Michelle continues her quest to discover keys to Revival in Psalm 119 reading verses 169-176 in the Passion Translation. Today, we'll look at the question: “Who or What am I following after?” As our hearts search our soul for the answer, we will look at the Key of Worship as our life’s pursuit Show Transcript: You are listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. We exist to empower the voices of women who live their lives #BloomingAlive through Podcast Community. Now, here is your host. Blooming Inspired Podcast equipping and empowering the voices of women who live their lives Blooming Alive. Introduction Good Morning! This is Michelle Bentham, host of Blooming Inspired Podcast. I want to take a moment to encourage you. I don’t know if you’ve been in the thick of spiritual warfare lately, but around the lake here in Granbury it has been amped up. Last week my prayer group and I took the time to stand and pray with other prayer groups around our nation and in other countries. We have been praying together a few years and asking God to move in our personal lives, our families, our city, county, region, state and nation as well as throughout the entire world. As we did, things began to happen and even though we experienced resistance in the spiritual realms there was breakthrough. My friend, Deb DeArmand just released a new quick-read devotional packed with humor and practical wisdom called Bumper Sticker Be-Attitudes over at Amazon.com. And even though this sounds like some kind of shameless promotion, I wanted to share something she posted on Facebook: “It’s never too late to finish, and it’s always too early to quit.” This happens to be a chapter title in her book. As I think about this encouragement I’m drawn to a particular Scripture. Galatians Don’t give up! Yes, the battle in this season may be hard, but victory and breakthrough are on the other side. Just like the tiny seed that is birthed beneath the hard earth. It take a lot of stick to it and determination to breakthrough - but once you do there is light and life -- especially opportunities to grow in abundance and bear much fruit. So stay at it, friends. The other side of the story - the harvest is worth the price you pay. And be sure to pick up Deb’s book over at Amazon.com and leave a review once you’ve read it. You can click the link in this post for more information about her book! Now--- For our final reading in Psalm 119 in “The Revival Series.” I have to say I am grateful to be at the end of this journey with you today. WHY? You may be asking. Well, remember at the beginning way back in May - 28 Episodes ago, I began reading in Psalm I didn’t see myself as the person who was happy to keep God’s commands, and His Word. Not that I ddin’t try to be obedient, and remain in His word daily. Not that at all… But, because I didn’t see myself as a person of integrity. I know. This may be news to you… But, friends. I”ve lived most of my life with an impoverished spirit hanging on me like an old coat. Anytime success or a move in God’s direction got me excited, there the enemy would be trying to discourage me by reminding me of not only the horrible past I had lived, but also the struggle with strongholds and temptation to sin I face daily. I believed deep in my heart I’d never change completely until I got to Heaven and saw Jesus. In truth, I was trying to change myself not trusting God to do it… So in 2016 when in prayer I felt the Holy Spirit nudge me and ask me why I had not read Psalm 119 as the Lord had put on my heart to do… I responded, “Because I cannot find myself in it.” Then is when I felt like Jesus pulled my face up in His hands and said, “Beloved, you aren’t supposed to read Scripture to find yourself… Your supposed to read Scripture to find Me.” That’s a life-changing truth right there, my friends. A life changing truth. Maybe you need to hear that for yourself today. God’s Word - the fullest expression of Himself to us - is Jesus. The primary way He reveals Himself to us in this season is through the Scriptures, but Holy Spirit is the great Revelator. He guides us into all truth. And He will teach us to hear and respond to the Shepherd’s voice if we will only give ourselves to the process. Surrender is a position of obedience and victory in God’s Kingdom. Let’s surrender one more time to read our last 8 verses of Psalm 119. This week we are going to be reading from Psalm Review In our last episode, we read verses 161-168 as we continued to discover keys to revival. As we read, we considered the question: “What Do I Have My Heart Set On?" And as we walked through each verse we picked up another Revival Key that comes from remaining devoted to God’s Word. That key is a longing and a hunger for more of Him through His Word. That desire to go deep into God’s Word leads us to discover both His love and His power in a way that compels us to change and live only for Him. As we read through verses 169-176 today, I want you to ask yourself, “Who or What am I following after?” As our hearts search our soul for the answer, we will look at the Key of Worship as our life’s pursuit This Week’s Reading So Now Let’s Pray, Father God, I ask that you would give each person within the sound of my voice an encounter with You, Your Son and the Holy Spirit this morning