February 3, 2023
Bishop, W. F. Houston, Jr.
*C H O F Ministry Bible Study Reading:
Psalm 89:1–18
**C H O F Ministry Focal Verse:
Psalm 89:15 - Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, Lord.
Beloved, it’s time for us to shift our focus from praying for material things to praying for God. You see, prayer is not primarily about acquiring something; instead, it's to become acquainted with Someone. Your heavenly Father is waiting for you if you pray to Him secretly. You will receive the reward of intimacy with Him when you do that.
Learning to worship God includes developing a prayer life that’s centered on God and His will. The key verse for today's reading is verse 15. It relates directly to our topic of study: “Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, Lord.”
It's important to recognize that worship is a skill that can be developed - it must be taught. The first phrase can be rendered as in a more literal translation, “Happy are those who hear the joyful call (shout) to worship, (NLT)” In other words, those who understands the call's (shout’s) significance; (it’s an invitation to worship) as well as the steps necessary to participate.
Among the many implications is that getting to know God entails becoming more devout. To put it another way, we can't acquire knowledge of Him solely through rational means. As we increase our knowledge with our minds, our gratitude will grow within our hearts. If we’re not offering worship, we’re not genuinely gaining knowledge. Doing one requires doing the other, and when we carry out both actions, we will be "blessed" or "happy."
So, what can we infer about God from this psalm?
*He’s a devoted and loyal companion (vv. 1–2).
*He establishes and upholds covenants (vv. 3–4).
*He is incredible, unparalleled, and far superior to all other heavenly beings (vv. 5–8).
* He is independent and possesses unlimited power
(vv. 9–13).
*He is the epitome of righteousness and fairness
(vv. 14–18).
These are not simply facts that should be reaffirmed, but also causes for celebration (v. 16).
People who worship God can simultaneously grow in knowledge, experience joy, and approach God's presence (Also see Ps. 119:7).
Beloved, as we end yet another week, it’s our prayer that you will continue to put your worship of God at the forefront of each one of your activities throughout the weekend. You should thank God for who He is and everything He is teaching you.
Let Us Pray:
Dear Heavenly Father, the heavens sing praises to You for your wondrous works and for Your unfailing faithfulness. Who else in all of heaven can compare to You, Lord? Who among the heavenly beings compares favorably to the Lord? In Jesus’ Name, Amen. (Psalm 89:5–6)