What Am I Wearing?

 Revelation 16:15

Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. 

Garments: the outer garment worn over the undergarment next to the skin, long flowing cloak, robe, mantle, apparel, raiment 

I Am Wearing Jesus Christ

Romans 13:14

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Galatians 3:27

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

I Am Wearing Righteousness & Justice

Job 29:14

I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; justice was my robe and my turban.

I Am Wearing Salvation

Isaiah 61:10

I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Ephesians 6:17

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. 

I Am Wearing Truth

Ephesians 6:14

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with Truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,  

I Am Wearing Peace

Ephesians 6:15

and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 

I Am Wearing Faith & Love

1 Thessalonians 5:8

But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

I Am Wearing The Fruit of The Spirit

Colossians 3:12

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Love Is Holy

 

God Is Holy

Psalm 99:9

Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at His holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy.

God Is Love

1 John 4:8

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Therefore, we must conclude that Love Is Holy Because God Is Love.

1 CORINTHIANS 3:17

If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.

How do we, as God's temple, get destroyed by others, besides being killed for our faith? By compromising our Biblical values with worldly values, for one.

Another way is by listening, and adhering to, false doctrines which fall into three categories: alternative "Christian" thinking, anti-Christian thinking and legalism (following a bunch of rules).

All of these schools of thought fall under the category of anti-Christ. Anything Satan can do to keep people out of walking the strait and narrow path which God has set up for His people to walk in, he will do.

There is only one GOD, one heavenly Father, unlike any other father we have ever known.

There is only one JESUS CHRIST who is GOD's only begotten Son, who died on the cross in our place taking the punishment for all the sins of the whole world: from times past, times present and times future; Who overcame death, hell and the grave and walked out of the tomb wherein He had been buried: resurrected into a new life and a new body. It is He Who is seated at the right hand of God, interceding on behalf of His people (Psalm 110:1; Colossians 3:1; Romans 8:34). And He's coming back, when His Father sends Him, to collect a holy church (Ephesians 5:25-27)

There is only one Holy Spirit and he is the Holy Spirit of the Holy God, the Holy Spirit of the Holy Christ.

God is Spirit, Jesus is the Word He speaks, the Spirit is the breath by which He speaks the Word.

John 4:24

"God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth."

John 1:1, 14

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ... And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."

Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22

"He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches."

Now, knowing our God is holy and knowing He can only live in holiness, we know that his habitations must be holy, as well. When Jesus Christ washes away our sins, they all take up residence within us. We are a holy people (Titus 2:14), and as such, we are a holy nation (1 Peter 2:9), and a holy temple (1 Corinthians 3:16).

So whoever comes against us, as God's people, God's nation, God's temple, God will come against them. And win. Because He is God and His very presence demands holiness. Evil cannot withstand holiness. It will be rooted out and burned up.

Intentional Worship -- Job

 Job had just lost everything: his cattle and servants, his sheep and the shepherds, his camels and the servants who took care of them, his children: gone in a day.

Job 1:20, 21

Then Job stood up, tore his robe, and shaved his head. He fell to the ground and worshiped, saying: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.”

Job himself is struck with boils from the top of his head to the soles of his feet (Job 2:7).

But does he deny God? No, even yet, Job worships God and testifies to his wife of God's wisdom.

Job 2:10

“You speak as a foolish woman speaks,” he told her. “Should we accept from God only good and not adversity?” In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

Job had three friends who came to grieve with him in his time of loss. They sat quietly, not speaking, for seven days on the ground beside him. Until Job spoke. In their efforts to comfort him, they ended up speaking against him. 

Job 4 & 5: Eliphaz rebuked him for his lack of faith.

Job 8: Bildad accuses Job of being less than perfect before God and that God was asleep while these calamitous events occurred.

Job 11: Zophar accuses Job of hypocrisy and having hidden sins; he wants God to speak against Job.

Job reiterates his trust in God.

Job 13:15

Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him: but I will maintain my own ways before Him (defend myself, plead my cause). 

