In Psalm 40, David talks about how God has rescued him, and then he declares, “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.”

That “new song” came to mind in a recent report from one of our Global Disciples partner training programs in Kenya.

A team of disciple-makers were sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ in several villages where alcoholism was a major problem.

They met some resistance from a retired soldier—a local drunk. He tried to chase them off but one of the disciple-makers simply asked if he could pray for the man.

The old soldier agreed—asking him to pray for his problems and especially his family.

As the disciple-makers prayed, the Holy Spirit began to work. And he was willing to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ. He even invited them to begin a Sunday school on his farm!

In another nearby village, as the disciple-makers shared the Good News of Jesus, they met a local woman, known as a drunkard and a prostitute.

When she heard of Jesus’ love and salvation, she put her faith in Him! Another life was rescued and transformed. Praise God!

Because of these changed lives, it’s just as the psalmist said—many have seen the Lord and put their trust in Him. Other people in these villages have come to faith in Jesus Christ because they saw how God changed these individuals.

The training director said, “When God changes one person, and people see it, they open their hearts to God.”

As for the new song—this former prostitute is now a bold and joy-filled singer in a new local church. And the Lord has put a new song in her mouth, and given her a new life in Jesus Christ.

This is what we want to see—the transforming work of Jesus Christ, bringing a new song of praise to many in our world today.

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective strategy of training and coaching, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

The prophet Isaiah had a vision of worship in heaven. In Isaiah 6 we read:

“Th seraphim called to one another, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” Isaiah was convicted of his sin. “Woe to me!…For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” A seraph touched his lips with a coal, cleansing his sin and guilt. 

Then Isaiah overhears a conversation in the heavenlies—the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” Isaiah replied, “Here am I! Send me!” 

When we come to the Lord in fervent worship and seeking prayer, we draw close to His heart, just like Isaiah did.

We experience healing and transformation. God will give us His burden for the lost and His commissioning and empowerment to go. 

Three years ago, we at Global Disciples felt the Lord leading us to initiate a fresh emphasis on worship.

Many newly-planted churches wanted to understand how to worship. So, we created regional training days where carefully selected worship leaders gather with our regional staff. Our goal was to multiply a movement of trained worship leaders who are sound in character and, anointed by the Holy Spirit. We wanted to give them skills to lead and equip others in fervent, anointed worship. 

Over four days, we explored what it means to worship the Father in spirit and in truth (John 4:23)

We minister within the local cultural context and language. We teach worship leaders to write songs based on scripture. And we teach them and to train others too .  

We look at what the Bible says about praise and worship. Then we seek the Holy Spirit’s anointing to lead others into God’s presence. Isn’t that what we all long for? To be in His presence, to enter into the Holy of Holies, to find grace, forgiveness, healing, and life.  

In many regions, worship leaders immediately go and train other worship leaders. In December in the Democratic Republic of Congo, we held a powerful worship leader training event.

This group has hosted six self funded worship leader trainings since then! 

Volunteer-led Worship Leader Trainings also took place in Brazil, Zambia, Malawi, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Chad, Central African Republic, Kenya, Zambia, Rwanda, India, and Nepal.  

People have been healed filled with the Holy Spirit at these training days, with people committing their lives to Jesus too.

A woman walking by a church in Kenya heard the worship, came inside, and immediately surrendered her life to Jesus because she encountered God’s presence.  

At Global Disciples, we want to go deeper in fervent worship, to better know our incredible God whose great love propels us into His mission for the lost. 

–Tim Bentch, Global Disciples Worship Leader  

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective training and coaching strategy, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

Discover the rich history and importance of Sabbath in Christianity, its role in rest, worship, and spiritual well-being.

The Sabbath is a day in the week when believers take a break from their weekly obligations. They focus on God and worship Him together with other Christians.

It has a history that extends back to the creation of the world. In Genesis 2:2–3, God Himself rested after creating the world.

He wants His people to follow His example by working six days and resting on the seventh. This day is holy because it is a day that is set apart for God. It is to be used for His glory. 

One book later in Exodus, we read that God commanded Moses to tell the Israelites to keep the Sabbath day holy. Scriptures say that God rested on that day after creating the heavens and the earth, specifically in Exodus 31:17. The word “refreshed” is used in the Bible to describe how God felt after His rest. When we rest from work and spend time with God instead, we can experience the same type of refreshment. He considers rest for us so important that He even included it in the ten commandments (Exodus 20).

When the Lord delivered Israel from Egyptian slavery, the Sabbath day became a sign of the covenant between God and His people, per Exodus 31:13. This day was set apart by God as a day of rest and sanctification for His people. Some national holidays, such as the yearly Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16:30-31, occurred on a Sabbath, meaning that rest and forgiveness went hand in hand!

God considered rest crucial for our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. He did not want His people to become so busy that they did not connect with Him and listen to His voice. He also, being the perfect leader that He is, set an example by resting on the seventh day of creation. Our God is a God Who not only gives us instruction for holy living but lives according to these standards Himself.

In the Old Testament, sin needed to be paid for with the death of a perfect animal. Working on the Sabbath was no exception, with the penalty of disobedience having serious consequences.

