Written by Pastor Carmela E. Head
The Renewal Center
The calendar has been marked, highlighted and the date has been saved. Mental and verbal reminders, not to mention, memos are in the cue waiting for moment of truth. Hours, minutes and seconds are on the count down. The outfit is ready, shoes and accessories are selected, and everything is color coordinated to boot! The gas gauge in the on full and topped-off. The car is squeaky clean and ready to go! “We are all set and on time! "It’s going to be day, night or trip to be remembered!
As I write this article today, I am actually all smiles as if I am in an anticipatory mode and ready to go! Ah, the feeling and anticipation of preparing for a wonderful and an exciting event. There is a feeling of expectation in the air and nothing can stop us now! We can almost sense the fanfare or the peace and serenity that awaits as we walk through the doors.
Time, cost and preparation. Three of the most integral ingredients of getting oneself together for a most well anticipated time of festivity and gala. We have selected the very best of everything, to say the least, in getting ready for the big event. We are very careful not to miss the steps of time, cost and preparation. For it is in these three elements that we are careful to integrate everything necessary in order to be ready.
What comes to mind when we think of our time of worship? When we ponder on the Magi, the wise men, in scripture [in the book of Matthew] our thoughts automatically remember their arrival to the house of the young child, Jesus the Messiah. We can vividly imagine what it would have been like to be in the presence of the Holy One sent to save the entire world.
.
These wise men sought after the Christ to worship Him. They went through great lengths of travelling the tough terrain of the desert, the heat, miles upon miles of extended travel, in their quest to find Him to and honor Him. Surely, they had to meet those three elements as mentioned before (time, cost and preparation) in order to arrive at the feet of Jesus. When they finally arrived to Bethlehem, they fell down and worshipped Him.
“And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother and fell down and worshipped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him, gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Matthew 2: 11.
For such a lengthy travel, they had to position themselves for the necessities of preparation. They knew that their travels would take an extended amount of time to reach their destination. Securing the most highly regarded, rare and absolute best gifts fit for a King, such as gold, frankincense, and myrrh, in their minds and in their hands, they made sure to gather the finest items to bring with them. There was a cost involved. There was not only the financial cost but the cost of humility, reverence and obedience as they proceeded. The moment had finally arrived.
In the day-to day practicality of our-personal lives, we take into consideration, time, cost and preparation in those opportunities to make sure we are ready to show up at our very best. Why not consider the posture of these three areas in our spiritual walk as we approach the Lord in our daily worship.
WORSHIP THE LORD IN SPLENDOR OF HOLINESS PSALM 96:9a
It takes preparation to seek the place where we will meet with Him in our time of devotion. Preparation asks of Holy Spirit to open our hearts to receive what He will download and impart into us and to open our ears to hear for clear understanding of what our next steps. He directs us. Next, we count the cost of making room for Him. Making room can be honoring the Lord with our time and presenting the Lord with the very best of what we have reserved just for Him. n humility and in expectation, our spiritual posture reveals how we honor and adore Him in worship.
Just as we pull out all of the stops while we're “getting ready” in expectation for an exciting event, let us take notice of how we can position ourselves to worship our King by making room in these three
essential areas in our lives. Are we just as passionate? Are we just as intentional? Will we seek to exalt Him in excellence?
Exalt the LORD our God and worship at His holy mountain, for the LORD our God is holy.
PSALM 99:9
During this holiday season, as we reflect on the journey, the quest, the excellence and the humility of the wise men, may we pause to remember these three things that are essential in our worship:
Time, cost and preparation: Excellent treasure in our gift of worship.
Carmela E. Head
Copyright 2021
The Renewal Center
The calendar has been marked, highlighted and the date has been saved. Mental and verbal reminders, not to mention, memos are in the cue waiting for moment of truth. Hours, minutes and seconds are on the count down. The outfit is ready, shoes and accessories are selected, and everything is color coordinated to boot! The gas gauge in the on full and topped-off. The car is squeaky clean and ready to go! “We are all set and on time! "It’s going to be day, night or trip to be remembered!
As I write this article today, I am actually all smiles as if I am in an anticipatory mode and ready to go! Ah, the feeling and anticipation of preparing for a wonderful and an exciting event. There is a feeling of expectation in the air and nothing can stop us now! We can almost sense the fanfare or the peace and serenity that awaits as we walk through the doors.
Time, cost and preparation. Three of the most integral ingredients of getting oneself together for a most well anticipated time of festivity and gala. We have selected the very best of everything, to say the least, in getting ready for the big event. We are very careful not to miss the steps of time, cost and preparation. For it is in these three elements that we are careful to integrate everything necessary in order to be ready.
What comes to mind when we think of our time of worship? When we ponder on the Magi, the wise men, in scripture [in the book of Matthew] our thoughts automatically remember their arrival to the house of the young child, Jesus the Messiah. We can vividly imagine what it would have been like to be in the presence of the Holy One sent to save the entire world.
.
These wise men sought after the Christ to worship Him. They went through great lengths of travelling the tough terrain of the desert, the heat, miles upon miles of extended travel, in their quest to find Him to and honor Him. Surely, they had to meet those three elements as mentioned before (time, cost and preparation) in order to arrive at the feet of Jesus. When they finally arrived to Bethlehem, they fell down and worshipped Him.
“And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother and fell down and worshipped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him, gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Matthew 2: 11.
For such a lengthy travel, they had to position themselves for the necessities of preparation. They knew that their travels would take an extended amount of time to reach their destination. Securing the most highly regarded, rare and absolute best gifts fit for a King, such as gold, frankincense, and myrrh, in their minds and in their hands, they made sure to gather the finest items to bring with them. There was a cost involved. There was not only the financial cost but the cost of humility, reverence and obedience as they proceeded. The moment had finally arrived.
In the day-to day practicality of our-personal lives, we take into consideration, time, cost and preparation in those opportunities to make sure we are ready to show up at our very best. Why not consider the posture of these three areas in our spiritual walk as we approach the Lord in our daily worship.
WORSHIP THE LORD IN SPLENDOR OF HOLINESS PSALM 96:9a
It takes preparation to seek the place where we will meet with Him in our time of devotion. Preparation asks of Holy Spirit to open our hearts to receive what He will download and impart into us and to open our ears to hear for clear understanding of what our next steps. He directs us. Next, we count the cost of making room for Him. Making room can be honoring the Lord with our time and presenting the Lord with the very best of what we have reserved just for Him. n humility and in expectation, our spiritual posture reveals how we honor and adore Him in worship.
Just as we pull out all of the stops while we're “getting ready” in expectation for an exciting event, let us take notice of how we can position ourselves to worship our King by making room in these three
essential areas in our lives. Are we just as passionate? Are we just as intentional? Will we seek to exalt Him in excellence?
Exalt the LORD our God and worship at His holy mountain, for the LORD our God is holy.
PSALM 99:9
During this holiday season, as we reflect on the journey, the quest, the excellence and the humility of the wise men, may we pause to remember these three things that are essential in our worship:
Time, cost and preparation: Excellent treasure in our gift of worship.
Carmela E. Head
Copyright 2021
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