Waterfront Church

DAY 26

I choose Worship.

"Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care (Psalm 95:6-7)."

The very purpose for our existence is worship. And if we want to accurately embrace that purpose, we need to use a precise definition. Some people believe that making a meal, cleaning the car, helping a neighbor are all acts of worship. And when those acts are the outgrowth of our love for God and are done to demonstrate that love, they are worshipful, but technically they are not worship. Worship is the act of ascribing worth directly to God.

Worshipful actions may do this indirectly, but when the Bible commands and commends worship as our highest expression, it is not talking about anything other than the direct, intentional, vertical outpouring of adoration. While that does not have to be set to music, it does have to be direct.

The word worship in the Old Testament means “to bow before.” It’s the picture of pressing your forehead to the ground in extreme humility and recognition of the infinite superiority of the one who is worshipped. That is our rightful place. The amazing thing is not that God invites our worship, it’s that He would care about what we as sinful people would say about Him.

It’s important to honor God and be constantly aware of His presence that’s in and around us. The more we recognize His Spirit and His presence and not just wait for Sunday morning to roll around, the more of an understanding we’ll have for true worship.

Expressing gratitude and praise to the Lord should never be routine. As you prepare for your next opportunity to worship the One who gave His life for you, consider your level of anticipation. Remember, He is our shepherd and we are His flock. He leads us to greener pastures and makes us lie down beside still waters. He watches over us and protects us. We choose to worship because He is worthy to be praised.

Pray

I am chosen by God and I choose worship. Lord, You alone are worthy of my highest worship. You are merciful, gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love and faithfulness. Thank You for who You are and what You have done in my life—for loving me, choosing me, saving me, making Your home in me, and bringing me safely home to You.

DAY 27

I choose Simplicity.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:19-21)."

The question that arises out of this text is very simple: Where is your heart? The issue is not what you have but what you do with what you have. Is it for you or for the kingdom of God and His purposes? Someone once said, "There is no smaller package than a man wrapped up in himself."

Jesus reminds us that we don't need all the things and experiences we think we do. When only one thing matters most, life is far simpler. When we are not required to manage a myriad of things, we can focus our attention on the mission at hand - God’s mission.

Choosing simplicity helps us realize the things and experiences we amass amount to nothing when God is not the driving force behind or the center of them. Being able to concentrate our efforts toward one specific goal is far more uncomplicated when we are disentangled from other things that vie for our attention and energy.

Simplicity is the only thing that sufficiently reorients our lives so that possessions can be genuinely enjoyed without distracting us. Jesus did not store up things while he was here; he shared them, gave them to people in need, and used what he had to bless others.

Pray

I am chosen by God and I choose simplicity. Thank you Lord for investing so heavily in me and in the world in which I live. There is no one who can love me like you do. Help me focus my priorities and my thoughts on heavenly things.

DAY 28

I choose Brokenness.

"You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise (Psalm 51:16-17)."

Our generation has been programmed to pursue happiness, wholeness, affirmation, and cures for our hurt feelings and damaged psyches. But God is not as interested in these ends as we are. He is more committed to making us holy than making us happy. And there is only one pathway to holiness—one road to genuine revival—and that is the pathway of humility or brokenness.

We often think of revival as a time of great joy, blessing, fullness, and celebration. And so it will be in its fullness. But the problem is that we want a painless Pentecost ... a “laughing” revival. We forget that God’s ways are not our ways, that the way up is down. You and I will never meet God in revival until we first meet Him in brokenness.

That does not mean, as some think, having a gloomy countenance or being morbidly introspective. Nor can it be equated with deeply emotional experiences. It is possible to shed buckets of tears without ever experiencing a moment of brokenness. Further, brokenness is not the same as being deeply hurt by tragic circumstances. A person may have experienced many deep hurts and tragedies without being broken.