However, the explanation does not end there. It continues and ends with the Lord Jesus Christ’s sacrifice in the New Testament. Once He died and rose again, the law was fulfilled. Paul wrote in Colossians 2:16–17:

“’…let no one judge you in food or drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.”

His point? We don’t have to observe these laws as the Jews did. However, we must still give ourselves a day of rest since God commanded it. Hence, today, while the majority prefer the Sabbath on a Sunday, it is now any day of the week you choose, so long as you honor God’s command to rest.

While in the Old Testament God gave His people laws for how they must live, sacrificing an animal was a way to be forgiven for disobeying these laws. In the New Testament, Jesus became the perfect sacrifice. Because He is Immanuel (God with us), His death was a perfect atonement once and for all sins. Keeping the Sabbath is still a commandment, but Jesus fulfilled the law and we now live under grace.

Grace means God has given us more freedom to determine how we live out His laws. For example, one Old Testament law demanded that God’s people not eat pork. Today, we are free to eat pork but are still supposed to be careful that the pork is fresh, clean, and will not make us sick. Today, in our freedom, we should still be careful to look after our bodies by not allowing harmful microorganisms into our systems.

Likewise with the Sabbath. We no longer need to all agree on which day to rest and dedicate extra time to worship. However, we are still required to worship and take time to rest.

Life can very easily become so busy that our relationship with God is pushed to the side. While we are free today to take any day as the Sabbath, we are expected to actively pursue rest in God and corporate worship with others, for the spiritual well-being of ourselves and others we meet. 

Too often, we see rest as an afterthought. We often may even feel guilty that we are being lazy by not filling each day with activities to do. However, it is very clear throughout the history of people’s relationship with God that He rests, requires us to rest, and uses rest as a way to keep our spiritual lives holy and reach out to others so that they, too, can discover His life-changing hope.

The Sabbath is valuable! Why don’t you give it a try and start observing a Sabbath day?

To learn more about the values of Christianity, join Global Disciples Canada today! 

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near to reach least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet, Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective strategy of training and coaching, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

Worship always gets elevated with music. Whether we can sing in tune or not, we can all benefit immensely from singing to God with enthusiasm. What is it about singing in worship that God values so much?

You may not fully realize it, but God has already provided answers to this question in the Bible.

Here are five powerful reasons God loves for us to sing in worship:

In the Bible, singing is not just a suggestion. It’s actually a directive from God:

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” (Colossians 3:16)

“And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:18-19)

God’s people are not only invited to sing; God also commands us to do so. It is one of the many expressions of worship that He has graced us to enjoy, and when we do, we are fulfilling God’s command!

True obedience, deep roots in the Word, encouraging others, fighting Satan and sin, persevering, and finding delight in God bring honor to God, which is everyone’s primary objective and purpose.

Singing has a special way of pulling together your heart, soul, mind, and strength to focus wholly and completely on God. In an age of distraction, singing captures all of our senses and directs our attention to God.

As Colossians 3 tells us, we are instructed to allow the Word of Christ to inhabit us richly, and one way is to sing in worship. 

The Apostle Paul invites us to let God’s Word dwell entirely in us, and then he informs us how to put that mandate into practice—by teaching and singing!

Singing is one of the two primary ways God’s Word richly resides in us.

Singing is a command, but there is a promise attached to this command: If we do as the Word says, we are assured that the Word of Christ will dwell in us richly, which is what we should desire as believers.

We often think of singing solely when we’re pleased and things are going well. However, Acts 16 mentions singing for strength in times of difficulty. What do Paul and Silas do while imprisoned unjustly for the sake of the Gospel? 

“But at midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.” (Acts 16:25-26)

There was something about singing as a vehicle of Paul and Silas’ prayers that brought God’s very presence into that prison, loosening the bonds that held them. There is power in prayer and in worship, and the Bible shows us that worship amplifies that.

Some see the idea of serving their god as a burden, a strenuous obligation to fulfill out of fear and obedience. The wonderful news for Christians is that we serve a God who has made our burden light and who wants us to enjoy being in His presence, as well as the presence of fellow believers. 

Nearly every major celebration of life involves singing. Birthdays, bar mitzvahs, and weddings involve singing. These events typically use singing to celebrate the blessing of the subjects of the event, born out of joy for the occasion. 

Fellowship in God’s presence is also an occasion for celebration. We celebrate because He fills our hearts, minds, and lives with joy. Make a joyful noise to the Lord! (Psalm 100:1)

God instructed His people to write down His promises and hang them in their houses. These were to be reminders. The reason we need reminding is that we can be forgetful of what God has done, especially when we face difficult times.

A proven strategy for helping people remember details is by putting the information into songs. When we learn songs about God’s goodness and, especially when our children learn these songs, we create a lasting memory to encourage us when hard times hit us.

The Apostle John provides a glimpse of eternity in Revelation 7:9-10, when a vast multitude of people from every beautiful tribe, race, and language sing before the Lamb, 

“Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

Eternity is waiting. Will you be among the enormous multitude that no one can count on that day, singing the Lamb’s song and shouting his praises? Singing is an integral part of our worship of God, and we are all invited to sing along.

