Worship God

Be Still My Soul

Ken

The LORD is on the throne of my heart. There is none like Him! He speaks and therefore I understand. Before I ask, He already has answered. He surrounds me with His love. 

“1 O LORD, Thou hast searched me, and known me.

 2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. 

3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. 

4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, Thou knowest it altogether. 

5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid Thine hand upon me. 

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. 

7 Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from Thy presence? 

8 If I ascend up into heaven, Thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, Thou art there. 

9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 

10 Even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me. 

11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. 

12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from Thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to Thee. 

13 For Thou hast possessed my reins: Thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. 

14 I will praise Thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are Thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. 

15 My substance was not hid from Thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 

16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in Thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. 

17 How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! 

18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with Thee. 

19 Surely Thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men. 

20 For they speak against Thee wickedly, and Thine enemies take Thy name in vain. 

21 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate Thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against Thee? 

22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies. 

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 

24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” 

Psalm 139:1-24 KJV 

Thy God, Thy Glory

Ken

Worship of heart to God, more important than the substance of the world or exhilaration of miracles, is as should be. Thy God, thy glory. The prophet foresaw new heavens and new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness. Old things were passed away. Our embrace of the Invisible God relaxes our grip on the world, which is the fine balance between the necessities of life and the eternal. “The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory” (Isaiah 60:19 KJV).

Is Satan Really The God Of This World?

Ken

As much as it might not sound right or feel good, Scripture labels satan as a god, but certainly not as Almighty God, the Creator of all. “In whom the god of this world [satan] hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2Corinthians 4:4 KJV). Remember how Asaph described the heavenly scene? “God [Hebrew, elohim, singular] has taken His place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods [Hebrew, elohim, plural] He holds judgment” (Psalms 82:1 ESV). Jesus referred to Psalm 82:6-7 defending His claim to be the Son of God in John 10:34-36. But, Asaph noted, unlike the Almighty “like men you [the created, lesser gods or angels] shall die, and fall like any prince” (82:7). LORD, we worship You alone as the Almighty, the High and Lofty One That Inhabiteth Eternity. There is none like You. May we not be frightened by the god of this world. Preserve us from his devices. Give us of Your Word, that we may resist him, as Jesus did in the wilderness. There are “gods many and lords many” (1Corinthians 8:5 KJV), but only one Almighty. Establish Your throne in our hearts, and we look forward to You judging this wicked liar and usurper with his just deserts in the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:10). Bring this to past. Return quickly, deliver Your people, and judge Your enemies. In Jesus’ almighty name, we pray. Amen and amen. 

Subdue Our Iniquities

Ken

To subdue our iniquities before entering Heaven is a metaphysical feat worthy of God Only Wise. “He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; and Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:19 KJV). Subduing means conquering or overpowering but not removing the capacity or ability to produce the iniquity. In other words, God does not remove our moral ability to choose or reject iniquity; rather, He divinely manages or shepherds us so as to cause us to reject iniquity. Why would the Almighty bother with such a delicate distinction, if He could overpower all of His creation and force His will upon all? Because He created us in His image, so He could commune with us. LORD, may we treasure You, as much as You treasure us. May we give our utmost to You in response to the utmost You have given to us. And, may we hate and reject iniquity as much as You do. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen. 

How Did He Do That?

Ken

The universe is large, and uncertainty is uncomfortable. Albert Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity addressed gravity’s effect upon regions of high scale and large mass (planets, stars, galaxies), while Max Planck, Niels Bohr, Werner Heisenberg, and others’ Quantum Mechanics dealt with the microscopic phenomena of regions of very small scale and low mass (atoms, molecules, subatomic particles). Attempts to integrate relativity and quantum for an explanation of the universe gives us the elusive and hypothetical Theory of Everything (TOE). Neither classical nor more modern physics (String Theory) has achieved TOE; but, not so strangely, the metaphysical has already proposed the solution. Without further comment, notice how the language of Scripture would turn the research of modern science into an investigation of “How did the Creator do it?” and “How can we use that understanding to solve the world’s problems?” “12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet [qualified] to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: 17 And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist” (Colossians 1:12-17 KJV). LORD, we worship You as our Creator and desire the opportunity to fashion this world into an expression of Your wisdom, love, and grace. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen and amen. 

Thou Art Worthy (Revelation 4:11)

Ken

Humanism at its zenith is a fascination with self — falling in love with the picture in the mirror. No worse punishment can be pronounced for the humanist than taking the emphasis upon self and gazing upon the Almighty. John shows us a picture of eternity with a scene around the throne of God. “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created” (Revelation 4:11 KJV). His glory is His pleasure; and, our purpose for existence is for the pleasure of God. For this reason, how could we not be more delighted than to find the attention He lavishes upon us? “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him” (1Corinthians 2:9). How could Heaven be more attractive? LORD, You are worthy of the praise, honor, and glory given You. Satisfy our soul in giving You this worship. Teach us our poverty of Spirit, when we restrain our praise of You. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Breaking the Cosmological Principle

Ken

According to the Cosmological Principle, the universe should look the same in every direction following a Big Bang, but our galaxy exists near the center of an unnatural, cosmic void spanning 2 billion light years of nothingness. Explanation: Either the universe is eternal (as some propose) or the Creator intelligently and un–uniformly designed and composed a vast universe of power, wonder, and artistic beauty. The universe is not eternal, for we know that metaphysical attribute of eternality belongs only to the “eternal God” (Deuteronomy 33:27 KJV). And, it is revealed, an Eternal Creator spoke the universe into existence. “By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth” (Psalm 33:6). LORD, we worship You, not just as the only plausible explanation for our existence, but as the only certain foundation for our faith. Show us Your glory. In Jesus’ name, we pray, magnify Your name. Amen.