as we read Your words of life together. Impart the truth of who You are to our hearts, minds, souls and bodies today - we ask for Holy Spirit revelation to open our eyes to the way You see, open our ears to hear Your majestic voice, and open our hearts to know Your heart in intimacy and truth. I thank you that when we believe in Christ, we are hidden in Him and His blessings. Let our heart’s rend themselves before you today in a sacrifice of praise as we give our lives to worship you - the only one who is worthy of all praise! Remind us of these truths as we read today and make them real for us! I ask these things in Jesus’ Holy Name, AMEN. The heading for today’s reading is, “I Want To Follow You” Verse 169: Lord, listen to my prayer. It’s like a sacrifice I bring to you; I must have more revelation of your word! Do you hear that? Our prayers and longing for God are a sacrifice that praises and glorifies Him as God. It keeps us dependent upon the Holy Spirit’s revelation as we seek to know Him through His Word. My heart is tender to the glory of God in this hour. My morning has been full of distractions - people requesting time with me for coaching, sharing and declaring His truth in our lives. I’ve also been praying with my prayer sisters and receiving revelation for a loved one as I’ve reviewed what God has taught us through the last six months of our lives together. And then, the posts about the horrible massacre of the families from LeBaron, Mexico. I’ve seen the reports, and I personally know family members here in the states who broke away from their lifestyle. But, if in our religious piety as Christians we can have no compassion for people who were murdered for the simple fact that they existed. If we cannot pray for the people of Mexico in this hour who are tormented, tortured and terrorized by the drug-lords and cartels. Then who is the God we are serving? I don’t have to agree with their lifestyle to grieve for their loss. I don’t have to know them to love them from His perspective. Jesus died on the cross for both those murdered in Mexico yesterday and for the drug-lords and cartel members, and the corrupt government who has allowed this to go on unabated for decades. God’s arm is not too short to save, but His people seem to have hardened hearts when it comes to their desire for justice. May His mercy endure and His goodness be made known to those who grieve today. May He put His protective hand on the citizens of Mexico in this hour and all who make their home there. May His loving-kindness and tender mercy bring repentance and deliverance for both the people and the oppressors and may those who pray for peace and safety find it in Him today. In Jesus’ name, amen. Verse 170: Take my words to heart when I ask you, Lord; rescue me, just like you promised! Micah Verse 171: I offer you my joyous praise for all that you’ve taught me. When the worship music plays at church, when the circumstances are overwhelming your heart, when people are hurting you and fear consumes you - Where Do You Find Your Heart Focused? The only way to live in joyous praise for all He has taught you is to make every moment of your life an act of worship. If the music at church, the actions of others, the circumstances or pain of your life and fear are consuming your focus - if you aren’t focused on who God is, what He has promised you and the way He has delivered you over and over again - then you will not be able to offer Him your joyous praise. Joy is a gift from God - happiness, is fleeting and temporary, but the state of being the blessed of God defies all circumstances determined only by the condition of our heart before Him. Will we bow and bend to His will or be driven by the wanton fear that compels us to forsake His perfect love? Verse 172:Your wonderful words will become my song of worship, for everything you’ve commanded is perfect and true. My favorite worship song right now might surprise you… It’s Kanye West’s title song from the album “Jesus is King.” This song is the exclamation point on a beautiful, resounding chorus of words that tells the story of one who was lost and became found by God. Of The Son who is worthy of celebrating, and the way a surrendered life to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords brings life to even those that society calls crazy, vain and unworthy. I know Scripture, and the words of worship I hear on the lips of Kanye West are the highest praise for a worthy King. Verse 173: Place your hands of strength and favor upon me, for I’ve made my choice to follow your ways. When God’s strength comes to you, His favor rests upon you - the key is to choose. God has given us the ability to choose who and what we worship and pursue in life. When we make Him our life’s pursuit, His strength empowers us and His favor carries us into places that would never be open to us without Him. The most obvious gates that open to us, the gates of Heaven and living in His eternal presence beyond our life on earth. And that favor alone is worth everything - He is worthy of surrender, worship and the highest praise. Verse 174: I wait for your deliverance, O Lord, for your words thrill me like nothing else! A heart focused on the promises of God, having experienced His life-giving presence and the fulfillment of His