Job's response to his accusers is classic: Job 16:2 "I have heard many such things: miserable comforters are you all." (italics mine) 

I would think that with friends like those I'd much rather grieve alone. Wouldn't you?

But they didn't get up and leave; they stayed with Job the entire time. In verse 7 he tells his friends that they have made him feel 'desolate'. In verse 8 he tells them their words 'have given him wrinkles' (aged him). In verse 9 he is even more graphic in how their 'comfort' has made him feel: tearing at him, gnashing upon him with their teeth, focusing their gaze upon him. The scorn they feel for him in his hour of grief is so evident that it feels to Job as if they were wild beasts and enemy archers coming against him to tear him to pieces. (v. 10-13). 

In verse 30 he hoped for a true friend, for a  friend who would intercede for him before God, but he did not have one. 

Job begins to believe that there is no wrong in his heart, that his righteousness is great and that he does not deserve what is happening to him. (Job 19-31) But then Elihu speaks up. Who is this fourth man who is not introduced in the beginning of our saga? 

He is the grandson of Nahor (Genesis 22:20, 21), Abraham's brother, making him Abraham's great-nephew. But who is he to Job? One of Job's young friends, who also thought Job needed to repent for some wickedness in his life which he believed was the reason Job had lost everything and was stricken with this illness (the boils). But Elihu, too, was mistaken. 

For we know, having read in the beginning that God had challenged Satan, that Job had done nothing wrong, that sin was not why he was being tested. We know that Job's faith and trust in God was at stake. And we see that Job came through these spiritual waters and fires with his faith intact. 

Job 38-41 The LORD speaks to Job regarding Job's ignorance of God's ways; God blesses him and Job repents. The LORD also speaks to Job's friends regarding their wicked words against his servant Job and has Job intercede for them. 

This, too, is intentional worship. Job not only heard the LORD, but saw Him (Job 42:5). After Job prayed for his friends, the LORD reversed the tragedies against him and increased his losses doubly, except for his children. He didn't give him twice as many children, but He did give him another brood (v. 15) to raise. He did right by his daughters and gave them an equal share of the inheritance. 

Job 42:16, 17

"After this lived Job 140 years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, even four generations. And Job died, being old and full of days."

A generation is 40 years. After the LORD gave him children, he lived to see his sons mature and have children of their own, and he saw their children and their children's children. That's a long time to live. And in all those days I believe Job shared what the LORD had done for him with all of his family. 

Intentional worship is to worship God with all of our hearts, our minds, our souls (Mark 12:30; Deuteronomy 6:5). It is loving the LORD God with everything within us even when we don't understand the why of what is happening to us at the time it happens. As Job said, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him."

 

The LORD IS -- July

 

SKANDALON PETRA

(pronounced skan'-dal-on pet'-ra)

ROCK OF OFFENSE

Romans 9:33

As it is written: "Behold, I lay in Sion a Stumblingstone and Rock of Offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame."

Isaiah 8:13-14

The LORD of Hosts is the One you shall regard as holy. Only He should be feared; only He should be dreaded.  And He will be a sanctuary—but to both houses of Israel a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, to the dwellers of Jerusalem a trap and a snare. 

Isaiah 28:16

So this is what the Lord GOD says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will never be shaken. I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the level. Hail will sweep away your refuge of lies, and water will flood your hiding place."

IMMANUEL

GOD IS WITH US

Isaiah 8:10

Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God Is With Us.

Isaiah 7:14

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel.

Matthew 1:23

"Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel" (which means, "God with us").

Isaiah 41:10

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. 

Romans 8:31

What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

ELOHIM MAGEN

GOD OUR SHIELD

Psalm 84:9

Behold, O God our Shield, and look upon the face of Thine anointed.

Genesis 15:1

After these things the Word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy Shield, and thy Exceeding Great Reward.

2 Samuel 22:31

As for God, His way is perfect; the Word of the LORD is tried: He is a buckler to all them that trust in Him.

Proverbs 30:5

Every Word of God is pure: He is a Shield unto them that put their trust in Him. 

