Worship Devotional XXXIX
Originally posted to the Facebook group on 9/5/2020.
Worship Devotional for 9/6/20
This week's songs are about holding onto faith, relying on the power of God, and living completely by His grace through whatever we go through in life. When life gets hard and things aren't as clear as we would like, we turn to the Lord in prayer, asking Him to give us the grace, strength, and faith we need to make it through, and that He would be glorified by the outcome. We pray that He would open our eyes to see His glory and power, that we may know that He is still working within and around us, that He is still on the throne and in control, and that He will indeed fulfill all His promises.
Here are the songs:
1) Give Me Faith by Elevation Worship
Sometimes I am more painfully aware of my weaknesses and shortcomings and sins than other times. Sometimes it's hard to know how or what to pray. This song meets me in those times. It opens up with the basic and yet profound confession: "I need You." When I feel overwhelmed by weakness and failure, I pray that God, who is my strength, would show Himself strong in and through me. I pray that He would increase and strengthen my faith. Maybe you find yourself feeling this way too. Whether that is the case or not, we can all be encouraged as we sing this prayer together.
Psalm 73:26:
"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, my portion forever."
2) Breakthrough by Red Rocks Worship
Do you have any strongholds of the world in your life? Maybe there are sins that you still struggle with or longings that continue to go unfulfilled or needs that are still unmet. Perhaps there are dreams and goals that you aspire to one day accomplish, but you feel tired and worn and like you just can't seem to get to where you need to go. We first have to ask ourselves if what we are after is for God's eternal glory or our own selfish ambitions. If we know that we are seeking what God has called us to for His purposes and glory, and we feel like there are obstacles in our way that we just can't seem to surmount, then we need to rise up in faith by holding onto God's word. Be encouraged that the power of God and the presence of His Holy Spirit within us are able to break every stronghold of the enemy and to overcome anything that would stand against us. Do you need a breakthrough in some area of your life? God is able to give it, and He will so long as it is in accordance with His will. Keep holding onto faith! This song is about believing for breakthrough, and living with confidence in the power of God.
3) Open The Eyes Of My Heart by Paul Baloche
This song is based on the prayer of Paul for the church in Ephesians 1:17-19:
"I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power to us who believe, according to the working of His vast strength."
4) Your Grace Is Enough by Matt Maher
When Paul the apostle suffered by the "thorn in the flesh" that was given to him to keep him humble, he cried out to God desperately that He would take it away. But God had purposed to use it instead to teach Paul an amazing and wonderful truth. We read in 2 Corinthians 12:9:
"But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may reside in me."
We see that Paul learned and taught the church that God shows Himself strong in the midst of our weaknesses and trials and struggles. The grace of God is sufficient for us. We can face anything because we have already received everything we could ever need for all of eternity in Christ. Now, by this indescribable grace we have received, let us live fully for the glory of God. Let us walk in every gift and calling and promise and blessing that God has given to us, since we know that His grace is sufficient to enable and empower us to do so.
Scriptures:
Psalm 73:26
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Ephesians 1:17-19, 2:8-10, 3:16-21
Hebrews 12