Do you desire to grow in your own personal discipleship and walk with God? To help promote the Good News of Jesus Christ, Global Disciples trains local leaders in hard-to-reach areas. Contact us if you’d like to get involved with Jesus’ Great Commission to the unreached.

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near to reach least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet, Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time when many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and practical training and coaching strategy, believers share the Gospel in their nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you want a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

Praise and worship are two significant words found in the Bible.

They both refer to our expression of adoration for our God and Father, yet have significant differences.

Understanding these can give you a great opportunity to learn to connect with God, through His Jesus, in a new and exciting way.

In Christian circles, praise and worship typically refer to singing. While singing definitely plays a significant role in expressing praise and worship to God, the meanings are even deeper than merely singing.

Praise refers to lifting God up. It is the joyful recounting of what God has done for us. Praise and Thanksgiving go hand in hand as thank God and offer appreciation for who He is. Praise is the acknowledgment of all the wonderful, righteous deeds of God. He is worthy of praise (Psalm 18:3).

Praise can be presented as an uninhibited, overflowing, joyful, and even boisterous recounting of the goodness of God.

Praise the Lord!
Praise God in His sanctuary;
…in His mighty heavens.
….for His mighty acts;
Praise Him according to [the abundance of] His greatness.
Praise Him with trumpet sound;
…with harp and lyre.
Praise Him with tambourine and dancing;
….with stringed instruments and flute.
Praise Him with resounding cymbals;
….Him with loud cymbals.
Let everything that has breath and every breath of life praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)
– Psalm 150:1-6

Is anyone among you suffering? He must pray. Is anyone joyful? He is to sing praises [to God].
– James 5:13

Bless and affectionately praise the Lord, O my soul,
And do not forget any of His benefits
– Psalm 103:2

Praise the Lord!
For it is good to sing praises to our [gracious and majestic] God;
Praise is becoming and appropriate.
– Psalm 147:1

O magnify the Lord with me,
And let us lift up His name together.
– Psalm 34:3

Worship refers to humbling ourselves to God and is costly. We are made to Worship and the question is not whether we are going to Worship or not but rather who are what are we going to worship? Worship is the act of losing yourself in the adoration and admiration of another. To truly worship we need to be in a place of complete submission to the will and word of the Lord. Worship carries a weight of reverence and awe and throughout scripture is often coupled with the act of bowing our heads and kneeling as a physical representation of surrender to who God is and submitting everything in our lives to His authority (Psalm 95:6).

Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness;
Tremble [in submissive wonder] before Him, all the earth.
– Psalm 96:9

Jesus replied to him, “It is written and forever remains written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and serve only Him.’”
– Luke 4:8

My [only] sacrifice [acceptable] to God is a broken spirit;
A broken and contrite heart [broken with sorrow for sin, thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You will not despise.
– Psalm 51:17

Ascribe to the Lord the glory and honor due His name;
Bring an offering [of thanksgiving], and come before Him;
Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.
– 1 Chronicles 16:29

But a time is coming and is already here when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit [from the heart, the inner self] and in truth; for the Father seeks such people to be His worshipers. God is spirit [the Source of life, yet invisible to mankind], and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
– John 4:23-24

In daily church life, songs that are more upbeat are typically referred to as praise songs, while quieter, more reflective songs, have come to be called worship songs. This is likely because during faster, louder songs to the Lord, we dance, raise our hands and often look up (similar to how the ancient worshippers did – 2 Samuel 6:14-22).

By contrast, when the music is slower and quieter, we may tend to lower our eyes (even closing them), bow our heads, and kneel. It is rare for a worshipper to dance excitedly during a slower worship song.

It is true that these are not absolute rules. Many worshippers bow their heads, kneel, and deeply reflect on Christ during upbeat songs. Conversely, it is not unheard of for some worshippers to jump, dance, and shout during a slow worship song. Indeed, many worshippers will look up when the music is slow and reflective.

Surely the reason why these two terms are used in this way is that the typical way for believers to behave during faster songs is with an attitude of praise, while the slower melodies bring a sense of worship. Either way, the similarities between these two styles of connecting with God is far more significant than their differences.

Whether we are praising God in our music and lives, or worshipping Him, both praise and worship serves the purpose of drawing us into His presence, helping us to become aware that He is there and how much more significant He is than the problems we currently face in our lives.

Through lifting Him up and lowering ourselves, we are bringing every part of our lives, physical, mental, and emotional, under His authority as we declare with our voices and actions that He deserves all honor and praise as we pour our adoration onto Him.

While praise and worship are both done during singing to Jesus Christ, they should be done with everything we do in life. Far more than simply singing songs, we should make our every action an act of praise and/or worship to God Almighty.

The Bible tells us that the Lord inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3).

Our praise and worship involve us connecting with God.

While we can tend to go about our daily lives, either giving occasional thought to Him or, even worse, no thought to Him at all, living a life of praise and worship helps us to make Him a frequent part of our lives. We may not always succeed at doing this, but deliberately praising and worshipping Him as often as we think of it makes a significant impact on our mission to submit all that we have to Him.

