipped, to be an unashamed workman who rightly divides your Word of Truth. But I fall short! So often, my time slips away before I realize that I haven't taken the time to collect my daily Manna. Forgive me Lord because my priorities are often out of order. Teach me, Lord, to quickly recognize deception as it compares to the Truth of Your Word. In Jesus' name, by His blood, and for His glory, amen and amen!

"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." (John 17:3)

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"I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints". (Philemon 4-5)

Read today's scripture again . . . I love this. It shows such compassion for others, something that is much lacking in the Body today. Everywhere we go, the focus is on "me". Lord, bless ME. Lord, supply MY needs. Lord, save MY kids. Lord, heal MY body. Me, My, and Mine. It's everywhere. Yet here we see an exhortation that focuses on others. How would you like to have been the first-hand recipient of such a letter from someone who had been imprisoned for his faith and who suffered unbelievable persecution because of his love of the Lord? What an honor Paul pays to Philemon, a co-laborer and brother in the Lord.

Paul a prisoner, under the most adverse conditions, found opportunity to serve the Lord. And, even though he was about to be put on trial for his life, he never forgot to remember a Christian brother who was far away in distance from him and to cover him in prayer.

Paul's example to us is one of a man of much prayer. And, the prayer wasn't selfish in nature in the least. Throughout the epistles, we find many instances where Paul is praying for others while imprisoned or off in some remote place. Today's society lives by the adage: "Out of sight, out of mind" … but, not Paul!

Here's another example: "[I] cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers" (Ephesians 1:16) And, another: "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy" (Phil 1:3-4).

Let's follow Paul's example and make a habit of blessing others through prayer, not just occasionally, but regularly, passionately, and fervently. Then, let those for whom you are praying know that you are praying for them. Lift them up, call them up, and build them up using Paul's pattern . . . he prayed for them, he contacted them, and he built them up with encouraging words, acknowledging their faith, their fervor, and their zeal. Can you imagine what the Body of Christ would be like if we followed Paul's example daily?

"But exhort one another daily, while it is called today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." (Hebrews 3:13)

Father, forgive me for my selfish ways . . . put me in remembrance of others daily who need Your touch, who need to hear that they are prayed for, and whose lives are important to me as well as to You. And, as I pour out myself in prayer for my brothers and sisters, Lord, I know that there will be others who are praying for me. Father, teach me Your ways and help me turn from my self-awareness and give me the gift of Kingdom-awareness. In Jesus' precious name I pray, amen and amen!

"Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves." (1 Thessalonians 5:11-13)

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"I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation…" (Isaiah 61:10a)

"He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation"! There's no doubt that a great change comes over us when we're saved. Our most difficult task, however, is the change we must determine to work through with daily disciplines that help us grow in Christlikeness.

Look at Ephesians 4:24 ~ "And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." Here's another verse in Colossians 3:10 ~ "And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." The "Garment of Salvation" in Isaiah is speaking of putting on the "new man."

Many years ago I had a precious friend. She didn't have much in this life but several small children and a husband who believed it was more important for him to be everywhere else other than home. She struggled with daily routines yet she was so sweet. I determined in my heart to help her as much as I could since we didn't have any children at that time. I can easily remember going to her apartment and finding dishes several days old in the sink, children running around in soiled clothes, beds unmade, bathrooms needing scrubbed – in other words, the house needed a LOT of help. My friend loved the Lord, but she couldn't rise above her lack of daily disciplines to represent Him well or to care for her family in a way that would be pleasing to Him. I spoke with her often about it, loving her through it all, but she had a difficult time making any change last. As awful as it sounds, I know of times she would take dirty clothes out of the laundry pile and put them on to go to the store or to church. Obviously, it was no secret to those around her that daily disciplines were an issue for her. I lost touch with her after we moved away and often wonder if things ever changed for her.

It does us no good to take a bath and wear yesterday's soiled clothes. We have to adorn ourselves DAILY with the garment of salvation as we work out our salvation with trembling and fear (Philippians 2:12). A daily cleansing is necessary, inside and out. Perhaps it isn't the entire reason for my unusual friendship, but the Holy Spirit taught me a valuable lesson through it.

