Pray:
Ask God to orient or reorient you to himself. Confess any known sin. Thank him for his forgiveness. Be still and reflect on Jesus. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your heart and mind to God’s word. Pray for others in your life that they too would know and love God today.
Read:
Psa. 96:1 Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. 3 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. 4 For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. 6 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary. 7 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of 4 nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. 8 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts. 9 Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.
Understand:
Worship is a word that means literally to “bow down before.” Often we bow our heads or get on our knees to pray. Of course it is not necessary to do so to pray but like the word speaks of submission to one greater the act of bowing or kneeling symbolizes the same. The real significance of the word is not in the symbolism of physical bowing but in the reality of an inward disposition it represents. A bowed heart and surrendered will is true worship.
Reflect:
Is there any area of your life where you are saying “no” or “not yet” to God? Is there any part of your heart that is “unbowed” to God?
Apply:
From what you have just read and considered what is a real implication/application for your life today?
Live:
(Personalize this prayer for today, make it specific to the circumstances that face you.) Ask God to lead you through his Spirit as you go through your day. Ask him to bring to mind the truth of the gospel and its implications for what you will encounter today. Tell him “Yes” to his will today and ask him for his power and protection to live this “yes.” Ask him to create and reveal opportunities to proclaim the good news today