Preparing to Meet God: Humility and Readiness

Devotional

Day 1: Keep Your Commitments to God

In our walk with God, we are often called to make commitments and vows to Him. These commitments can range from dedicating time for prayer and Bible study, to serving in the church or community, to living a life of integrity and righteousness. However, keeping these commitments can sometimes be challenging due to various obstacles and distractions. Yet, it is crucial to remember that our faithfulness in keeping our commitments to God is a reflection of our love and reverence for Him.

Ecclesiastes 5:4-5 - "When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it."

Reflection: Reflect on a commitment you've made to God recently. Have you been able to keep it? If not, what obstacles have hindered you and how can you overcome them to honor your vow?

Day 2: Come Prepared to See God's Agenda

As believers, we are called to align our lives with God's agenda rather than our own. This requires us to approach God with an open heart, ready to hear His voice and follow His guidance. However, this can be challenging, especially when His plans differ from ours. Yet, it is in surrendering our plans and desires to God that we truly experience His peace and joy.

Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

Reflection: When was the last time you approached God with an open heart, ready to hear His agenda instead of yours? How can you better prepare yourself to receive His guidance and follow His will in your daily life?

Sermon Summary

In this sermon, I was reminded of the importance of preparing to meet God. The speaker referenced Ecclesiastes 5, where Solomon provides instructions on how to approach God. The first point made was the need to prepare to meet God, emphasizing the importance of being spiritually, mentally, and emotionally ready to encounter God. The speaker encouraged us to pray, sleep, and read God's word before coming to worship, so our hearts would be soft and ready to receive God's message.

The sermon also highlighted the need to prevent idle ears from pridefulness. The speaker pointed out that pride is often the reason why people don't worship God, as they feel they have everything figured out on their own. The speaker shared a personal experience of counseling a couple who were struggling in their marriage, emphasizing the importance of humility and the dangers of pride.

Key Takeaways

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Sermon Clips

1. "Entering God's presence is not a joking matter. It's serious business. Worship is not an endurance contest, it's a marvelous adventure in which we get to enter into the presence of the God of the universe. It's not business as usual, but it's a wonder-filled ride into a new dimension of life." - 01:06:29

2. "God is in heaven and you are on the earth. God is in the realm of the infinite. He will penetrate that which is inaudible to the human ear. He will peer into what's invisible to the human eyes. God is God and you are not. We should awe over the one who created us and when we prepare for worship, we need to remember that we're approaching God and we should do so in the state of humility." - 49:21

3. "When we make a commitment, we should be people who keep it. Making commitments is just like flying on an airplane. Once you're in the air, there's no turning back. When we come to worship, it's better not to vow at all than to fail to keep your word." - 57:42

4. "One of the greatest benefits of gaining a proper perspective of God is that not only do we gain a perspective of His throne but we gain the view from His throne. When we enter into God's presence, we are able to look at the world around us from His perspective." - 52:18

5. "Words may not mean a lot to you, but they mean a lot to God. In God's eyes, a promise is a promise. It's one that if you vow it, you keep it. It is better to have full adoration of our spirit and the true obedience of our heart because this is what God's demand is for our life and that is what He delights in." - 55:38

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