Day 10
Chapter Ten: The Heart of Worship
The heart of worship is surrender. -Rick Warren
Surrendering to God is not pasive resignation, fatalism, or an excuse for laziness. It is not accepting the status quo. It may mean the exact opposite: sacrificing your life or suffering in order to change what needs to be changed. -Rick Warren
I know that I struggle with the concept of surrender. On one hand I had viewed it as an act of laziness, when people just shrug and say, "it's in God's hands"...well sure it is...but do you really think God just wants you to sit there?
On the other hand...the concept of obeying and submitting to anything seems like such a passive thing to do...but it really isn't. It is just faith that God will lead your life in the direction he wants.
Everybody eventually surrenders to something or someone. If not to God, you will surrender to the opinions or expectations of others, to money, to resentment, to fear, or to your own pride, lusts or your ego. You were designed to worship God--and if you fail to worship him, you will create other things (idols) to give your life to. You are free to choose what you surrender to, but you are not free from the consequences of that choice. -Rick Warren
I see this so much today with the way people idolize actors or actresses, or are fanatics about collecting a particular thing...or how wrapped up people get into their music or computer games. I think that this is what he is referring to...all of these examples distract us from God. I am not saying that these should be cast away, but if they take your focus from God...then perhaps they aren't all that great.
However, I learned recently that someone I know has given up television and video games in the name of God...I don't think that this is correct either. Especially when there are so many more important things that God would like a person to amend in their life...such as building relationships with family members and forgiving ...it seems that television and video games in light of these other things is very miniscule.
Point to Ponder: The heart of worship is surrender.
Verse to Remember: Romans 6:13b Surrender your whole being to him to be used for righteous purpose.
Question to Consider: What area of my life am I holding back from God?
Most definitely at least 2 areas. For one my extremely dysfunctional relationship with my mom. I certainly cannot fix that one on my own...however I am holding God back from fixing it for me as well...probably because I am comfortable where I am right now...which in some ways is a self righteous edge.
Another area is what I should be doing right now financially. I still go back and forth on what is right for my family...on whether I should go back to work or not. I am not actively looking for work, but opportunities arise, and I wonder should I go for them or not...perhaps I think too much.
The heart of worship is surrender. -Rick Warren
Surrendering to God is not pasive resignation, fatalism, or an excuse for laziness. It is not accepting the status quo. It may mean the exact opposite: sacrificing your life or suffering in order to change what needs to be changed. -Rick Warren
I know that I struggle with the concept of surrender. On one hand I had viewed it as an act of laziness, when people just shrug and say, "it's in God's hands"...well sure it is...but do you really think God just wants you to sit there?
On the other hand...the concept of obeying and submitting to anything seems like such a passive thing to do...but it really isn't. It is just faith that God will lead your life in the direction he wants.
Everybody eventually surrenders to something or someone. If not to God, you will surrender to the opinions or expectations of others, to money, to resentment, to fear, or to your own pride, lusts or your ego. You were designed to worship God--and if you fail to worship him, you will create other things (idols) to give your life to. You are free to choose what you surrender to, but you are not free from the consequences of that choice. -Rick Warren
I see this so much today with the way people idolize actors or actresses, or are fanatics about collecting a particular thing...or how wrapped up people get into their music or computer games. I think that this is what he is referring to...all of these examples distract us from God. I am not saying that these should be cast away, but if they take your focus from God...then perhaps they aren't all that great.
However, I learned recently that someone I know has given up television and video games in the name of God...I don't think that this is correct either. Especially when there are so many more important things that God would like a person to amend in their life...such as building relationships with family members and forgiving ...it seems that television and video games in light of these other things is very miniscule.
Point to Ponder: The heart of worship is surrender.
Verse to Remember: Romans 6:13b Surrender your whole being to him to be used for righteous purpose.
Question to Consider: What area of my life am I holding back from God?
Most definitely at least 2 areas. For one my extremely dysfunctional relationship with my mom. I certainly cannot fix that one on my own...however I am holding God back from fixing it for me as well...probably because I am comfortable where I am right now...which in some ways is a self righteous edge.
Another area is what I should be doing right now financially. I still go back and forth on what is right for my family...on whether I should go back to work or not. I am not actively looking for work, but opportunities arise, and I wonder should I go for them or not...perhaps I think too much.
posted by Kassi Gilbert | 10:27 PM
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