In this one life that we got, we go through all kinds of situations. We have good times and bad times. When we are faced with crisis in life, what do we do and how do we respond to it?
One of the way we can respond to the crisis is by ’Worshipping God’. Job is an perfect example for us.
Job 1:20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,...
Job worshipped God in the time of crisis.
One more example we can see in :
Exodus 4:27-31 31 ’and they believed. And when they heard that the LORD was concerned about them and had seen their misery, they bowed down and worshiped’.
In the above scripture Israelites were in bondage and in great misery under the rule of Pharoah in Egypt. In the midst of their crisis they discovered that the Lord was ’concerned’ about them. The immediate response by the Israelites was that they worshipped God. Today may be you are going through some crisis in your life and the Lord is telling you that He is concerned about you. What is your response? Will you worship God in the midst of your crisis? why did these men worshipped God in crisis? what happens when we worship God in crisis?
When we worship God in crisis, we show forth our trust and faith in God. When we worship God we enter in to His presence. bible says in Ps 16:11 ’You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy...’
Philp 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
In God’s presence we find peace, joy and rest (Matt 11:28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.)
When Jehoshapat faced crisis in his life with the vast enemy that surrounded him and his people, he chose to come before God and worshipped Him.
2 Chron 20:18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed before the LORD, worshiping the LORD.
once again we see the response to the crisis in the life of Paul and Silas.
Acts 16:24-26 (The Message)
22-24The judges went along with the mob, had Paul and Silas’s clothes ripped off and ordered a public beating. After beating them black-and-blue, they threw them into jail, telling the jailkeeper to put them under heavy guard so there would be no chance of escape. He did just that—threw them into the maximum security cell in the jail and clamped leg irons on them.
25-26Along about midnight, Paul and Silas were at prayer and singing a robust hymn to God. The other prisoners couldn’t believe their ears. Then, without warning, a huge earthquake! The jailhouse tottered, every door flew open, all the prisoners were loose.
Bible tells us to ’magnify’ the Lord and not our problems.
Psalms 34:3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
Psalms 69:30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.
God has given us emotions. when we are struck with crisis in life our emotions can get stirred up towards frustration, anger, depression etc... We need to direct our emotions towards God. We need to come before God in worshipping Him and magnifying Him.
Emotion without devotion is nothing more than commotion.
I remember that few years back I was trying to counsel a family in India. everyone in that family was in big mess and constantly fighting with each other. one day when I visited their house, there was a big comotion in that family with some problem that had occured at that time. Everyone in that house was emotionally charged up and I tried my best to bring the situation in control but not of much avail. Then I asked everyone to worship God and as we did that, suddenly everyone of us felt peace of God descending in our hearts. Just a moment ago there was such a great commotion and confusion but as we started worshipping God the situation had calmed down. there was forgiveness and love flowing in that family.
Calvin Coolidge once said, “It is only when men begin to worship that they begin to grow.”
Apostle Paul encouraged the Church at his time to worship the Lord.
Ephesians 5:19-20 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Colossians 3:15-17 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
So let us be worshippers because God is seeking worshippers-John 4:23 ’But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him’.
