WEBVTT 00:04.216 --> 00:08.949 [SPEAKER_00]: as we continue this week long focus until the soil of our hearts. 00:09.792 --> 00:17.213 [SPEAKER_00]: Today we're going to look at the power of worship and opening our hearts to receive all that God longs to give. 00:17.783 --> 00:22.391 [SPEAKER_00]: For most of us, worship is something we engage in in a corporate setting. 00:23.072 --> 00:26.878 [SPEAKER_00]: It's a collective expression of adoration and relationship. 00:27.679 --> 00:31.545 [SPEAKER_00]: But worship can be so much more than the songs we sing together. 00:32.186 --> 00:40.500 [SPEAKER_00]: It's a powerful avenue to softening our hearts towards God that we can and should journey down every day. 00:40.480 --> 00:51.166 [SPEAKER_00]: As we make space to focus on the power of worship today, may God stir up each of our hearts to worship Him with all we are and all we have. 00:51.928 --> 00:54.574 [SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to the first 15 podcast. 01:20.812 --> 01:36.051 [SPEAKER_00]: Our verse for today comes from Psalm 29, verse 2, Scripture says, A scribe to the Lord, the glory to His name, worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness. 01:40.997 --> 01:46.363 [SPEAKER_00]: One of the most powerful ways to tell the soil of the heart is through worship. 01:47.204 --> 01:56.197 [SPEAKER_00]: Authentic worship is a powerful exchange of God pouring His love out on us and us giving Him our hearts in return. 01:57.539 --> 02:12.081 [SPEAKER_00]: In worshiping through music, our hearts naturally become soft and receptive to God's love, as we encounter His goodness, and engage in adoration of the only one worthy of our affections. 02:13.411 --> 02:18.882 [SPEAKER_00]: God created music within innate ability to affect us at our core. 02:20.125 --> 02:25.175 [SPEAKER_00]: Music has the power to fill us with peace, joy, and anger. 02:26.077 --> 02:32.770 [SPEAKER_00]: It can cause tears to well up in our eyes, and even make the most mundane events beautiful. 02:33.610 --> 02:41.571 [SPEAKER_00]: Martin Luther said, beautiful music is the art of the prophets that can con the agitations of the soul. 02:42.533 --> 02:47.687 [SPEAKER_00]: It is one of the most magnificent and delightful presence God has given us. 02:48.815 --> 02:52.801 [SPEAKER_00]: by consistently engaging in worship through beautiful music. 02:53.482 --> 03:03.836 [SPEAKER_00]: We provide a framework for the Holy Spirit both to tell the soil of our hearts and to fill us with the seeds of God's presence and perfect character. 03:05.419 --> 03:09.945 [SPEAKER_00]: The Bible is brimming with admonishment to worship through song. 03:10.702 --> 03:28.988 [SPEAKER_00]: Paul tells us in Colossians 316, let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and enmonishing one another in all wisdom, singing Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your heart to God. 03:30.991 --> 03:40.084 [SPEAKER_00]: Hebrews 12, 28 says, therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken. 03:40.199 --> 03:45.988 [SPEAKER_00]: And thus, let us offer to God acceptable worship with reverence and awe. 03:49.393 --> 04:00.050 [SPEAKER_00]: Scripture is so clear about the importance of worship because God longs for us to be a people marked by consistent reminders of His unconditional love. 04:01.552 --> 04:06.139 [SPEAKER_00]: He longs for us to live in response to His presence in plans. 04:06.507 --> 04:12.113 [SPEAKER_00]: rather than struggling through life by placing our trust in the world over him. 04:14.796 --> 04:18.239 [SPEAKER_00]: God longs to reveal his heart to you in worship. 04:19.340 --> 04:27.449 [SPEAKER_00]: He longs to show up and meet you in your room, car, work place, and house of worship. 04:27.469 --> 04:35.637 [SPEAKER_00]: You were created to encounter God and engage in the cyclical act of giving and receiving love throughout your day. 04:36.798 --> 04:41.243 [SPEAKER_00]: When you worship here on earth, you posture your heart towards eternity. 