Slow is not easy. We live in such a rush and race society. Today I struggled to settle into quiet. My mind running here and running there. I kept thinking of different crime show scenarios. I love me a good crime show. I was trying to shake the thoughts off because I was trying to be quiet and centered on the Lord, but it persisted. So, like my Grammy always said, “If you have an imperfection, instead of fighting against it, work with it!” I decided to ask the Lord a question about the thoughts swirling in my mind. I said, “Why do I like crime shows so much?” He said, “Because you love justice.” It’s true. I do love justice. I absolutely feel right about the world when bad guys get caught and good guys get to make wrong things right. Then He said something else that cut deeper into the heart of me. He said, “but be careful, some things deserve justice and some things require mercy.” #discernment

Psalm 93: Your statutes, Lord, stand firm;
    holiness adorns your house
    for endless days.

In this little psalm, this one word stands out: HOLINESS

Holiness is the character or the expression of being holy. God’s holiness is His defining characteristic. The holiness of God is a term used in the Bible to describe both His goodness and His power. It is completely unique, and utterly all-powerful, radiating out from God. Learn more about God’s holiness at that link.

In my Bible, the word holiness, has a little letter next to it. That little letter means the word has reference verses that I can look up. The first one was Psalm 29:2 it says to ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness. In the second reference it says in 2 Chronicles 20:21 that men where appointed to sing to the Lord and praise him for the splendor of his holiness saying, “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.” In the third reference of 1 Chronicles 16:29 it says to ascribe to the Lord glory due to his name, bring an offering and come before him. Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.

What am I getting at? Hang with me a minute.

Ascribe means to attribute or to give credit.

As I read these references, I had this little aha! In our psalm here, it says holiness adorns your house. The character of God called holiness, adorns his house. When we worship God, it means we take time to ascribe or to attribute to God things that are of God. We give Him credit for the things that are of Him. This is the definition of worship: we say to God, about God, the things that are true of God!

God is many things. He is holy. He is just. He is good. He is merciful. He is love.

When we worship Him in the splendor of His holiness. We call out and praise Him for who He is but just as in the question I asked about crime shows, we must be careful not to ascribe to Him who is Holy, things that are not Him. God is not a god of our own making. We don’t get to define Him. The Bible defines God for us. The Bible tells it like it is. HE IS HOLY!

Father, I worship you! I praise your name! You gave your son, Jesus, the name that is above every name. I worship you, Jesus! You reign over all. You are robed in majesty and armed with strength. By your might you have established the world. It is firm and secure. You throne is established forever. The sea and its waves, and the thunder in the sky, lift up their voices and say, ” The Lord on high is mighty!” Your statues stand firm. What you declare and say, is and will be. You are holy, holy, holy! We exalt you and lift up our praise. We worship you in the beauty of your holiness, in the splendor of who you are! Establish me today on the truth of who you are. Show yourself. Do not hide from us. Show me who you are!

As you read through the scriptures, take notice of how God is described. See God for who He is, as described in the Bible. Listen carefully for the voice that tries to describe Him otherwise. Lift up your own voice today and worship Him in the splendor of His holiness. Speak what you read and praise the Lord.

Thanks for Listening,

Starla