Some simple tips can help us to bring praise and worship into our daily lives. Firstly, we can deliberately take on an attitude of thankfulness in situations that we encounter (Phillippians 4). Choosing to thank God for what we have and what we face leads automatically to praise.

Secondly, talking to Jesus like the real friend He is, not just with please and thank you, but talking to Him about our favourite food, our likes and dislikes, what we would like to do that day, and how exciting the soccer game was, reminds us that He is with us in everything we experience.

Finally, examining ourselves and what we do, asking the very important question, “Does this honor God?” builds a habit of praise and worship. Doing this, and making the necessary changes to make sure every part of our lives does honor him, helps convert our lives into acts of praise and worship.

When Christians talk about praise and worship, they typically mean the fast and slow songs during the church service. However, these songs and how they are sung are only an outward expression of the complete act of worship, which is done inside of us and how we live.

Praise and Worship is an attitude of the heart. It is possible to do all the religious outward motions yet miss the whole point of what praise and worship actual mean.

Giving complete control over to God is the goal, and honoring Him is the path to that goal.

Are you interested in a discipleship-focused, church-planting organization in Canada? Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near to reach least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet, Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time when many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective strategy of training and coaching, believers share the Gospel in their nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

Are you growing day by day into a deeper, all-encompassing, more consistent, connected, and Jesus centred relationship? Jesus promised us that we would be with us always. This blog asks the question how can we pursue intimacy with Jesus in our daily lives?

However difficult it is to remain continually open to Jesus, it is vital that this relationship involves a constantly renewed, up-to-date experience with our Lord. This bond or connection is more than an intellectual thing. It’s not merely an understanding of Jesus and our faith – it’s a relationship.

It is a constant temptation for us as Christ-followers to substitute thinking about Jesus for actually pursuing a real-life, in-the-moment relationship with Jesus. And whilst it may be because relating with Jesus and being attentive and responsive to the Holy Spirit requires time. It needs to be intentional. And living in a daily relationship with the Lord of the universe can be risky, unsettling, and even demanding.

It is a whole lot easier and less costly to think than to do. But it’s simply not enough to follow the teachings of Jesus or a religious code that flowed out of his life. In fact, the absence of a personal,  covenant relationship with Jesus results in a religion other than the one our Lord started. Even if it takes the form of the Christian faith, it will lack the reality of it.

The Apostle Paul warns us of the danger of going through the motions, but lacks the relationship in 2 Timothy 3:5, “They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!”

That’s why discipleship is foundational to Christianity and the mission that has been entrusted to us. If we in the global Body of Christ fail to be disciples who make disciples, the whole movement of the Church will falter and cease to multiply. Discipleship requires a direct relationship with Jesus Christ.

It’s not enough for us to be making ‘converts’ or ‘church-goers.’ We are called to equip disciples who will make disciples who will make disciples… This points us again to the importance of our core value as Jesus followers of Intimacy with Jesus. We cannot with integrity equip others to be and do what we are not being and doing.

Discipling others is a life-on-life activity. Jesus’ approach to discipling was not simply transmitting information or developing a program.

Discipling in the way of Jesus always is about a deeply personal process of being drawn into becoming more like the image and character of Jesus. This is the transformation we are all called to. And it’s the journey we are all called to lead others into.

As Christ-followers we will discover that on this journey to a deeper and more intimate relationship with our Lord there will be joy, peace, and hope that offset the challenges and the risks we face.

As the Apostle Paul reminds us, “our light momentary affliction” prepares for us “an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison…” (2 Corinthians 4:17). So, let’s all keep pursuing intimacy with Jesus!

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective strategy of training and coaching, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

Explore what Christian meditation is, and how hearing Gods voice is crucial for disciples of Jesus to practice.

Christian meditation is reflecting on God, on His character, and on His Word. It is the prayerful reading of the Bible with our ears open wide, and pondering on it. (Isaiah 30:21; John 8:47; John 10:27). That is why meditation requires a quiet place and time. In Psalm 1 we read that the one blessed of God is he who delights in the law of God and meditates on it day and night. (Psalm 1:1-2).

Meditation involves detaching ourselves from the controlling and hindering influences of the world and attaching to the living God through Christ to experience the sufficiency of the Savior and reach out to a hurting world in need of the living Christ. Meditating on the Word of God and responding in obedience, will give us success and make us prosperous (Joshua 1:8). Psalm 143:5 says: I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands.

How often do we take quality time to meditate on God, his goodness, faithfulness, and His Word?  

Time and patience are important elements of effective meditation. Effective meditation requires a quiet place and time. Meditating on the Word, internalizing and personalizing it, is a crucial part of Disciples of Christ. It becomes part of the means by which we can bring every thought captive to Christ. In Psalm 119, we read that the Psalmist meditating on the Word of God beyond circumstances:  

V. 15: I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways 

V. 23: Though rulers sit together and slander me, your servant will meditate on your decrees 

V. 27: Cause me to understand the way of your precepts, that I may meditate on your wonderful deeds. 

V. 48: I reach out for your commands, which I love, that I may meditate on your decrees.  

V. 78: … but I will meditate on your precepts.  

V. 97: Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. 

V. 99: I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. 

V. 148: My eyes stay open through the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promises.  

In the same way we need to meditate on the Scripture day and night and respond in the way it glorifies God.  

