New Practices For A New Year!

Introduction

- The new year always brings opp. to reflect on how we should be living

- One of the biggest struggles for changing our practices always is, “HOW?”

- Prayerfully, today, we can learn a little about the how to encourage us in 2022!

- Read Psalm 33:1-22 / Pray

Point 1 – We are called to rejoice

- David calls us to rejoice because of what God has done

-- His encouragement is simple: “Sing for Joy!”

-- How? With praise (v1); we are called to praise Him for who He is

- In today’s business, we forget Who it is our focus should be on

-- This first verse is so critical … (re-read)

-- When you focus on Him, life’s priorities changes (esp. from your wants)

-- David understood this (even with his own sin), gives us great insight here about ordering priorities (“man after God’s own heart)

- With what? We should praise with the harp and lyre (v2)

-- Music often helps us worship – David wrote Psalms which are songs of praise

-- Music is very powerful, it can change moods quickly (scary movie, opera, etc.)

-- He knew that set to music; it would help us focus on God

- David asks us to praise with a new song (v3)

-- The new song reflects the change in our life; ex: before Jesus our life had a song (more like a funeral dirge; wages of sin is death)

-- The new song is the one of praise, gratefulness … it’s meant to honor God

-- Why? Because He has restored us, He made us new … He refreshed our spirit

- We are also to play skillfully & with joy - these are direct commands of worship

-- FACT: Worship cannot be done in secret – it ought to reflect who He is to us

- Not only privately, but publicly (testify/witness) … b/c of what He’s done

- TR: When we rejoice, we also have opportunity to examine our …

Point 2 – Need to understand why we celebrate and praise God

- It’s easy to tell someone to rejoice, but most people need a why

-- APP: It’s just human nature really – we don’t like trying new things

--- EX: Why change? Why go to church? Why be a part of a community?

- When we understand something we’re likely to do it vs. talking about it

-- So, what is David writing to us about who God is? Four things to see:

1. He commands human history (v4-5)

- What God does is correct, right, and true … including writing of His word

-- Therefore, when He directs us in paths, it is reliable instruction for us

-- IMP: God does not change His plans (bible); they are clearly given to us

2. He directed creation (v6-9)

- God’s word directed the Heavens to be made

-- The stars were put into place by his command (and he called them by name)

-- Psalm 147:4, “He counts the stars and calls them all by name.”

-- His authority is on full display …

-- He limits the boundaries of the water; even the depths are known to Him

--- Proverbs 8:29, “I was there when he set the limits of the seas, so they would not spread beyond their boundaries. And when he marked off the earth’s foundations”

-- FACT: All creation was formed by His command, by His words; by His plans

- APP: His authority should cause us to revere (fear) all He has done

3. His will is over everything & everyone

-- He overrules man’s plans (v10); our ideas do not sway Him

--- Isaiah 55:8, “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.”

--- CH: Change our minds to think like Him

-- Consider: Want to make God laugh? Tell Him your plans (ex. 2018 not pastor)

-- He undergirds his purposes (v11); He is the support to what we do

-- Think of a bridge as your life … God is the support trusses that hold it in place

4. We must remember that God’s eyes are all seeing

- He watches all things (v12-14); Everything is under Him; deeds/thoughts

- He weighs all things (v15-17); considers/measures what we do (nothing escapes)

- He sees all believers (v18-19); He is everywhere at once, knowing and seeing

- TR: But this should not cause us to be afraid (boogeyman), rather change our life

Point 3 – So, how can we really live this life?

- Consider this, God has already given us a roadmap to live!

-- Let’s unpack this together and prayerfully, we can see the HOW in this point: