A Look at Psalm 119:108

Psalm 119:108 “Accept, O Lord, the willing praise of my mouth, and teach me Your laws.”
 

David loved God’s presence, which made his praise acceptable to Him. There are true worshipers, and there are false worshipers. There are those who worship God and those who worship. John 4:23 says, “The true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” The other kind of worshiper, which the Father does not seek, is described in Matthew 15:8-9 “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” They worship Him in vain. Not all worship is acceptable to God.
 

When we worship a god we no longer pray to, we are false worshipers. David was a person of prayer. Therefore, his worship was acceptable to God. David did not just have a prayer in his life; his life was centered around prayer. He loved the presence of God.
 

Some people say. The reason they worship is to enter into the presence of God. Therefore, they feel they love the presence of God. That may not necessarily be true. If you are a worshiper without being a prayer, then God may view your worship as honoring Him with your lips, but your heart being far from Him. There is a tendency to worship feelings we receive from worship rather than God.
 

Worship does not bring us into God’s presence as much as prayer does. In the Old Testament, God inhabited the praises of His people. Today, God inhabits His people. God lives in us! He is released through our brokenness, not through our praise. 

The prayer life is meant to break us and humble us. Then the sanctuary fills with the presence of God. When the alabaster box is broken, then its fragrance fills the room. What we must remember is that prayer is a form of praise, and praise is a form of prayer. We must have both in our lives. 
 

I encourage you to take some time to meditate on this verse; as you do, worship HIM from your heart.  Continued