Phil Barfoot - New Every Morning: 365 Days of Worship

Copyright 2019 by Phil Barfoot

All rights reserved.

Printed in the United States of America

978-1-5359-5593-5

Published by B&H Publishing Group

Nashville, Tennessee

Dewey Decimal Classification: 242.2

Subject Heading: WORSHIP \ DEVOTIONAL LITERATURE \ SPIRITUAL LIFE

Scripture versions used: English Standard Version ( esv ), Text Edition: 2016. Copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers; New International Version ( niv ), Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide; New American Standard Bible ( nasb ), copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation; Modern English Version ( mev ), opyright 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House; New King James Version ( nkjv ), copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved; New Living Translation ( nlt ), copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved; King James Version ( kjv ), public domain; Contemporary English Version ( cev ), copyright 1995 by American Bible Society; The Message ( msg ), copyright 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson; Jubilee Bible 2000 ( jub ), copyright 2000, 2001, 2010 by Life Sentence Publishing, Inc; Holman Christian Standard Bible ( hcsb ), copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved; The Christian Standard Bible ( csb ), copyright 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible, and CSB are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved; Good News Translation ( gnt ), copyright 1992 by American Bible Society; Amplified Bible ( amp ), copyright 2015 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, CA 90631. All rights reserved; New Revised Standard Version Bible ( nrsv ), copyright 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved; Revised Standard Version ( rsv ), copyright 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved; and King James Version 2000, public domain.

Cover design by Ligia Teodosiu. Photo dar19.30 / depositphotos

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Preface

N ew Every Morning was created by 118 premiere worship pastors, ministers of music, and Christian university professors across America!

First and foremost, I am humbled and grateful to count each of them as my friends and want to express my deepest appreciation that they would take the time out of their hectic schedules to contribute to this book of unique and dynamic devotionals.

From the bottom of my heart, I say a huge Thank You to each of these contributors. Your spiritual insight and godly encouragement will make this book a blessing to many.

One of the unique features of this book is its flexibility to be used as a private devotional book or as a group devotional. I encourage choirs, praise teams, orchestras, Sunday school classes, and all types of groups to read through the devotions on the same schedule corporately as each one does individually during private study and personal devotional time.

Reading these devotions on the same schedule also opens up the opportunity to share and discuss each others thoughts together in small or large group settings.

Another feature of the book is included on Wednesdays and Sundays. On each of these days, there are always a few thoughts aimed at those in music and worship ministries. These Wednesday and Sunday devotions are designed to read to your choir or group and ask the questions included in each devotion to encourage discussion.

Whether you utilize this devotional book in your daily private time with the Lord or with your choir or ministry groups, my prayer is that God would use its truths and spiritual insights to inspire , encourage , uplift, and bless all who read it.

Gods BEST to you as you experience His mercies New Every Morning !

Dr. Phil Barfoot, Editor

Week 1Monday

Attitude Is Everything

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyones chains came loose.

Acts 16:2526 ( niv )

W e have a choice. Every day in every situation and circumstance, we have a choice. We can follow the naysayers and negative whims of the masses, OR we can come with thankful and grateful hearts and attitudes to face even the most overwhelming and challenging situations.

If Paul and Silas would have responded negatively to their imprisonment, having been beaten, stripped of their clothes and put into jail with their feet in shackles, you would never have heard this story. It would have been just another unremarkable night in that Philippian prison.

However, Scripture tells us that at midnight they prayed and sang praises to God. Thats rightthey didnt whimper and complain. They praised God in their dire situation.

God honored their attitudes of gratitude along with their thanksgiving and praise in the midst of those dark and desperate circumstances. God truly inhabited the praises of Paul and Silas that night! In fact, they prayed, praised, and sang until, suddenly, an earthquake shook the foundations of the prison, all the doors were opened, and EVERYONES chains were loosed. Not only were Paul and Silas delivered, but all the prisoners were!

The jailer rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas and asked, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? (v. 30). Paul and Silas then sealed the deal by explaining he must believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be savedyou and your household (v. 31). The jailer and his entire family were then saved!

Today, you will be faced with a choice. I encourage you to choose thanksgiving in every circumstance.

1. What are some steps that I can take to change my attitude to trust God at all times in every situation?
2. When faced with a choice, how can I confidently learn to believe rather than doubt ?

Lord Jesus, help me to choose the attitude of gratitude when faced with challenges and overwhelming situations today. In the almighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

Dr. Phil Barfoot

President / CEO

Celebration Concert Tours International / CCT Music, Franklin, TN

Week 1Tuesday

Our Real Calling

Of all the commandments, which is the most important? The most important one, answered Jesus, is this: Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

Mark 12:28b30 ( niv )

T he answer Jesus gives this religious teacher to this all-important question sets the purpose, priority, and plan of our lives here on this earth. Jesus is clearly saying that WORSHIP is the greatest commandment!

Its whats going on in heaven now and for all eternity and what should be going on in each of our lives as believers. Worship is heavens highest occupation and the earths greatest privilege. The Westminster Shorter Catechism says it this way, The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.