The Pattern of the Levites

About a month ago, a verse caught my attention: 1 Chronicles 16:4 -  It says that David "appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, to make petition, to give thanks, and to praise the Lord, the God of Israel."

The Levites were the "worship leaders" of the Israelites, and their job description was to thank, praise, and make petition unto the Lord. I was intrigued by that pattern and decided to incorporate it into my own life and worship. It has been powerful! There are times where I don't feel like worshiping, but I choose to anyway, because God is worthy.

I begin by praising. What is praise? It has to do with adoration, and we adore God for who he is. Doing this has helped me see God in new ways. I am reminded of the verse, "the name of the Lord is a strong tower" (Proverbs 18:10). When we acknowledge who God is (the unchanging one, despite whatever our situation is), then we find refuge and shelter. The picture below is a neat illustration.

There are so many things to praise God for - he is our Creator, Sustainer, Provider, Savior, Lover, the One who Sees us, the One who Knows us, our Forgiver. And the list goes on! In what ways has God revealed himself to you lately, and how can you praise him?

And then I give thanks. This has to do with what God has done. The list here is also endless. And even on those days where I'm frustrated or disengaged, I can always find something to be thankful for. Since I've started paying attention, I'm realizing how frequently the Bible commands us to be grateful! It's not an option for Christians. And why should it be? What are you thankful for today?

Then, I make petition. I ask, I intercede. There is always something for this category too. I shake my head sometimes when I'm in group situations where we're sharing prayer requests, and I can't think of anything. The world is a needy place! There is always something we can petition the Lord for! This is part of our priestly privilege. What situation can you bring before the Lord today? Who can you intercede for?

How would your worship life (which should be a lifestyle of worship) be different if you intentionally offered praise, thanksgiving, and petitions to the Lord?

Serving our awesome God and worshiping with you,
-Kristyn & Mogi