Heart Of Worship

When we look at God, we can’t help but look away from our pride

Pride is a great catalyst of rebellion and idolatry against God. Pride replaces God and arrogantly takes its reign on the throne of our hearts. The Bible tells us that it was pride that caused Lucifer’s rebellion against God. Indeed, in Isaiah 14:13-14, the Bible says: “You said in your heart, 'I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” Likewise, pride also caused Adam and Eve’s fall: “But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:4-5). Pride is all about the glory of man not the glory of God. Pride always exalts self above God. That is why pride is very destructive. Here’s what the Bible says about pride and its effects: “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).

Pride is something that each and every one of us have experienced and struggled with at some point. Even though I am writing about it today, I know I am just as guilty as struggling with this as the next person. But thanks be to God who has delivered us from all the sinful (including the prideful) nature and given us the Spirit of Jesus who said: “I am meek and LOWLY IN HEART” (Matthew 11:29, our emphasis). And it is also written about Jesus: “(…) though he was in the form of God, [he] did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:6-8).

When we worship, we look to God and not ourselves. We gaze at him. By looking to the One who made us and everything we are or have, we realize that all the glory belongs to Him and Him alone! When we look at God, we can’t help but look away from our pride. Instead of gazing at our gifts, accomplishments, or possessions, worship allows us to turn our gaze upward to the glorious person of God. It helps us meditate upon His attributes and His character. It is not anymore about what or who we are, but it is about Who He is. It is not anymore about what we have done, but it is about what He has done. By looking at God more, we will look at ourselves less. And as we look at ourselves less, we will be living out the reality of what it means to be truly humble.

My prayer is that the following verse become a reality in our lives: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3).

Past. Dr. Justin Monsenepwo

All Bible verses are in the ESV translation.

Start and finish your day with worship

“It is good to praise the LORD, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High, to proclaim Your loving devotion in the morning and Your faithfulness at night.”
Psalm 92:1-2

It is amazing how many people wake up in the morning and the first thing that they do is grab their phone or the newspaper, and head to work. Now, please understand that I am not against you using your phone, reading the newspapers, watching the news, or television for that matter. However, I want to encourage you to start your day with Jesus instead: worship Him, praise and lift up His name, practice His presence, acknowledge Him, and commit your plans to Him. Start your day by worshiping Jesus for His steadfast love revealed on the cross, His awesome power, and His mercy. As Psalm 59:16 says, “But I will sing of Your strength and proclaim Your loving devotion in the morning. For You are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.” This will give you the benefit of starting and enjoying your day with Jesus’ strength, power, and victory.
Likewise, before you go to sleep, worship and praise Jesus. Do not go to bed with bad news or negative thoughts swirling in your mind. Rather, worship and praise Him for His faithfulness and His goodness. Meditate on His promises. Psalm 42:8 says, “The LORD decrees His loving devotion by day, and at night His song is with me as a prayer to the God of my life” (emphasis added). This will allow you to sleep in peace and to wake up in the morning feeling rejuvenated, energized, and refreshed.

Therefore, I invite you to sandwich your day with worship. In worship, Start the day with Him, enjoy Him during the day, and end the day with Him on your mind!

Justin Monsenepwo