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer (Psalm 19:14). Again Psalm 104:34 says: Let my meditation be pleasing to Him; as for me, I shall be glad in the Lord. From these two verses, it is clear that there are times when our meditation can be unacceptable and displeasing to the Lord. So we need to understand the word we are meditating on well and respond to it according to what the Holy Spirit revealed to us. In such a way our meditation will become acceptable and pleasing to the Lord.  

Intimate friends always listen to one another to understand each other. The same is true in our relationship with God.

Learning to hear God is essential to knowing Him (1 John 5:14-15; Matthew 7:7; Colossians 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; John 10:10-11, John 10:27; 1 Kings 19:11-12). We must develop the habit of stillness in order to have an intimate relationship with a living God (Psalm 46:10). We can’t hear what God is speaking when there is a loud noise inside of us. Jesus said, “Enter into your room and shut the door” (Matthew 6:6). When we shut that door, we get direction about how to proceed in the midst of what’s going on. We must practice being present to God. We are to wait on Him, worship Him, and recognize that we want Him, not His blessings; we want Him, not the experience of Him speaking (Psalm 63:1-5).    

Hearing God’s voice is not optional. It is one of the marks of the disciples of Jesus (John 10:4-27; Luke 10:38-42; Luke 11:28; Proverbs 4:20-22; Joshua 1:8; Isaiah 48:17-18). If we are longing for a close relationship with God more than anything else, we will better be able to hear His voice and obey Him (Matthew 6:33; Philippians 3:7-10; Revelation 2:1-4). If we are not living in complete fellowship with God, we will never hear Him (1 Kings 19:11-12). Knowing God’s voice comes from having an intimate relationship with Him. Wherever we are & whatever we are doing—working, reading God’s word, driving, cooking, praying, doing any routine thing—we should have the attitude of, “Speak Lord, your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:9). There were people of God who had intimate relationships with Him & heard His voice even in the darkest times of history (Luke 2:25-26).  

To hear God clearly, we must live in a habit of meditation upon His Word. We must immerse ourselves in the Word of God, filling ourselves with it and letting the Living Water wash our minds and cleanse us of the world’s distractions. As we grow in hearing His voice, we deepen our relationship with our heavenly Father.   

Does God really speak to us in our generation? Absolutely, He speaks to us in many ways (Job 33:14-18). He speaks through creation (Psalm 19:1-2); dreams (Genesis 20:3); visions (Acts 11:4-9); Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16-17); angels (Luke 1:5-38); an audible voice (Exodus 3:4; Matthew 17:5); and ultimately through Jesus (Hebrews 1:1-3). God speaks through people (Acts 9:10-18); sometimes He speaks through people who may not be believers. He sometimes speaks through animals (Numbers 22:21-35), circumstances, and open and closed doors of opportunity. But we need to confirm what we think He is speaking by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. Since God never contradicts Himself, the Scriptures help us to confirm what God is speaking to us in many different ways.  

We are called to walk by faith that comes from hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17). God’s love, joy, and peace in our hearts are some indicators that we are hearing and obeying His voice (Isaiah 55:12). We recognize His voice only if we know Him (John 10:14). The better we get to know Him, the more clearly we recognize His voice. In our prayer life, it is crucial to hear His voice and to be led by the Holy Spirit in what to pray and how to pray (John 17:3; Romans 8:26-27).  

As His children, God wants to speak to us directly, even if He speaks to and through His people. If we have an intimate relationship with Him, hearing His voice is as natural as hearing our best friend talk to us. Sometimes He speaks to us in a still small voice, and sometimes He speaks dramatically through wind or earthquake or fire (1 Kings 19:11-13). If we want to hear His voice, we must walk in complete fellowship with Him and be attentive to His voice. As Oswald Chambers says, “The voice of the Spirit of God is as gentle as a summer breeze—so gentle that unless you are living in Complete Fellowship and Oneness with God, you will never hear it.”     

Do we remember the story of the little boy Samuel? There was no word from God in the land at the time when Samuel was a child. The priest Eli was a tired old man who had let his children get out of control. During that dark time, Samuel’s mother gave him to the tabernacle to serve the LORD. One night when he was falling asleep, he heard someone calling his name. He jumped up and ran to the high priest and asked, “Did you call me”? That tired old man remembered something about how God speaks. He told Samuel, “Go back, and when you hear that voice again, say, ‘Speak Lord, your servant hears’” (1 Samuel 3:4-14).

That is how Samuel began an incredible career of listening to the voice of God and being a navigator for the nation of Israel through those terrible days. As Samuel matured, God whispered and Samuel heard Him (1 Samuel 9:15-17).  

What are your experiences of hearing God?

What changes do you need to make to hear God’s voice more clearly? 

