CeCe Winans - Throne Room: Ushered Into the Presence of God

THRONE
ROOM

USHERED info the
PRESENCE of GOD

THRONE
ROOM

USHERED info the
PRESENCE of GOD

CECE WINANS

with CLAIRE CLONINGER

2004 by CeCe Winans.

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Published in association with CW Entertainment.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV), 1973, 1978, 1984, International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.

Other Scripture references are from the following versions:

The King James Version of the Bible (KJV).

The New King James Version (NKJV), 1979, 1980, 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers. Used by permission.

New American Standard Bible, Updated Edition (NASU), 1960, 1962, 1963, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Cover Design: The Office of Bill Chiaravalle | www.officeofbc.com Interior Design: Susan Browne Design, Nashville, TN

ISBN 978-1-5914-5147-? (hardcover)

ISBN 978-0-8499-1992-3 (tradepaper)

Printed in the United States of America

08 09 10 11 12 13 RRD 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

CONTENTS

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:

SECTION
ONE

WELCOME TO THE
WONDER OF WORSHIP

Jesus, my awesome Lord and Savior

I want your name to be the first Word in this book

Just like you are the first Love in my life

The first Song on my lips

The first and only Hope in my heart.

Lord, I ask you to lead everyone who reads these pages

To see you as you are

So beautiful, so powerful, so worthy of our worship.

I pray all of these things in your precious, holy Name,

Amen.

CONTAGIOUS JOY

The greatest joy in my life is worshiping the Lord! As you read my thoughts and ideas about worship and share some of the experiences Ive had as a worshiper, I pray that my enthusiasm for worship will be contagious. I pray that in some way I can usher you into a more joyful and meaningful place as a worshiper. If that happens, then this book will have hit its mark.

THE BLESSING OF TRUE WORSHIP

In my ministry I find myself singing and praying with many different Christians from many different parts of the body of Christ. And God has begun to show me that there are some wonderful, believing Christians who pray and sing but who dont seem to enter fully into worship. I know that they love the Lord, and I know that their hearts are tender toward him. But it seems that some of these precious brothers and sisters are missing out on what it is to worship at a deep level.

Actually, I dont think it is hard to miss true worship if we have never been led there. If weve never been led to let go of our own thoughts and shut down our distractions and focus our heart and mind totally on the Lord, will we find that place of worship in this busy, noisy world? If weve never been led to enter into his presence with reverence and awe, will we ever come worshipfully before the One who is holy and worthy of our worship? If weve never been encouraged to open our heart and surrender ourselves completely to the God who longs to hear our voice lifted to him in worship, will we ever find our way to the Throne Room?

IF WEVE NEVER BEEN LED TO SHUT DOWN OUR DISTRACTIONS AND FOCUS OUR HEART AND MIND TOTALLY ON THE LORD, WILL WE FIND THAT PLACE OF WORSHIP IN THIS BUSY, NOISY WORLD?

And here is the most important question of all: Suppose we never find that place where we can fully and freely enjoy the presence of the Lord in worshipwhat difference would it make? What would it matter? Its not that we wouldnt go to heaven. Its not that God would love us less. Its that we would be missing one of the most awesome and powerful blessings that the Father has to give to his children: the blessing of true worship.

Worship can act as a weapon of warfare or as an instrument of peace. It can build faith, kindle joy, transform lives, and inspire hope. Worship can heal our heart, comfort our sorrows, and draw us closer to the Lord. And the most important gift of all is that worship allows us to see the Lord as he is, in all of his awesomeness.

I believe the Father is holding out this incredible gift of worship to each of us right now, saying, Come, my child. Here s a taste of heaven that I want you to have every day while youre on earth. Now why would any of us turn our back on that? Why wouldnt we want to take advantage of that blessing?

The Bible says in John 4:23 that a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. You see, the Lord is seeking worshipers. Hes seeking all of us to go deeper with him in worship. So if you feel there may be a deeper place of worship you could enjoy, I believe thats because hes tugging at your heart. Thats the reason Im writing this book.

I BELIEVE THE FATHER IS HOLDING OUT THIS INCREDIBLE GIFT OF WORSHIP TO EACH OF US, SAYING, COME, MY CHILD. HERES A TASTE OF HEAVEN THAT I WANT YOU TO HAVE EVERY DAY WHILE YOURE ON EARTH.

THE JOY OF THE FATHERS WELCOME

Do I see myself as an expert on worship? No. I see myself as a child of God who has been drawn into the arms of a loving Father. I see myself as someone who was once lost but has now been welcomed into the presence of an awesome Savior and filled with the power of an amazing Holy Spirit. I see myself as the daughter of a mighty King, a daughter who has been called to meet with her Father in his Throne Room. Does that make me an expert? Well, if it does, then you must be an expert, too. Because hes calling you to meet him in the very same place. Hes longing for that special time with you.Will you come with me? Will you let me take you to the place beyond the veil? If you love him then you belong there, too. In the Throne Room, worshiping your King and mine. Your Father and mine.

Ive asked the Lord to give me the words that will encourage you and lead you to that place of worship where you can enjoy his presence and he can enjoy yours. This is why he created each of us. This is our reason for being. This is the awesome purpose for our life. And the sooner we get plugged into it, the sooner well know the joy of our Fathers welcome to the Throne Room.

CHAPTER ONE
THE LORDS LEADING

PREGNANT WITH A PURPOSE

This book actually began with my latest project,