Daily Devotionals

Where Heaven Meets Earth: Week 3 - Wednesday

 

I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Psalm 116:1

Worship communicates many things. It declares God’s goodness. It declares how powerful God is. It declares the good things that He has done for us. Among the many things that worshiping God declares, love for Him is at the top of the list. You see, when we worship God, we tell Him and anyone around us just how much we love Him. Genuine worship is born out of our love for the God whom we love so much. 

The author of Psalm 116 worshiped God, immediately declaring His love for God. He started off this Psalm saying, "I love the Lord" (verse 1). Everything that followed throughout the rest of this Psalm was built off of this Psalmist's love for God. He continued writing in this Psalm, "I love the Lord because He hears my voice and my prayer for mercy" (verse 1). He loved the Lord because He is an active God who hears us and who is merciful. Throughout the rest of the Psalm, the Psalmist continued to share what God had done for him. God had saved him and rescued Him time and time again. As a result of all that God had done, the Psalmist said, "What can I offer the Lord for all He has done for me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and praise the Lord's name for saving me" (verse 13). The Psalmist committed to worshiping God for all He had done. He deeply loved the Lord and continued to recognize His work throughout his life. As a result of his love, he worshiped God with everything in him.

Just like God worked in the Psalmist's life, God has worked and will continue to work in your life. My friend, He has been so good to you. He has been merciful, generous, kind, compassionate, forgiving, and so much more. All of these things are born out of His love for you. Do you love Him in return? Let your love for Him inform your worship. Let your worship be an opportunity to declare just how much you love Him. He has been so good to you; show Him just how much you love Him today through your worship.  

 

Moving Toward Action

Take a few moments to write out a prayer to God. In your prayer, tell Him how much you love Him. Remember how much He loves you. He loved you so much that He sent Jesus, His only Son, to die on the cross to rescue you from sin and death. Declare your love for Him today through your worship.


Going Deeper

Psalm 116:1-19

I love the Lord because he hears my voice
    and my prayer for mercy.
Because he bends down to listen,
    I will pray as long as I have breath!
Death wrapped its ropes around me;
    the terrors of the grave overtook me.
    I saw only trouble and sorrow.
Then I called on the name of the Lord:
    “Please, Lord, save me!”
How kind the Lord is! How good he is!
    So merciful, this God of ours!
The Lord protects those of childlike faith;
    I was facing death, and he saved me.
Let my soul be at rest again,
    for the Lord has been good to me.
He has saved me from death,
    my eyes from tears,
    my feet from stumbling.
And so I walk in the Lord’s presence
    as I live here on earth!
10 I believed in you, so I said,
    “I am deeply troubled, Lord.”
11 In my anxiety I cried out to you,
    “These people are all liars!”
12 What can I offer the Lord
    for all he has done for me?
13 I will lift up the cup of salvation
    and praise the Lord’s name for saving me.
14 I will keep my promises to the Lord
    in the presence of all his people.

15 The Lord cares deeply
    when his loved ones die.
16 O Lord, I am your servant;
    yes, I am your servant, born into your household;
    you have freed me from my chains.
17 I will offer you a sacrifice of thanksgiving
    and call on the name of the Lord.
18 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord
    in the presence of all his people—
19 in the house of the Lord
    in the heart of Jerusalem.

Praise the Lord!