Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Busyness”
Our Bible verse for today: “Above all, fear the Lord and worship Him faithfully with all your heart, considering the great things He has done for you.” 1 Samuel 12:24 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “Prepare your heart for worship”.
I’ve always been attracted to monasteries. Maybe it has something to do with my Catholic upbringing. I’ve never actually been to a monastery but I’ve read books and stories, journals and devotional messages written by people who have.
You don’t have to be a monk or a nun to go there. Most monasteries offer regular folks the opportunity to visit for a quiet retreat. That’s the thing that I find attractive about the thought of going to one – a period of time secluded from the world. No televisions, computers, or cell phones, just long hours of quiet reflection in a beautiful old cathedral, followed by more hours of hiking through the woods, or sitting beside a lake, or sleeping.
Most of us are too busy in the way we practice our faith. We rush through our times of prayer and Bible reading. Then we squeeze in a little time for a ministry activity. When we gather on Sunday mornings there’s lots of laughing, joking, talking, singing, listening to a sermon, and then we rush off to lunch. But there’s little time of quiet reflection. Sometimes it seems as if we just barge into the presence of the Lord like a noisy group of chattering teenagers.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the happy and friendly atmosphere of joyful fellowship. That’s a sign of a healthy church family. But we need to be careful our church time doesn’t get so noisy and busy that we don’t spend time thoughtfully and prayerfully preparing our hearts to enter into a time of worship. This is what the Old Testament prophet Samuel was calling for in 1 Samuel 12:24 – a time of thoughtful reflection faithfully preparing your heart and considering all the great things He has done for you.
As you prepare yourself to go to church this Sunday I encourage you to spend time beforehand quietly and prayerfully preparing your heart. Think deeply about God and all that He has done for you. Consider His greatness and His majesty. Spend the time to properly prepare yourself for entering into His presence in deep and meaningful worship.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 