Marty Parks - Quiet Moments for Worship Leaders: Scriptures, Meditations, and Prayers

Copyright 2008

by Marty Parks and Beacon Hill Press of Kansas City

2014 eISBN 978-0-8341-3464-5

Printed in the

United States of America

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior written permission of the publisher. If you have received this publication from any source other than an online bookstore, youve received a pirated copy. Please contact us at the Nazarene Publishing House and notify us of the situation.

Cover Design: Darlene Filley

Interior Design: Sharon Page

All Scripture quotations not otherwise designated are from the Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV). Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Permission to quote from the following additional copyrighted versions of the Bible is acknowledged with appreciation:

The Amplified Bible, Old Testament (AMP.), copyright 1965, 1987 by The Zondervan Corporation. The Amplified New Testament (AMP.), copyright 1954, 1958, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation.

The Modern Language Bible. The New Berkeley Version in Modern English, Revised Version (MLB). 1945, 1959, 1969 by Hendrickson Publishers, Inc.

The New American Standard Bible (NASB), copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995.

The Revised Standard Version (RSV) of the Bible, copyright 1946, 1952, 1971 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the King James Version.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Parks, Marty.

Quiet moments for worship leaders : scriptures, meditations, and prayers / Marty Parks.

p. cm.

ISBN 978-0-8341-2372-4 (pbk.)

1. Bible. O.T. PsalmsDevotional use. I. Title.

BS1430.54.P37 2008

242'.69dc22

2008014274

CONTENTS

Does the Christian world really need another daily devotional book? Does the ancient Book of Psalms really need one more expository treatment? Does any one of us really need more stuff to clutter our bookshelves or one more daily obligation to cram into our already over-committed lives?

Probably not. However, experience has taught me that when I neglect Gods Word, when Im too noisy to hear Him, when Im too frantic to just be, Im the one who loses out. Im afraid Ive learned this the hard way.

On the other hand, when I allow Gods Word to penetrate me, when Im still enough to listen, when I invite quietness and confidence in His Word into my life, I find Im infused with strength, trust, and encouragement for the day. And who among us couldnt use a little more of that?

Of course, this isnt my original thought. The ageless collection of writings we call the Psalms prods us over and over to meditate on Gods law, to delight in His precepts, to rejoice in His statutes. In all of these we find life as its meant to be lived. Refreshingly honest, these words of David, Moses, Asaph, and others remind me of how gritty our existence can be. I relate to these mentheir passion for worship, their love of Gods Word, and, unfortunately, their colossal failures. Theres warmth and comfort in these utterances. Theres also plenty to make us squirm with conviction. Most of all, when we consider the Psalms all together, were driven to the one who inspired them in the first place.

So, pastors, worship leaders, and all those following hard after God (see Ps. 63:8), I invite you to plunge in with me as we soak ourselves in the water of Gods truth. I so look forward to joining you for a few minutes each day as were moved to praise, adoration, confession, and thanksgiving through the direction of our original Book of worship.

Take your time. Be intentional about being open. Breathe in His Word. Listen closely.

His delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
Ps. 1:2

If my life is going to count, if Im to make a difference in my world, then Ill walk with those who can build up my faith. Ill concentrate on the law of Godall His precepts.

If youre at all like me, you can do without the distraction of critical, negative, or indifferent people in your life. You dont need to listen to those who try to persuade you with every new intellectual fad or spiritual philosophy that comes along. Life is challengingand so daily, as some put itthat sometimes its only because of the grounding I receive in Gods Word and the delight that comes to me through His promises that Im able to make it at all! Sound familiar?

Today we begin a trek through the ancient Book of Psalms, Israels original hymn book and the worlds greatest worship treasury. The Psalms open with a benediction and the word blessed. The actual Hebrew word used here for blessed is esher. It indicates happiness sort of as an exclamation, as in How happy! It implies happiness that bubbles over into every aspect of life, so much so that others cant help but notice. Interestingly, this word is closely related to and is actually derived from another Hebrew word, ashar, meaning to be straight or level; to go forward; to be honestto prosper.

I would like to think my life is marked by some type of significancein my work, my relationships, and my family. We probably all yearn for happiness and for prosperity, but deep inside, dont you long for life to really count for something? Im finding that happiness and prosperity are the inevitable byproducts of a life rooted and established in Gods Wordnot happiness and prosperity as the world defines them, but characteristics that grow in us as God orders our attitudes and increases our hunger not only for His Word but also for Him. And in Him is our true significance.

Prayer:God, please fill me fresh again with your Spirit, and plant me firm in your Word. Help my relationships be significant and my worship authentic. In Christs name I pray. Amen.

Thought for the Day: We will be called truly blessed when weve drunk from the fount of every blessing.

Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
Ps. 2:12

God must laugh sometimes at our plans. Hes probably somewhere between amused and frustrated when we try to define or control Him. Though we can know His character, we cannot predict what Hell do.

Too many times Ive entered into a season of worship and Ive attempted it all in my own strength. The energy level may have been high, the song list stellar, and the overall sound spectacular. But I was left feeling a little flat, like somethingor someonewas missing. The fact is, in times like these, if God doesnt show up, Im sunk!

Submission to His direction and prompting is what makes my life and my worship profitablepleasing in Gods eyes. I think thats what the writer of Ps. 2 had in mind when, in verse 7, he refers to God as Father and himself as son. In the ancient culture that birthed this psalm, submission of a servant to a king was often expressed in father/son terms. In the best of situations, the fathers authority and power were extended to the privileged son.

All this, of course, is Messianic in nature and gives us an insightful, prophetic portrait of the relationship of Jesus to His Father. Still, theres lots here we can learn about submitting to and actually pleading for our Fathers direction and plan for us. Those plans may not look like anything we would ever dream or imagine, but who among us is content to attempt only the things we can do on our own?