YAHWEH KABOWD

LORD MY GLORY

Psalm 3:3

But You, O LORD, are a Shield around me, My Glory, and the One who lifts my head.

Pronounced: yah-way kaw-bode'

GLORY: Honor; Beauty, Adornment, Crown, Majesty

This is a declaration of faith which King David made to God while running away from his son Absalom, who wanted to kill him and take his place on the throne (2 Samuel 15). But David knew God would protect him from his son the upstart. He knew God as his Shield, his protector, the God Who encompasses His people with His own Strength. 

David recognized God's Kingship over all. Therefore he knew that God was his Glory, that God's glory is God's Majesty. 

Psalms tells us we worship God "in the beauty of holiness", in God's holiness, God's beauty. Hebrews 2:9 reminds us that Jesus is Crowned with Glory: "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, because of the suffering of death, having been crowned with glory and with honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for​ ​everyone​." 

DAVID RHIZA

(pronounced dahb-eed hrid'-zah)

ROOT OF DAVID

Revelation 5:3

Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep!" Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed to open the scroll and its seven seals."

Rhiza: root, source, that which comes from the root

 

Isaiah 11:1

 And there shall come forth a Rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.

Acts 13:22-23

After removing Saul, He raised up David as their king and testified about him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after My own heart; he will carry out My will in its entirety.’  From the descendants of this man, God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as He promised. 

Revelation 22:16

"I, Jesus, have sent My angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star."

The word 'root' is both noun and verb. As a noun we see that it takes hold of its surroundings and establishes a firm hold. As a verb we know that a root can be implanted or establish deeply within. 

John 15:5

I am the vine; you are the branches. The one abiding in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit. For apart from Me you are able to do nothing.

Colossians 2:6, 7

 Therefore, just as you have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him, established in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

 

Intentional Worship -- Daniel 6

 Daniel 6:10 

Now when Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house, where the windows of his upper room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before.

In Daniel's day once the king had written a law and enforced it, the king could not rescind that law. He could, however, make a new law voiding the wrongful law. Until then the bad law remained in effect, especially on the first day it's put into practice. 

Knowing this document, this law, was now in effect Daniel deliberately with full intention of disobeying the unreasonable law prayed three times a day to God. His enemies were always watching him to see if they could catch him doing something illegal. Knowing that Daniel prayed three times a day to his God, they purposefully created and suggested to the king that he enact a law to thwart Daniel's time with God.

Daniel 6:4-8

Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him. Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God. Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, "King Darius, live for ever. 

All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellers, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.

Therefore, O king, establish the decree and sign the document so that it cannot be changed—in accordance with the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be repealed.”

In Daniel 6:9 we read that the king signed this egregious document, this outrageous law. And now we get to the heart, the meat, of our study: Daniel's intent. 

In the privacy of his own home, in the room he had previously chosen to pray in, Daniel knelt three times a day and prayed to God, thanking Him. 
Can we do that? Knowing that laws have been written against us, laws which will throw us in prison, laws that will attempt to thwart our relationship with God, laws that when enforced will take our very lives? Can we thank God then? How can we thank God then, if we aren't thanking Him now? 

Our worship towards God needs to be intentional, on purpose with purpose. God knows our hearts. If our hearts aren't right with God, then He can't hear our worship: it falls on deaf ears. We must get our hearts aligned with His that He may be glorified in our worship. After all, the purpose of our worship is to love and adore on Him. 

"O Come Let Us Adore Him"  is a call to worship God, first sung by angels at Jesus' birth. But it's more than just a 'Christmas Carol', it's a pleading call to "come and adore God and the Son of God." "Adoration" is fervent (intensity of spirit, burning, enthusiastic) and devoted (zealous, passionate) love, reverence and respect. 

It is impossible to intentionally worship God under these definitions if our hearts are not right with God for our worship comes from our heart, from our souls. What is our soul? Our mind (our thoughts and how we think), our attitude (how we portray what we think and believe, our emotions), our will (putting our thoughts into action, speaking or doing said actions). 