04:42.985 --> 04:48.331 [SPEAKER_00]: Making the willful choice to give your affections to the one you will spend eternity with. 04:49.032 --> 04:57.021 [SPEAKER_00]: You also discover your purpose for what you are made to live an unhindered communion with your heavenly Father. 04:59.784 --> 05:03.328 [SPEAKER_00]: If you feel like the soil of your heart is hard, 05:03.747 --> 05:09.537 [SPEAKER_00]: Your life isn't marked by the fruit of the Spirit, or you can't escape from a temptation. 05:09.597 --> 05:14.145 [SPEAKER_00]: Simply take some time and encounter God in worship. 05:15.627 --> 05:18.673 [SPEAKER_00]: God's presence is wholly available to you today. 05:19.815 --> 05:22.920 [SPEAKER_00]: His love and grace are steadfast toward you. 05:24.335 --> 05:34.564 [SPEAKER_00]: May your time in guided prayer be marked by the nearness and power of the Holy Spirit as you encounter the unconditional love of God. 06:04.328 --> 06:15.045 [SPEAKER_00]: As we begin, meditate on what Scripture says about worship through music and reflect on how beautiful music moves your heart. 06:15.065 --> 06:30.049 [SPEAKER_00]: 1 Samuel 16 verse 23 says, and whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the liar and played it with his hand. 06:30.451 --> 06:37.238 [SPEAKER_00]: So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him. 07:14.866 --> 07:15.467 [SPEAKER_00]: in next. 07:16.908 --> 07:20.172 [SPEAKER_00]: Engage in worship in whatever way moves your heart. 07:21.453 --> 07:27.640 [SPEAKER_00]: Receive the presence and love of your Heavenly Father and give Him your heart in response. 07:29.302 --> 07:33.546 [SPEAKER_00]: Remember the importance of giving and receiving love in worship. 07:35.388 --> 07:42.696 [SPEAKER_00]: Psalm 136 says, I will sing to the Lord because He has dealt 08:21.860 --> 08:30.634 [SPEAKER_00]: In last, journal or reflect about the effects worship has on your heart today and at other times in your life. 08:32.096 --> 08:42.653 [SPEAKER_00]: Reflecting on and writing down the things God is doing in our lives helps us to actualize that which is often left internal and forgotten. 08:54.277 --> 08:55.496 [UNKNOWN]: Thank you. 09:42.623 --> 09:49.735 [SPEAKER_00]: Psalm 104, verse 33 says, I will sing to the Lord as long as I live. 09:49.755 --> 09:54.483 [SPEAKER_00]: I will sing praise to my God while I have been. 09:56.346 --> 10:02.556 [SPEAKER_00]: Until your life is devoted to worshiping God, you will never find total rest. 10:03.734 --> 10:13.607 [SPEAKER_00]: When we give ourselves to the things of this world, it repays us with stress, burden, and cares, rather than unconditional love. 10:15.169 --> 10:22.739 [SPEAKER_00]: It's only in devoting yourself to God alone that you will find satisfaction and reciprocation for your love. 10:24.361 --> 10:27.205 [SPEAKER_00]: Live today in full devotion to God. 10:28.286 --> 10:31.210 [SPEAKER_00]: Do everything as an act of worship. 10:32.270 --> 10:39.411 [SPEAKER_00]: and finds that God repays your adoration tenfold by pouring out his wealth of affection over you. 10:40.836 --> 10:46.633 [SPEAKER_00]: May today be filled with the presence and power of God, as you give and receive love. 11:17.242 --> 11:19.565 [SPEAKER_00]: Thanks for listening to today's podcast. 11:20.006 --> 11:21.788 [SPEAKER_00]: I'm Josh Miller with First 15. 11:22.750 --> 11:26.355 [SPEAKER_00]: Every day on our website, we include a worship song for the day. 11:26.956 --> 11:37.731 [SPEAKER_00]: So if you're interested in adding worship to your daily rhythm of meeting with God, you can always go to first15.org slash today and spend some time in worship. 11:37.711 --> 11:43.706 [SPEAKER_00]: We've also created some original worship music, specifically written to help you connect with God throughout the week. 11:44.227 --> 11:49.019 [SPEAKER_00]: You can find that wherever you listen to music by searching for first 15 worship. 11:49.902 --> 11:54.032 [SPEAKER_00]: Have a wonderful rest of your day and may God bless you as you seek him.