What Are You Looking Forward To?

 

As I stood in front of the mirror one Friday I took a long look at the shirt I was wearing.  On Friday’s in my workplace we wear shirts that say “IT’S FRIDAY, FRIDAY, FRIDAY!” with a fireworks display going on all around the words. There is definitely a celebration going on both on the shirt and in those who are happy to see Friday finally come so they can begin their weekends away for a few days.

I then thought about one of the first Bible verses my son and I learned years ago.  It is, “I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” Psalm 122:1.  I asked myself whether or not I was as excited to see Sunday worship come as I am to see Friday come?  Do I look forward to it all week?  Do I count the hours ‘til I can finally go?  Do I celebrate with others the fact that the day is finally here?  Do I wear my happy clothes of “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness”, as I meet and greet those around me?  Do I have real joy as I worship or is my mind on getting through “church” so I can check it off my “to-do list” and move on to the next thing?

Psalm 100:2 says, “Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs.”  

I want to look ahead and forward to Sunday worship; to do this I need the help of the Holy Spirit.  I need to prepare my heart before the day arrives so I can see if there is any unconfessed sin or grievance I have to deal with before I offer myself to the Lord.  I need to clothe myself on the inside with the Fruit of the Spirit so I will respond on the outside as Jesus would.  Then, I will be able to worship the Lord with gladness and mean what I say when I sing:

I love you, Lord
And I lift my voice
To worship You
Oh, my soul rejoice!
Take joy my King
In what You hear
Let it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear!  

Amen!

~Donna Bowles