TOWDAH - To praise; praise with gratitude, with extended hand
Hello friend. Can I make a confession? I am crying as I write this text. It’s been a tough day. My heart is sad. My soul is heavy. My hope is dry and I don’t feel like worshiping at all....but I will because I need God more than ever! friend, God doesn’t just want us to come into His presence in the perfect moments. He wants our praise in every moment!
And what that means is that, even when we’re tired, God wants our praise. Even when we’re broken, God wants our praise. Even when we’re under the weather, when we’re feeling underappreciated or overwhelmed, God does not want a fake smile. He wants us to enter into His presence just as we are. That is why He said, “Come to me all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28-30, NIV)
Today, I want to share the beautiful Hebrew word “TOWDAH.” Towdah means an extension of the hand. Thanksgiving. Confession. A sacrifice of praise. Thanksgiving for things not yet received. A choir of worshippers! Wow!!
friend, can we focus on that second-last description? The part where we give
thanks to God for things NOT yet received? Our worship today is praise given in faith.
It’s praise in expectancy. It’s praise that stretches us to believe, in our darkest moments, that the best is yet to come!
My friend, in the middle of pain, we can worship God because THE BEST IS YET TO COME!
Psalm 145:13-21 says, “...The Lord always keeps his promises; he is gracious in all he does. The Lord helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads. The eyes of all look to you in hope; you give them their food as they need it. When you open your hand, you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness. The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth. He grants the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cries for help and rescues them. The Lord protects all those who love him, but he destroys the wicked. I will praise the Lord!” (Psalm 145:13-21, NLT)
My friend, I started out today very sad, but I am feeling A LOT better now because I believe that the God who is worthy of my worship is the God of “THE BEST IS YET TO COME!”
Take a moment right now, and come to Jesus, just as you are. Come with hope. Come with anticipation. Come with expectancy and read the words of Psalm 145 again as a declaration of your love for Jesus!!!
You are a miracle!
