Wednesday, February 11, 2026

Opening Scripture

Psalm 95:3-7

“For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.”

Opening Prayer

Gracious Heavenly Father, you are holy and exalted! May your kingdom come and your will be done in my life, home, and community just as it is in Heaven. Help me to trust you today to meet all of my needs. Help me to forgive others just as you have forgiven me. Help me to resist temptation and overcome the evil one. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Daily Bible Reading

Psalm 96

Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary.

Ascribe to the LORD, all you families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts. Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth. Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns.” The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity.

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy. Let all creation rejoice before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness.

Reflection  

In today’s passage, the psalmist calls on everyone and everything to praise God. He alone is worthy of our worship. He is superior to every other god, force, or idol – real or imagined – that people might worship. God created everything that is and therefore He has power over it all.

This text addresses the absolute absurdity and heresy of universalism. All faiths and spiritual practices do not lead to salvation and eternal life! “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death” (Proverbs 14:12).

Jesus clearly stated, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Ultimately, everyone and everything will, in fact, give praise to God, through the Lord Jesus Christ.

“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).

“Worship is the believers’ response of all that they are – mind, emotions, will, and body – to what God is, says, and does. This response has its mystical side in subjective experience and its practical side in objective obedience to God’s revealed will. Worship is a loving response that’s balanced by the fear of the Lord, and it is a deepening response as the believer comes to know God better.” Warren Wiersbe, Real Worship

Flourishing Habit

Meaning and Purpose

Worship is many things, but one thing it is not is a spectator sport. Worship requires thoughtful engagement. It takes effort and initiative. Too many people think a worship service is something to watch, like a concert, movie, or sporting event. They may listen (or not) as someone on the platform sings, talks, or prays, but there’s no personal participation.

True worshippers worship God in spirit and truth – with their heart and mind. Worship involves attitudes and actions, emotion and intelligence.

One problem people have in worship is focusing on how they feel. While our feelings have a role to play, they ought never be the primary consideration. Our sincere expression of praise to God transcends our temporary feelings.

Another misunderstanding people have about worship is the role of music. For centuries, music has been part of worship for God’s people, but that isn’t always the case. Music is a powerful resource to aid in our worship of God, but it’s not essential. It is always the message of the music – not the style – that matters most.

As I’m sure you’ve noticed by now, the Psalms regularly point to nature as a profound expression of God’s majesty and power. Do you spend much time outside appreciating the richness and complexity of creation?

Today, and every day, spend a few minutes outside with no agenda other than to take it all in. Notice the sights, sounds, and smells. Breathe slowly. Appreciate. And praise God for goodness and grace.

Remember: Nothing changes until something changes!