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective training and coaching strategy, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

Worship and confession go hand and hand together. Discover the beauty and significance of worship and confession in our walk with God. Worship and confession go hand and hand together (Nehemiah 9:3; Psalm 15:1-5; Romans 14:11).

We can’t approach God without confessing our sins. Confession allows us to live in the amazing grace of God found in the forgiveness granted to us Jesus Christ. (Revelation 5:9-10; Philippians 2:9-11). As we enter into the presence of God, He will show us our sin and give us the confidence to confess. (Isaiah 6:5-6). 

True Christian worship is to both honor and obey God, to be extravagantly loving. (Psalm 86:9; Psalm 95:6). And to have submission (1 Samuel 15:22; John 4:23; Romans 12:1) to his Word and Will.

Worship is offering our lives as an act of respect and love to God. It is a willingness to exalt God and yield to His Will (Psalm 145). We can never comprehend all that God is. But the more we worship Him and the more we love to worship Him with every breath, He reveals Himself to us. (Revelation 5:9-14).  

Worship is an expression of our awe and praise for who He is. (Psalm 149). It is giving to the Lord the honor and glory He deserves 24/7.

Worship is not something we do occasionally as a ritual; it is something we need to do continually. It is the way we can express how we love Him more than anything else in life. True worship is not only confined to singing in a church building. It is the continual, heartfelt acknowledgment of God and of all His power and glory in every routine thing we do.

True worship comes out of knowing God and His good and glorious nature (Acts 17:23). Worship is a life of giving (2 Corinthians 9:7-15); we give our lives, time, and finances. We need to always remember that we are called to worship God with our every action of our lives.  

We are created to worship God, and He is worthy of being worshipped (Revelation 4:8-11). Worship is an expression of submission and respect toward God who is holy, loving, and worthy of all of our devotion (Psalm 95:1-2; Psalm 96:1-3). Our heart’s desire should be to worship God since we have been designed by Him for this purpose. God alone is worthy of our devotion, praise, and worship. He is God, our Creator, and we are commanded to praise and worship Him (Psalm 96:9; Psalm 29:2; Matthew 4:10).

A life of praise and worship fills our deepest needs and, amazingly, it also brings great joy to God and growth to us as worshippers. “The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love, he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17). 

Our true relationship with God is expressed and shown in our worship of Him. It’s our expression of His worthiness. We should not worship God in expectation of something in return, but rather as an expression of our love for Him. Such worship is reserved only for God. Only God is worthy of being worshipped, not any of His servants (Revelation 19:10). When we worship God, we are joining all of the creatures worshipping Him (Revelation 7:9-11); if we are not worshipping God, we are worshipping something or someone else.  

While we do not worship God for something in return, it is still helpful to know what does happen when we worship God. In Psalm 95:1-7 and Psalm 96:1-13, we read an invitation to “come to worship and bow down” to our God. There are many songs that call us to worship, and this Psalm is a message for the people of God to come to worship; such songs direct us to God. They are expressions of love, adoration, praise, rejoicing, celebration, petition, intercession, and confession from one’s heart.

We praise God for who He is through music as well as through prayer. Being in God’s presence stimulates our hearts and minds, making us want to praise Him for the deeds He has done, for how He has moved in history, and for His character and attributes (Revelation 4:11; Revelation 5:9-16; Revelation 11:16). His presence also moves us to confess our sins.  

God can change the world through people who truly worship. Most of the time, revival is a by-product of worship and confession; we should always worship God expecting the Spirit of God to work in and through us. He moves in different ways—sometimes for salvation, sometimes for deliverance, sometimes for sanctification or healing. As we worship Him, He also visits us through prophetic gifts. To experience these outcomes as we worship, we must open our ears to listen and open our eyes to see what God is going to do (Acts 13:2, Acts 16:25-26).  

There is no one specific way to worship God. The Old and New Testaments describe many ways of worship. Praising God in worship involves our whole being, spirit, soul, and body (1 Thessalonians 5:23; John 4:24; Psalm 103:1-5; Psalm 95:6; Psalm 150:1-6). Singing, playing musical instruments, dancing, kneeling, bowing down, and lifting hands are some of the forms of prayer and praise. “We need to present our bodies to God in worship in a posture consistent with the inner spirit in worship” (Romans 12:1). 

We can express our worship through physical and emotional expression that results in dance and body movement. This is an appropriate response to God as long as the focal point is on true celebration in the Lord rather than on the dance itself. Intimacy causes us to meditate, even as we are singing, on our relationship with the Lord. God might call to our minds our failures in life which can lead us to the confession of sin. Tears may flow as we see our disharmony but His harmony; our unfaithfulness but His faithfulness; our limitations but His unlimited possibilities.  

What would it mean for you to live a life of worship and confession?

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective strategy of training and coaching, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

We have so much to learn about prayer, fasting, and Intercession (Philippians 4:6-7; Isaiah 58:6-8)

In Matthew 6:9-15, Jesus Christ teaches his disciples to pray:

Our Father, who is in heaven
Hallowed by your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we have forgiven our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

Prayer is a two-way communication process that allows us to talk with God. He wants us to communicate with Him, like two people talking face to face.

