Dear Sisters and Brothers in Jesus the Christ,

Although I’m confidant that it is true unto me according to Romans 8:1-2, spending what I define as minimal time with GOD for even just a couple of days, is akin to starving my spirit. Upon return, I am immediately moved to sing to Him: Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty! and/or Nothing But The Blood Of Jesus and/or I Need Thee Every Hour. Recently, while discussing the things of GOD with a colleague, and in response to a question, I mentioned that I sing to the LORD (usually before prayer and sometimes in the midst thereof). The sincere yet un-expected response was: “oh, you have church”; I had never quite thought of it in that way ‘though I’ve always known that GOD enjoys my solos (and I believe He chuckles when I attempt to sing even the instrumental parts of some songs).

Worship is acknowledging GOD: in praise, prayer, song, and/or giving thanks, in Jesus’ name; in obedience; in the use of words that strengthen faith. Man has an innate or intuitive need for worship and, if not GOD, man will indeed worship either an idol (i.e., drugs, money, etc.) or the enemy of God. Therefore, when GOD is increasingly removed from the rubric of a society, the side effects thereof (i.e., maleficent, malevolent, malfeasance) aren’t surprising. Further, that maladies, trials and tribulations (which render a significant number of people weaker as opposed to stronger) are of God is yet another lie from the father of lies (John 8:44c). “If it were trials & tribulations that make us strong, everybody on earth would be a spiritual giant.1  Rather, when man forsakes his first love (Revelation 2:4-5; John 3:16-21), he neglects his lamp-stand resulting in scant or no light (Psalm 119:105).

The Sovereign Lord God Almighty with Whom we are reconciled by the blood of Jesus has told us over and over and over and over and over that He will neither leave nor quit nor abandon nor cease from nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6; Joshua 1:5; 2Ch 15:2; Psalm 27:10, 37:25 & 94:14; Hebrews 13:5). Yet the LORD Who has never desired a robot won’t ever hold man hostage. Therefore, ‘though we might ignore Him and/or pretend that He isn’t present when we want to do our own thing (so to speak), He is always right in the midst of us; for Yahweh/Jehovah is El Roi – God Who Sees; “God oversees all creation and the affairs of the people.”2  Providing a person doesn’t willfully repudiate GOD (1Jn 5:16; Matthew 12:31-32), He is ever present and always desires to answer them that seek His face (1Jn 5:14-15; Hebrews 11:6). More likely than not, we perturb the Holy Spirit with Whom we are sealed (2Co 1:22; Ephesians 1:13 & 4:30), and Whose ministry in the earth is now until the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus (Matthew 24:24-28, 40-42; Luke 17:23-24; Revelation 22:7, 12, 20). Nevertheless, we are grateful that GOD is both compassionate and a keeper of His WORD.

Speak the promise . . . Harriet

1 Copeland, K. (1992). Faith and Patience: The Power Twins. (p. 17). Fort Worth, TX: Kenneth Copeland Publications.

2 Zondervan. (1997). Life Applucation Study Bible: New International Version. (p. 541). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.