When a person believes in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ for their salvation, their soul becomes saved. We are Saved out of the darkness of sin which separates a person from God. We sincerely and intentionally repent of the sins which we have committed against God and His Word; and He forgives us. We pray for His Holy Spirit to live in us and mold us into the people created us to be, discarding the uncleanness that is in our hearts and replacing it with the Word of God, which we read and study daily that it might be written in our hearts by God. 

Psalm 95:6

O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.

We who have walked out of the dark and into the His Light rejoice for the mercies of God on us, for His compassion and lovingkindness towards us! How can we not thank Him for all He has done for us? We bow now, we kneel before Him INTENTIONALLY and ON PURPOSE, WITH PURPOSE. 

Isaiah 45:23

By Myself I have sworn; Truth has gone out from My mouth, a Word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow before Me, every tongue will swear allegiance.

Romans 14:11

It is written: "As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will confess to God."

Philippians 2:8-11

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross. Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Daniel's faith in God, his love for His God, was greater than any law that the king could produce. Nonetheless, Daniel was thrown into the lion's den, where he remained safely, for the Lord God had shut the lions' mouths and kept them from killing Daniel, which was the intent and purpose of the men who rose against him. And then they were thrown into the lions' den and received their intent upon themselves. 

Daniel's faith was counted unto him as righteousness. He is mentioned once more in the Book of Hebrews, in 'The Hall of Faith': Verse 33: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions (Daniel 6:22= "My God sent His angel and shut the mouths of the lions. They have not hurt me, for I was found innocent in His sight, and I have done no wrong against you, O king.” )

Again I ask, is your worship intentional? Are you and I purposefully, with a righteous heart, worshiping God? We can only answer these questions truthfully when we allow the work of the Holy Spirit to convict us when we have done wrong in God's sight and bring us to repentance when we kneel before Him with humble hearts, seeking His face and eagerly listening for His voice. 

1 Corinthians 13 -- Descriptive Love

 

Agape Love Described

1 Corinthians 13:1Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

 1 John 4:16

And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

Nothing Without Love

1 CORINTHIANS 13:2

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

Matthew 7:21-22

Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’

Love Profits Me

1 CORINTHIANS 13:3

And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profits me nothing.

Matthew 6:2

So when you give to the needy, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.

Love Is Patient, Love Is Kind

1 CORINTHIANS 13:4

Charity suffers long, and is kind; charity envies not; charity vaunts not itself, is not puffed up.

Don't Gossip, That's Not Love

Proverbs 17:9

Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but he who brings it up separates friends.

Forgiveness Is Love

Ephesians 4:32

Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.

Clothed In Love

Colossians 3:12

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Love Behaves Itself

1 CORINTHIANS 13:5

Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil;

1 Corinthians 10:24

No one should seek his own good, but the good of others.

Romans 15:1-2

We who are strong ought to bear with the shortcomings of the weak and not to please ourselves.

Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

Love Shares The Joy of God's Grace

1 CORINTHIANS 13:6

Rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

Here, the word REJOICE, is from the Greek word sugchairó (pronounced soong-khah'-ee-ro), which means: together sharing or experiencing God's grace.

Knowing this, we see that it is quite impossible for those who rejoice in God's grace simply cannot rejoice in iniquity. For we know that iniquity is unrighteousness, a violation of God's justice.

They who take joy in evil cannot be joyful in grace.

Love Suffers Long

1 CORINTHIANS 13:7

Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

We Are Called to Suffer 

1 Peter 2:21

For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in His steps.

Longsuffering Is A Fruit of The Spirit 

Galatians 5:22

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.

Longsuffering also means 'Patience'. Not patience in the way we would think, putting limits on how long our patience should last, but the patience of God, a direct result of divine Love. It is God living in us and working in us, on us and through us that produces the Fruit of Longsuffering.

Love Never Fails

1 CORINTHIANS 13:8

Charity never fails but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

Faith Works Through Love

Galatians 5:6

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision accomplishes anything; what matters is faith working through love.