Brokenness is not a feeling; rather, it is a choice, an act of the will. It is not primarily a one-time experience or crisis (though there may be crisis points in the process of brokenness); rather, it is an ongoing, continual lifestyle.

Brokenness is a lifestyle of agreeing with God about the true condition of our heart and life, as He sees it. It is a lifestyle of unconditional, absolute surrender of our will to the will of God—a heart attitude that says, “Yes, Lord!” to whatever God says. Brokenness means the shattering of our self-will, so that the life and Spirit of the Lord Jesus may be released through us. It is our response of humility and obedience to the conviction of the Word and the Spirit of God.

Pray

I am chosen by God and I choose brokenness. Lord, I confess that I am naturally proud, stubborn, willful, and prone to believe I'm self-sufficient. I confess that I resist the thought of being broken, but I believe that, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” Please help me to let go and allow You to have Your way in my life.

DAY 29

I choose Edification.

"Christ died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing (1 Thessalonians 5:10-11)."

If the people of God are to become a dwelling place for the presence of God then every individual Christian must be committed to building each other up. Edification is the biblical term for this process. The goal of edification is spiritual maturity and Christ-likeness. As each individual member does his or her part to build up the others in the Church, the entire Church grows up and becomes mature and healthy.

We so easily speak to one another words that hurt, criticize, or tear down or words that are just plain useless. Rather, we ought to build each other up with words of grace. Words of grace are the right choice of words spoken at the right time with the right spirit. Words of grace minister to others and meet their needs. These words express love, encouragement, acceptance and affirmation. Which of us is not built up in our spirit when we hear genuine words like, "I appreciate you." "I love you." "God has used you to minister to me." "Thank you for your selfless ministry." "I have noticed the way God is changing this area of your life and I am rejoicing with you about it."

This is critical to understand: God is building something in the life of every follower of Jesus Christ. He has a personal construction plan for your life that targets where you need to grow and change. Most of the time those areas that need improvement are also noticeable to the people around you. When you insert your critical words into the middle of what God is working on, you are in essence tearing down what God is doing in their life. Instead, “say what is good.” Speak words that are helpful to God’s construction program in their life.

Pray

I am chosen by God and I choose edification. Heavenly Father, I don’t mean to have a critical spirit and sometimes my critical words are meant to encourage, but I need to pattern my words after what You tell me. I’m sorry for all the ways I tear down Your work in others. Remind me in the moment to be more careful. Help me to build someone up today with my words.

DAY 30

I choose Transformation.

"And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate[a the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18)."

When it comes to transformation we tend to want a “quick fix”—a book, a conference, a counselor, an encounter, a miraculous deliverance, a program—something that will be effective, and preferably pain-free. But transformation rarely happens overnight. It involves training, testing, and time. There are not shortcuts.

Occasionally God does grant instantaneous victory, but more often He leads us through a process that requires obedience, faith, discipline, and time. God is committed to winning the hearts and developing the hearts and developing the character of His people.

As I read the Scripture and think on the Lord Jesus, I long to be like Him—humble, holy, compassionate, surrendered to the will of God, sensitive to the promptings of the Spirit. When our desire to be holy is greater than our willingness to stay where we are, we have taken a big step toward spiritual transformation. The process of true change takes place as we are weaned from our love and worship of self, pleasure, and this world; and our hearts become wholly devoted to Christ.

The problem is, we want to prevail without walking through the process. We want a breakthrough without the battle.

Praying and hoping for spiritual change is futile if we neglect the means that God has provided for our growth in grace. Bible study, meditation, worship, prayer, fasting, accountability, and obedience are disciplines that produce a harvest of righteousness in our lives.

Pray

I am chosen by God and I choose transformation. Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your persistent pursuit of my transformation. I believe that You love me and have my best interest at heart. Please reveal the things You want to change in me. Nothing is off limits. Lord, I want to be everything that You would have me be. Please convict me by Your Holy Spirit and conform me into the image of Your Son, Jesus.