It is a personal experience and intimate connection with our loving heavenly Father. Jesus set an example for us on how and what to pray. He prayed for His disciples, for every generation to come that would follow Him. And for God’s will to be done (John 17:11-26; Luke 22:42; Hebrews 5:7; Luke 6:12-13).   

Prayer is not something we do to impress others or to show how spiritual we are. It is private time to talk with God. We need to recognize that God is our Father, He is our source of everything, and He knows our needs. He is the Father who cares, loves, and provides. He knows all of our needs even before we ask.

We need to pray for His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. These should be our priorities in prayer. We also need to ask Him for our daily bread and for all of the practical needs of our lives.    

When we begin to live and pray as Jesus did, we will see God’s power at work in every aspect of our lives and ministries. We need to continually call upon and depend on Him. And we know that He hears and answers prayers (Jeremiah 33:3; Matthew 7:7-11; Acts 1:14; 1 John 3:21-23).  

Prayer is not a life jacket we use only when we face problems (1 Thessalonians 5:17). It must be part of our lifestyle.   

God’s Word is full of prayers that are after God’s own heart and are in accordance with His will. (Exodus 33:17-19; Isaiah 43:5-9; 1 John 5:14-15; Philippians 1:9-11; Psalm 19:12; Psalm 27:11;) 

If we want to pray what is in God’s heart, we need to pray according to His word.

There is a direct connection between prayer and submission to the will of God. (John 15:7; Luke 22:42; Acts 1:14; Acts 2:42-47; Acts 4:23-33, James 4:3).

The more we pray according to His word, the more He works in and through us. Before He left, Jesus told the disciples to wait for the promise (Acts 1:4). They prayed for 10 days for the promise He had given them to be fulfilled and that they would be empowered by the Holy Spirit. Then Peter preached for 10 minutes and 3,000 people were saved.   

Praying the Word of God first changes us and then the situation for which we are praying.

In prayer, we have an encounter with God—no one can encounter God and go away unchanged (Genesis 32:24-30). Seeking God is the most important part of our prayer and fellowship time with Him. (Jeremiah 29:13; Jeremiah 32:40-41; Luke 11:9-11). It’s the only way to know Him, His will and calling for our life. (Psalm 46:10; Ecclesiastes 5:1; Isaiah 30:21). When we pray and ask God, we are exercising our faith in Him which enables us to grow in knowing Him. (James 1:17). Prayer is not only asking and receiving from God, it is the way we are drawn near God. (James 4:8).  

Sometimes prayer and fasting need to go together. We should fast and pray whenever we are truly seeking Him and His will. (Luke 18:1-8). 

Fasting is abstaining in some significant way from our routine activities and food to focus on God. Usually, it is food and drink but it can also be ministry, cell phone, computer, e-mail, etc. Fasting breaks the habit of always satisfying our own needs. It makes us depend on God to satisfy our needs for us. It must be taken seriously and prayerfully. But, it must never be a ritual. But rather a heartfelt seeking of God’s will and glory in one’s life and the life of the church. (Isaiah 58:3-9; Matthew 6:16-18).  

Moses fasted during the 40 days and 40 nights to receive the law from God (Exodus 34:28). King Jehoshaphat called for a fast in all Israel when they were about to be attacked by the Moabites and Ammonites. (2 Chronicles 20:3). In response to Jonah’s preaching, the people of Nineveh fasted and put on sackcloth (Jonah 3:5). David fasted when he knew that Saul and Jonathan had been killed (2 Samuel 1:12). Nehemiah had a time of prayer and fasting when he heard that Jerusalem was in ruins (Nehemiah 1:4).  

Anna “worshipped night and day, fasting and praying” at the Temple (Luke 2:37). Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights before His temptation by Satan (Matthew 4:2). The Antioch church fasted (Acts 13:2) and sent out Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey (Acts 13:3). Paul and Barnabas spent time in prayer and fasting for the appointment of elders in the churches (Acts 14:23). Prayer and fasting have to be part of our life. In Global Disciples, we believe that everything we do has to be conceived in prayer, birthed in prayer, and carried on in prayer.  

The main purpose of fasting is to strive for a deeper fellowship with God. Through prayer and fasting, we are able to take our eyes off the things of this world and focus on Christ (Matthew 6:16-18).  

However, spending time in prayer and fasting does not automatically accomplish our desires. For example, in the prophet Isaiah’s time, the people fasted yet God did not answer in the way they wanted (Isaiah 58:3-4). Isaiah responded by saying that the external show of fasting and prayer without the proper heart attitude was in vain (Isaiah 58:5-9). Whether we fast or not, God will not give us what we ask for if it is not according to His will.

In general, the primary reason for fasting is to express our devotion and service to God, not to twist the hand of God for our gain. The length of time for fasting can vary. The most common is to skip two meals, to fast for 24 hours from lunch or dinner one day to that meal the next day. Some people fast for three days. On some special occasions, people can be led by the Holy Spirit to fast for 21 days or 40 days (Daniel 9; Matthew 4:1-10). Fasting is a matter of the heart; the length of time does not increase the spirituality of the act.   