LOVE TRUSTS GOD

1 CORINTHIANS 13:9

For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

1 Corinthians 8:2

The one who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know.

1 Corinthians 2:9

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

I, admittedly, do not know everything I want to know or think I need to know about being a good Christian. But I do know enough to know that I need to be more rooted and grounded in the Word of God, that I need a Savior and His name is Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God.

I do know that righteous living profits me not only in eternity but as I live my life now according to the Word of God; not just to the best of my ability but also in the wisdom of the Holy Spirit.

I know that much. When I need to know more, the Spirit will inform me. Until then I'll "Only Trust Him" as the song says. 

Love Awaits Perfecting

1 CORINTHIANS 13:10

But when that which is perfect is come, then that which in in part shall be done away.

1 Corinthians 9:24

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way as to take the prize.

Philippians 3:12

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

Love Matures

1 CORINTHIANS 13:11

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

In his or her lifetime, the born again believer, regardless of chronological age, is nevertheless viewed by God as His child.

And just like little children, we speak in the language of childhood, we understand very little of perfect Christian maturity and we think like little children. We may be mature in the Word but until the Word matures in us, we are still little children.

When the Word fully matures in us, childhood of this life will dissipate and we will be changed.

Are you ready?

Love Makes Me Known To God

1 Corinthians 13:12

For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

1 Corinthians 8:3

But the one who loves God is known by God.

1 Corinthians 2:9

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Looking at God through our physical eyes, and even our less than perfect spiritual eyes, is like looking in a tinted mirror or dirt-grimed window: not seeing clearly. 

But someday when we are in His eternal presence in His heavenly realm, we will see Him in all His glory and perfection. 

Someday we will see His just as clearly and plainly as He sees us.

Love Greater Than Faith, Hope

1 Corinthians 13:13

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Do All Things In Love

1 Corinthians 16:13, 14

Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong. Do everything in love.

Love Is Sincere

Love must be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good.

Love Is Pure

The goal of our instruction is the love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith. 

Love Is Generous

1 John 3:15-17

Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that eternal life does not reside in a murderer.  By this we know what love is: Jesus laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him?

Love Is Kind & Forgiving

Ephesians 4:32

Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.

Love Covers Us

Colossians 3:12

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Intelligent Worship -- Submit to God

 Intelligent Worship brings us into the presence of God through Submission to God. 

Part 12.

And now we come to the final installment of this series. That part which seems to keep a lot of folks from fully surrendering to God's will for their lives: letting go of self-will and submitting to God's will. But, really, once we have placed ourselves at His feet and received His mercy, there truly is no better place to be than in God's perfect will. 

It is a life that is lived in internal peace. Though the world fractures around us, though the enemies of the cross are many and threaten our lives, this peace that passes understanding can only be obtained through daily submission to the Word of God. 

You've heard the phrase, "It's my way or the highway"? Same concept applies here. In order to worship God and be in His presence, we must walk the narrow road, the old path, in order to walk with God and commune with Him. In other words, it's "His Way or the highway". Matthew 7:13-14 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few."

Submission to God leads to a thwarting of the devil's plans.

James 4:7

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Submission to God renders us His humble servants. 

1 Peter 5:6

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you.

Submission to God means complete and absolute surrender to God's will for our lives.

Romans 12:1

Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship.

Submission to God is an intentional recognition that we do not belong to ourselves any more; now we belong to God.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.

Submission to God begins when we believe that Jesus Christ is Lord. 

Romans 10:9

That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him out from the dead, you will be saved. 

Submission to God removes anxiety and worry from a believer's heart. 

Matthew 6:25

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?

James 4:14

You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

Every act of worship requires the worshiper to be a born-again believer. There's no getting around that one focal point. All I can say is, if you aren't, what are you waiting for? Hebrews 3 speaks over and over again on the urgency of the day, of to day, being our day of salvation. For tomorrow is not promised to anyone. To day could be your day of salvation. Why not make it so?