Time of Preparation
Begin by taking inventory of your surroundings. Are things in your vicinity conducive to a time of personal worship? Are there any changes or adjustments (turning off tech, making yourself comfortable) you need to make before you begin?
When you are ready, take some time to sit in silence and prepare your heart for worship. Ask God to clear away any distractions that might keep you from being truly present in this moment.
Assurance
In this third movement, we receive the good news of the gospel: we are forgiven.
“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
—Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)
As a movie guy, I love a good sequel. In a way, that’s how I think about today’s song. It kind of serves as a sequel to one of the most beloved hymns of all time, “Amazing Grace.” In the lyrics, the singer finds that God’s grace continues to be a source of wonder—it “still amazes.”
One of the important lessons of this song for me is this: I hope I never get to the place where God’s grace fails to amaze me. I never want to find myself taking it for granted. I want it to remain new and wondrous and fresh and surprising and…well, amazing.
Spend some time today in prayer basking in the grace and mercy of God, and ask him to always keep your hearts aware of how remarkable it truly is.
SONG OF ASSURANCE: Your Grace Still Amazes Me (lyrics here)