Intercessory prayer (Job 42:8; Isaiah 62:6-7; Jeremiah 29:7; Ezekiel 22:30) is a prayer made on behalf of others as Job prayed for his friends.  Intercession is a time of prayer when we remove all of our own agendas and cry out for the Holy Spirit to invade every situation for which we are interceding, whether it be for people, churches, cities, or nations (Ephesians 6:18-20; 1 Timothy 2:1-4).  

It is standing in the gap between God and any situation, as is mentioned in Ezekiel 22:30. God is the initiator of intercessory prayer—He is always looking for intercessors. Intercession is recognizing that His ways are greater than our own while simultaneously requesting either His interference or His altering of a situation. Intercession focuses upon the beauty of the Lord while powerfully changing the circumstances of the world (Ezekiel 22:30-31). God reveals what He is going to do for those who intercede to be co-laborers in His Kingdom (Genesis 19:16-21). 

Jesus is our great model for intercession (1 Timothy 2:5). He prayed for those in need, for His disciples, and even for us (John 17:20; Luke 22:31). When Satan wanted to sift Peter as wheat, the prayer of Jesus shielded him from losing his faith. He also continued His ministry of intercession after His death and resurrection and is serving us now as our intercessor in heaven (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:23-25; 1 John 2:1-2). He also gave us the Holy Spirit to intercede for us and through us (Romans 8:26). As Jesus is interceding for us, we also need to intercede for those whom we are discipling and for those who are without Him. If we are not interceding for people, how do they come to know Him (Matthew 9:38; 1 Timothy 2:1-4)?   

Abraham interceded for Sodom (Genesis 18:23-32) and Moses for the people of Israel (Exodus 32:7-14; Psalm 106:23). Jeremiah wept for his people (Lamentations 3:48-50). The early Church also interceded for Peter (Acts 12:5-12). God is looking for persistent intercessors who regularly intercede for a third of the world who have yet to have heard the Good News of Jesus. 

How often do we intercede for our unbelieving family members?  

Intercession fills our hearts with hope, thanksgiving, worship, praise, conviction, holy anger, and, most importantly, love for all lives, circumstances, and the world. Intercession ministry is not a place to be recognized but a place where the deep love, sorrow, hope, and joy of the Lord is revealed. When we intercede, we are collaborating with God, and He responds to us.  

What motivates you to pray, fast, and intercede?

What might be one activity, one priority, and one attitude that you need to change in your perspective on prayer, fasting, and intercession? 

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective training and coaching strategy, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!

Embrace the transformative power of solitude with God and discover the joy of a fulfilling relationship with the Almighty God.

Intimacy with God requires time alone with God (Mark 1:35; Mark 6:31, Mark 6:45-46). Close friendships aren’t instantaneous; they must be cultivated over time. In the same way, walking in an intimate relationship with the Almighty must be diligently pursued. We will never achieve closeness with the Lord unless we invest time alone with Him to get to know Him.

A neglected relationship simply won’t grow in richness or depth. Are you too busy to spend time each day with Him? If that is the case, the immediate demands of your schedule are robbing you of an awesome, eternal treasure. A deep, satisfying communion with God (Luke 10:38-42). 

We can pray while others are around but we need solitude to be able to feel truly connected to God as Jesus did. We need quality time alone with God without distraction. It’s hard to hear the whisper of the Spirit with all the noises around us. So it is important to take some small part of each day and set it aside for solitude and closing the door (Matthew 6:6). It simply means walking to a quiet place as Jesus Himself did and not doing anything but leaving ourselves open to the Lord. 

Time alone with God is more than just a daily appointment with God. It’s more like a visit with our closest friend. It is very important if we want God to speak to us. Good relationships need the investment of quality time. In solitude, we withdraw from people, noise, cell phones, family, and the demands of work to be with God. We get away from all of the ministry activities and all of our roles in order to be with God alone. There is great joy in getting away from everything just to be alone with Him.   

Our time with God should be in a solitary place where there is no distraction, just us and God. This is the time when we lay down every struggle and every pain, and wait on Him in silence. It is also the time that we praise and thank Him for everything He has been doing and will do in our lives. This is the best time for us to present all that is in our hearts to God. It is also His time to talk to us and reveal to us His wonderful and perfect will for our lives.  

If we are struggling with a major decision, let’s spend time alone with God and He will answer us. If we need advice on some issues, let’s talk to Him and He will answer us.  

Let’s make a commitment to set aside “Time Alone with God” and make this time just for Him. He’s waiting for us. 

When was the last time you spent quality time with God alone?

How often do you take time alone with God to pour out everything on your heart to him?

Global Disciples Canada is a Christian mission organization that trains local leaders living near least-reached communities to multiply disciples for Christ. One-third of our world hasn’t heard the Good News of Jesus. Yet. Global Disciples refers to these as “least-reached” people, and fewer than 10% of all missionaries work among these groups. We live in a time where many of these people are within reach of a local church. Through our simple and effective training and coaching strategy, believers share the Gospel in their own nations and cultures. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations,” and we’re committed to doing just that. If you are looking for a Christian mission organization to partner with to become a better disciple and help make disciples, connect with us today!