But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. - John 4:23

God has given you a unique standing when it comes to worship. Like no other creature in all creation, you can worship God in spirit and in truth.

The angels and all creation can worship God, but as a follower of Christ, you bring a special type of worship that God seeks. Jesus says there are two essential qualities when it comes to God-pleasing worship.

Real worship is spirit based. 

Religion is all about the activity of worship. True worship is more spiritual than it is physical; it’s all about the heart. God-pleasing worship isn’t about music, or hands raised. It isn’t about style, standing, or sitting. God-pleasing worship is the grateful heart of the believer expressing thankfulness to the loving heavenly Father.

Real Worship is truth based.

Honesty is the beginning point of God-pleasing worship. It’s not about performance or ritual, but about a heartfelt expression of praise. A person with an ungrateful or bitter heart will never be a true worshipper. Your heart must be clean and honest before the Lord before you begin to worship.

No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. - John 15:15

How you see yourself before God makes a big difference in how you live the Christian life.

So many Christians approach God with fear, guilt, and shame because they don't understand who they are in Christ.

If you see yourself as a slave, you'll practice blind obedience to please the master, but there's little relationship. Slaves just do as they are told. Slaves fear their master.

But if you see yourself as a friend of Christ, you'll want to spend time with Him. You'll know you are always welcome in His presence.

Your best friends know you better than anyone else. A friend knows your failures and fears, but still loves and welcomes you.

As a friend of God, even though He knows all your shortcomings, He still loves and welcomes you.

No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. - John 15:15

How you see yourself before God makes a big difference in how you live the Christian life. 

So many Christians approach God with fear, guilt, and shame because they don’t understand who they are in Christ.

If you see yourself as a slave, you’ll practice blind obedience to please the master, but there’s little relationship. Slaves just do as they are told. Slaves fear their master.

But if you see yourself as a friend of Christ, you’ll want to spend time with Him. You’ll know you are always welcome in His presence.

Your best friends know you better than anyone else. A friend knows your failures and fears, but still loves and welcomes you.

As a friend of God, even though He knows all your shortcomings, He still loves and welcomes you.

Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. - 2 John 1:3

John reminds us that three qualities will be on those who follow after Christ.

The first is Grace.

Grace is the unmerited favor of God. I've heard it said that Grace is getting what you don't deserve. You don't deserve the favor or the blessing of God, and yet as His child, you walk in them. You didn't earn your salvation or your standing in Christ. They were gifts from the Father. They are evidence of His grace.

The Second is Mercy.

If Grace is getting what you don't deserve, mercy is not getting what you do deserve. the Bible says in Ephesians 2:4 that God is rich in mercy.

God's mercy sent Jesus into the world to save you from your sin. It is God's mercy that brought about the idea of salvation in the first place. If you and I got what we deserve, we should spend eternity separated from the presence of God. It is His mercy and love that opened the door for our salvation.

Finally, His Peace.

Peace is the result of God's Grace and mercy. Because of His grace and mercy, we have peace with God. The peace of God is the beginning point of all peace. Every aspect of peace in our life flows out of that peace you have with God. When your soul is at peace, every other area of your life can rest in that peace.

Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. - 2 John 1:3

John reminds us that three qualities will be on those who follow after Christ.

The first is Grace.

Grace is the unmerited favor of God. I’ve heard it said that Grace is getting what you don’t deserve. You don’t deserve the favor or the blessing of God, and yet as His child, you walk in them. You didn’t earn your salvation or your standing in Christ. They were gifts from the Father. They are evidence of His grace.

The Second is Mercy.

If Grace is getting what you don’t deserve, mercy is not getting what you do deserve. the Bible says in Ephesians 2:4 that God is rich in mercy.

God’s mercy sent Jesus into the world to save you from your sin. It is God’s mercy that brought about the idea of salvation in the first place. If you and I got what we deserve, we should spend eternity separated from the presence of God. It is His mercy and love that opened the door for our salvation.

Finally, His Peace.

Peace is the result of God’s Grace and mercy. Because of His grace and mercy, we have peace with God. The peace of God is the beginning point of all peace. Every aspect of peace in our life flows out of that peace you have with God. When your soul is at peace, every other area of your life can rest in that peace.

For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning. - Psalm 30:5

If you have ever gotten up early to watch the sunrise, it's something exhilarating and exciting to see. Sunrise in the mountains is even better. As the sun's rays peek over the mountain top, it's a striking reminder that a new day has begun.

You may have had those nights where you tossed and turned, hoping for the morning? You may be going through a season of sorrow, pain, or uncertainty, and you think the dark night of your soul may never end. In the middle of your difficulty, it's easy to get so focused on the problem that you think things will never change.

Weeping lasts for the night, but not forever. It is just for a season, not a lifetime. We all face problems, but they don't last.

For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning. - Psalm 30:5

If you have ever gotten up early to watch the sunrise, it’s something exhilarating and exciting to see. Sunrise in the mountains is even better. As the sun’s rays peek over the mountain top, it’s a striking reminder that a new day has begun.

You may have had those nights where you tossed and turned, hoping for the morning? You may be going through a season of sorrow, pain, or uncertainty, and you think the dark night of your soul may never end. In the middle of your difficulty, it’s easy to get so focused on the problem that you think things will never change.

Weeping lasts for the night, but not forever. It is just for a season, not a lifetime. We all face problems, but they don’t last.

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. - 2 Peter 3:9

Do you ever feel like a disappointment to God? Every feel like of all His children, you are weakest and most undeserving? Ever feel like you will just never reach that level of maturity in the Lord you desire?

I have good news and really good news for you. First, at one time or another, we all feel that way. We all want our walk with God to move from one glorious moment to the next, but unfortunately it's often two steps forward and one step back.

The really good news is that God understands your weakness. He knows your weakness and frailty. Psalm 103:14 says that He knows you are made from nothing but dust.

Because He knows who you are and how you are made, He is patient with you. Even the great Apostle Paul struggled with his own weakness. In Romans 7 he confesses that he often did what he did not want to do and didn't do what he knew he should do.

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. - 2 Peter 3:9

Do you ever feel like a disappointment to God? Every feel like of all His children, you are weakest and most undeserving? Ever feel like you will just never reach that level of maturity in the Lord you desire?

I have good news and really good news for you. First, at one time or another, we all feel that way. We all want our walk with God to move from one glorious moment to the next, but unfortunately it’s often two steps forward and one step back. 

The really good news is that God understands your weakness. He knows your weakness and frailty. Psalm 103:14 says that He knows you are made from nothing but dust.

Because He knows who you are and how you are made, He is patient with you. Even the great Apostle Paul struggled with his own weakness. In Romans 7 he confesses that he often did what he did not want to do and didn’t do what he knew he should do. 

Hi, this is Billy Taylor and welcome to the Daily Promise. The Daily Promise is your daily reminder of God's goodness and promise to you.

Saturday is review day on the Daily Promise. Every Saturday we review the promises we learned during the week so we can allow God's word to go deep in our hearts. So let's jump right in.

Here are the promises we covered this week.

John 16:33 | 2 Corinthians 5:17 | Deuteronomy 1:30-31 | Galatians 5:1 | Colossians 1:13