We can't walk in yesterday's clothes – yesterday's clothes stink. Our Bridegoom is coming after a Bride whose garments are spotless and unwrinkled. He didn't just say "without wrinkle" else we could have just ironed out yesterday's soiled clothes. No! He said, "spotless and without wrinkle" – cleansed by the blood of the Pure and Spotless Lamb.

The garment of salvation . . . a daily dressing and a daily following. Don't let this priceless garment hang in your closet; prefer it over the robe of carnality and flesh. Let's separate ourselves from our unclean clothing and wear our garment of salvation and glorify our Father in heaven who purchased this precious garment for us with the highest price possible – the blood of His Beloved Son!

Father, I never realized how often I try to iron out yesterday's soiled clothing in an attempt to "appear" clean. Help me to daily put on afresh the Garment of Salvation as a Bride making herself ready for her Husband. Help me to walk worthy of the Garment of Salvation wherewith You have clothed me, for Your glory and Your pleasure. In Jesus' name, amen and amen.

"So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows." (Psalm 61:8)

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"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." (2 Peter 3:18)

The two go together . . . you cannot grow in grace unless you grow in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Growing in grace is an automatic byproduct of the knowledge of our Lord.

What is grace? It is being found acceptable, to be favored, and to have a divine influence on your heart. Of course, we all want to grow in grace – to grow in favor with God, to be found acceptable, and to have Him influence all that we are.

What is the "knowledge" of our Lord? If you ask around, most people you talk to will tell you they believe in God. But do they have "knowledge" of our Lord? Relatively few really do.

This knowledge that Peter describes is more than just acknowledgement. Rather, it is a familiarity with God's character, endeavoring to become acquainted with Him and His personality, to understand Him – who He is, what He does, what He purposes, and what He commands.

Psalm 111:2 says "The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein." Anyone who desires to find or who finds "pleasure" in the Lord will seek out His works.

The word "pleasure" means to desire a valuable thing. Anyone who desires the Lord will seek out His works. God delights in those who sincerely desire knowing who and what He is and who inquire with all due humility and reverence to know His will and His works.

How can you grow in the knowledge of our Lord? He has given all we can possibly need to know in the written Word.

John 21:25 says "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen." Every pertinent piece of information we need to know about Him and our relationship with Him is contained in the Word of God. Yet, while people say they long to "know" the Lord, they fail to open the Book to find out who He is.

Don't be like those who just murmur and complain because they don't really know the Lord, make a commitment to read your Bible daily and spend time with Him in prayer.

Do you want to grow in grace? Begin to grow in the knowledge of Him who gives grace to all who seek Him. Don't wait for tomorrow to begin . . . start now. Don't depend on someone else's study of the Word to help you grow in grace and in the knowledge of Him, open the Book and let the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ grow in you. Grow in knowledge and grace.

Father, sometimes it's the hardest thing for us to discipline ourselves to be diligent in our pursuit of You. Lord, stir in me once again a hunger that will not cease. Put in me a thirst that cannot be quenched. I commit to You that I will respond with diligence in my desire to grow in the grace and knowledge of my Lord, Jesus Christ. Help me to never forget. Draw me to Your Word like a magnet and satisfy this longing in my heart to know You more. In Jesus' precious name, by His blood, and for His glory, amen and amen.

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)

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"That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:16-19)

Love that surpasses knowledge.

It's very difficult to explain, but when you have loved your spouse for decades you experience what this means. When you love a child and do what you never dreamed you could do for another human being, you understand this phrase.

Sometimes the mere thought of the love God has toward us is more than overwhelming. Take some time today to consider just how greatly our God loves us.

Contemplate His faithfulness even when we're not so faithful. Consider the purity of His love and the promise He has made to us that His love will never fail. He deserves our love, worship, and sacrificial obedience.

Where else can we find a love so perfect and so complete? Who on earth can possibly love us like our God?

What will you offer Him today as your reasonable act of worship in response to His great and abundant and perfect love toward you?

Holy and incredible God, help me to comprehend the depth of Your love toward me and teach me to return that same love to You. Lord, forgive me when I fall, pick me up when I stumble, and restore me when I fail, teach me to show my love toward You in greater measure each new day. Father, my heart's desire is to know You in experience just as I know You in faith, that I might be more like You with each new day because of Your endless love toward me. Teach me to love as You have loved me . . . in Jesus' name, amen.

"Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!" (Psalm 31:19)

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"And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul . . . Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle." (1 Samuel 18:1-4)

This scripture paints such an awesome picture of a covenant of exchange. If anyone understood the covenant of exchange, David did. The covenant of exchange was a practice in which two persons sealed a binding covenant by exchanging attire. This covenant represented a basic principle: "I will become what you are, and you will become what I am, our souls are knit together as one."

Because Jonathan was the royal son the offspring of the first King of Israel, he was dressed in the finest royal robes. The riches of the kingdom were at his disposal and his wishes were others' commands. But he desired one thing – for David to have everything he had. Jonathan was so intent that he was willing to change places with him and to be all that David was. David, on the other hand, was only a shepherd boy. He came from a meager home and was a servant to King Saul. He wore a simple cloak, which likely smelled of sweat and sheep.

Can you imagine how David must have felt when Jonathan began to remove his worn and rugged cloak and to place his own on David's back? This passage attests to the love Jonathan had for David. This covenant was based on Jonathan's love, not on David's. David's love is never mentioned.

This is where I get excited! Let's look further and see the elements of the greatest covenant of exchange ever made!

1 John 4:10 ~ "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."

Now, go back and change the names in the paragraph describing Jonathan's exchange with David:

Because Jesus Christ was the royal son the offspring of the first King of kings and the Lord of lords, he was dressed in the robe of righteousness. The riches of the Kingdom of God were at his disposal and his Word held the power of creation. But He desired one thing – for us to have everything He had. Christ was so intent that He was willing to change places with us and to be all that we were. We, on the other hand, are only sinful flesh and blood, stained with guilt and shame. We came from a meager home and were servants to sin. We wore a simple cloak, which was stained with blood guiltiness and the filth of this world.

Now let's read Revelation 19:13 ~ "And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God."

Here we have the complete picture: You and I stand cleansed and pure and whole before Him wearing the robe of righteousness that Jesus took off His own back and placed on us while He wears the blood-stained vesture as a memorial to the sin and shame He took upon Himself but also as a memorial to the VICTORY He won over death, hell, and the grave!

Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of the Most High God, sought us out, loved us, and entered into a covenant of exchange with us. He bore our bloodstains and He dressed us in the clean and unspotted garment known as the Robe of Righteousness. We could never earn such an undeserved exchange, but His love for us compelled Him to embrace us and covenant with us in the Greatest Exchange.

Praise Him today, saints . . . He proudly wears that vesture dipped in blood because He loves you. Wear your Robe of Righteousness with humility and honor and never bring disgrace to the Garment of His Righteousness. It came to Him at great cost – it was given to us freely. Hallelujah.

Father, how can I say thanks for all You have done for me? Your love, so undeserved, so pure, so awesome. Father, thank You for Your Son, for His love and for the covenant He entered into with us as we exchanged garments. I don't deserve such a gift, and I don't deserve such love. But I praise You that You saw fit to seek me out, to lavish Your love upon me, and to grant me the privilege to wear the Robe that represents the righteousness of the saints (Rev. 19:8). Be glorified, Lord, in me and through me. In Jesus' name, by His blood, and for His glory, amen and amen.

"And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul's servants." (1 Samuel 18:5)

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"And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out." (Luke 19:39-40)

The Bible tells us that ALL creation worships Him, the Creator. It is odd that if all of creation recognizes Him as Creator and that He is the object of its worship. So, why does man have such a problem with it? One would assume it has something to do with the "will" of man.

What do you "will" to do? Hopefully offering the sacrifice of praise and heartfelt worship is of top priority on your daily agenda. The Lord was very plain in his remark that if His disciples failed to give Him the praise, that the very stones would cry out in worship of Him—creation praising the Creator.

Make it a habit of joining the rest of God's creation and praise Him. He is certainly worthy. It would be horrible to one day find out that our praise was absent and the very rocks had to voice their praise in our stead.

Praise His Holy Name…He's Worthy!

Father, You are worthy of our praise. Forgive me, Lord, for those days when my lips are shut and praise fails to pour out from a humble, submitted heart. May I never cease to praise You. Right now, Lord, I join with all of creation in praise of You, the One who made heaven and earth and all that in them is! Hallelujah, for You are worthy of our praise, amen.

"Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD." (Psalm 150)

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