I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD which made heaven and earth.” –Psalm 121:1-2   I have read these words numerous times while standing at the grave side trying to comfort troubled families. The truth here is appropriate at the grave side or any place else, or in any situation. We are never without need of help.   Jerusalem was unlike the other national capitals in that day. It was not located on a large river like Babylon. It didn’t have a harbor like Tyre and Sidon. It wasn’t even on the main highway. What Jerusalem had was hills. It stood on a rocky plateau 2,550 feet above the Mediterranean Sea and 3,800 feet above the Dead Sea. To the Jews the elevation of Jerusalem was a picture of safety, not only because of it’s height, but also because of it’s relation to Jehovah. Weary pilgrims traveling there to worship were greatly encouraged when the hills of their homeland came into view.   Although we don’t put our trust in a city or a nation, we too need to lift up our eyes. Satan would have us to look back at our failures and be discouraged, or look around and be distracted, or to look down in despair because of our difficulties, but we need to look up. Our help “cometh from the LORD”. Our Helper is the One who made the hills. His power is unequaled and unlimited. He who has the power to create and control everything is our Helper, the source of our strength. Whatever situation you are forced to face today God is sufficent to able to give you the victory.

And be not conformed to this world—–Romans 12:2   Someone said that the literal meaning of this phrase is,”Don’t let the world squeeze you into its mold”. We need to think about that. As you know, we are under constant pressure to conform to the culture around us. Sadly, many are caving in. Studies show that there is almost no difference in the behavior of non-Christians and professing Christians today. That’s sad indeed. Instead of being agents of change in the world many are being changed by the world. We need to guard against that!   This story from Elie Wiesel, a Jewish novelist and Holocaust survivor, makes a great point:

“A just man comes to Sodom hoping to save the city. He pickets. What else can he do? He goes from street to street, from marketplace to marketplace, shouting, ‘Men and women, repent. What you are doing is wrong. It will kill you; it will destroy you!’

“They laugh, but he goes on shouting, until one day, a child stops him. ‘Poor stranger, don’t you see it’s useless?’

“‘Yes,’ the just man replies.

“‘Then why do you go on?’ the child asks.

“‘I was convinced that I would change them. Now I go on shouting because I don’t want them to change me.’

It’s like this folks—if you don’t stand for something you’ll fall for anything. Instead of being silenced by the critics who tell us we must be politically correct and the compromisers who warn us about “hate crimes” we need to speak out against the corruption that is in the world today. We are to be “salt” and “light” so we are duty bound to affect the world for good. Have you taken your stand? Are you willing to buck the tide of public opinion and speak out for Christ. If you don’t you just might become a victim. Even if it seems useless we have an obligation to stand-up and speak-out.We are to please Christ, not the world. Remember—-The world’s smile is more dangerous than its frown!

For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile.”–1 Peter 3:10   I ended yesterday’s devotion by saying,”Have a good day”, but what is a good day? What does a “good day” mean to you? Some folks think about a good day as a day without pain, or problems,etc., but if that’s the criteria we use most of us would never have a good day. Even as I write this every joint in my body hurts and all of my problems haven’t vanished. So must I rule out the possibility of having a good day? I don’t think so. I really believe this can be a good day, even if bad things happen.   I’m of the opinion that a good day is any day that God is pleased with my attitude and actions. While the day might not be good in a lot of ways, I can always please God and find pleasure in Him. So can you. Everyone can have a good day. In 1 Peter 3:8-9, Peter speaks of the good we should do and at the end of verse 9 he speaks of the good we will inherit by doing it.   Think about this. To have a good day, to live a good life, to experience God’s greatest blessings, etc. we must be willing to do God’s will. Surely no Christian would argue with that. And, never forget, God’s will is always right, always best, and always safest. Do you believe that? So what would it take for you to have a good day? What would it take for you to get into God’s will? What would you have to do? What would you have to stop doing? Think about it. This is not some minor matter. We’re talking about God’s will! Absolutely nothing is more important than that. Now—you have a good day. You can do it!

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”–Philippians 4:6-7   I just read those verses, as well as vss.8-13. Since I’m familiar with them I didn’t need to read them, but I did because I needed to do so. Make sense? Probably not—but it made perfectly good sense to me. Guess I had better explain.   This is one of those days when, for a number of reasons and some I can’t even explain, the pressure seems unbearable (and you thought preachers always have their act together–lol). I’ll bet you’ve had days like this. It just might be that you’re having one right now. It might be one of those days when there’s a lot to do, not enough time to do it, and you don’t feel like even trying. It’s not fun is it!   But the truth is that we need days like this. We need tough times because they drive us to our knees in utter dependance upon God. Difficult days make us aware of our limitations and forces us to look to God for help. Regardless of our problems peace is possible in Christ, but it happens only if we do as He commands.   Hey, I’m feeling better already! I’ve still got a ton of things to do, and I might not get half of it done, but that’s all right. Unless God dies I plan to have a great day! I hope you do to.———-Oh, by the way, I wrote this yesterday morning and God didn’t die! Now you have a good day. He is still alive!

I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

–Psalm 34:1

How do you worship? Even though there are many ways to worship God, we all need to remember that worship is an action.

It’s not sitting and watching, it’s something you do. It is participation. It is not mere emotion. It is not a feeling, not a thought process, but rather the active response of your heart, your life, and even your body to God!

If you go to a worship service and watch everyone else worship, you haven’t worshipped… you have become a religious consumer rather than a spiritual communer. You’ve become a spectator rather than a true worshipper.

Perhaps you grew up in a church where you sang hymns and participated at some level. But, maybe… just maybe… you have never had a genuine experience of encountering the presence of God in true worship.

If not, I challenge you to take time even today to tell God you desire to be a genuine worshipper. He will honor your prayer because He has made you to worship Him! You were created that you might know Him and make Him known.

As a believer in Jesus Christ, worshipping Him intimately and intensely should be the driving force in your life. That’s why I want to call you to become a true worshipper of the Lord Jesus Christ today… whether in or out of church!

TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN WORSHIP BY OFFERING GOD PRAISE THROUGHOUT YOUR DAY!

By Jack Graham