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New Song for New Mercies

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"Oh sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him." - Psalm 98:1
 
We might not think about it that much but have we really paused and examined why we sing new songs of worship to God? Singing new songs to God is actually a command (Hebrew: qal imperative masculine plural) not a suggestion that we can exercise the option to do if we feel like it or not. Why sing new songs to God? Because God has done marvelous things! God is always doing new and marvelous things and we are to acknowledge and recognize these new things with new songs. The Lord doesn’t give us yesterday’s mercies for today’s problems—He gives us new mercies every morning because every morning requires a new outpouring of His steadfast love and mercies. We should sing new songs to God because God gives us new mercies and is doing new & marvelous things in our lives.
 
I’ve been kind of hitting a rut in my times of worship recently. I can’t pinpoint it and I haven’t been really able to experience a fresh outpouring of his presence. I’ve been trying to address it by remembering personal times of worship I had and singing the same songs. It hasn’t had the result I wanted. New seasons need new songs. God is doing new and wonderful things and I need to sing new songs to express God’s worth. Not that I want to have spiritual ADHD of inattentiveness but I want to express the marvelous (new) things God is doing in my life by singing new songs. I am going to be intentional and seek new worship songs that God is doing in different churches all over the world. 
 
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for your new mercies everyday! Please help me not rely on yesterday’s mana but always seeking fresh and new outpouring of your presence in my life. I look to your promises that when I hunger and thirst after righteousness that I shall be satisfied. Satisfy me in your presence and in the glory of the cross. Strengthen me to lead myself, my family and your church in the newness of life in Christ and the fresh fire of your Spirit. 
Posted by John Danganan with
in Devotion, Worship

Distracted with much Serving

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39And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. 40But Martha was distracted with much serving. (Luke 10:39-40a)

 Serving can be a distraction. No matter how noble or how well intentioned it can be it can distract us from “the one thing that is necessary”. Often times due to time constraints or priorities on has to choose between serving or worship, ministry or prayer. Mary chose the good portion (The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup – Ps. 16:5).

I have been so busy lately that I have to admit that I have been distracted with much. I have been choosing to serve instead of sitting at the Lord’s feet. Serving & worship are not necessarily in dichotomy. With proper time management and discipline we can have both. But when push comes to shove, the Lord is my portion. I choose to sit at his feet.

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for speaking to me this morning to ratchet back to you especially at the start of this new year. Lord, remind me not to take on too much so that I am distracted with much serving. May I always choose to sit at your feet and worship you. Forgive my lack of commitment to prayer and solitude. I love you. I need you. Maranatha. Amen.

Posted by John Danganan with