promises will wait patiently for His deliverance and timing as we remain steadfast in our worship of Him. Verse 175: Invigorate my life so that I can praise you even more, and may your truth be my strength! A heart bent on worshipping God seeks revival for one purpose - To praise God even more. To seek truth at all costs. To be strengthened and enraptured by the joy of the Lord which is our strength. Verse 176: I’ll never forget what you’ve taught me, Lord, but when I wander off and lose my way, come after me, for I am your beloved! Knowing God shouldn’t just change the way we think or act, it should change the way we worship. We will rest in His unfailing love when we remember that the final Key to Revival is a life surrendered in daily worship to the most high and majestic God of the Universe who is our only source of life, hope and redemption. Amen? I’m about to read you the keys we’ve discovered through Psalm 119 these last six months. If you’d like a PDF copy of the Keys to Revival from Psalm 119 please email [email protected] and put “Subscribe” in the subject line! Everyone who subscribes to Blooming Inspired Network this week will receive a printable PDF of the promises of God and Keys to Revival found in Psalm 119. Let’s take a look back… In Episode 122, we read Psalm And every time I learn more of your righteous judgments,I will be faithful to all that your word reveals—so don’t ever give up on me! - Psalm In Episode 123, we read Psalm In Episode 124, we read Psalm In Episode 125, we read Psalm In Episode 126, we read Psalm In Episode 130, we read Psalm In Episode 131, we read Psalm In Episode 132, we read Psalm In Episode 133, we read Psalm In Episode 134, we read Psalm In Episode 135, we read Psalm In Episode 136, we read Psalm In Episode 137, we read Psalm In Episode 138, we read Psalm In Episode 139, we read Psalm In Episode 142, we read Psalm In Episode 143, we read Psalm In Episode 144, we read Psalm In Episode 145, we read Psalm In Episode 146, we read Psalm In Episode 147, we read Psalm in my innermost being I want to follow them perfectly! - Psalm Closing Remarks That's all the time that I have today! Thank you for tuning in with us. I want to ask you if this podcast has been a blessing to you: would you consider subscribing to it and share it with your friends and family? We’d love to partner with you in sharing messages that encourage and inspire. If you’d like to be a guest on this show or get more information about hosting your own podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network - please reach out to [email protected]. I’d love the opportunity to connect with you and figure out how we can share your voice with the world around us. BIBLE STUDY SEASON IS UPON US! We began our The Gospels: Verse-By-Verse Bible Study in October. We will resume this Saturday, in person (Granbury, TX) and on Facebook Live at 10 am (Central Time). That’s right - This season our study is found in the book of Luke. We’ll pick up with Chapter 3 on Saturday morning at 10am (CT). You can learn more and catch up on last week’s study by visiting facebook.com/bloominginspired. If you’d like to get this podcast delivered to your smart device, we're available on Apple and on Google Podcasts. Again, I would like to ask you partner with us. We would love for you to share about our podcast on social media -- share it with your friends your family -- the people within your influence let them know what we're doing at Blooming Inspired Network! Be sure to TUNE IN! BIPN’s Accidental Hope Podcast airs on Wednesdays at 2 p.m. central time. Each week Jennifer Eikenhorst brings hope-filled messages and interviews related to overcoming accidents and traumas we face in life. You don’t want to miss her inspiring podcast this week. And now, I want to remind you as I always do: Blooming where you're planted is the first step to living your wildest dreams, so live your lives blooming alive! Thank you for listening to the Blooming Inspired Podcast on the Blooming Inspired Podcast Network. This show airs on Tuesdays at 11 am central time. Please take a moment to like, share and subscribe to this podcast. To learn more about this podcast and it’s network, or the ministries of Blooming Inspired Network please visit BloomingInspiredNetwork.com and click the podcast link at the top of the page. Psalm I Want to Follow You 169 Lord, listen to my prayer. It’s like a sacrifice I bring to you; I must have more revelation of your word! 170 Take my words to heart when I ask you, Lord; rescue me, just like you promised! 171 I offer you my joyous praise for all that you’ve taught me. 172 Your wonderful words will become my song of worship, for everything you’ve commanded is perfect and true. 173 Place your hands of strength and favor upon me, for I’ve made my choice to follow your ways. 174 I wait for your deliverance, O Lord, for your words thrill me like nothing else! 175 Invigorate my life so that I can praise you even more, and may your truth be my strength! 176 I’ll never forget what you’ve taught me, Lord, but when I wander off and lose my way, come after me, for I am your beloved! The Passion Translation (TPT) The Passion Translation®. Copyright © 2017 by BroadStreet Publishing® Group, LLC. Used by permission. All rights reserved. thePassionTranslation.com