Begin with two minutes of silence and stillness before God.

At the end of a crazy week with a full schedule and a lengthy to-do list, my heart loves nothing more than an invitation to stop and worship at the feet of Jesus. Psalm 95 invites us to enter into His presence, make a joyful noise, and bow down and kneel before Him. This passage not only commands us to worship, but also serves as a reminder of who it is we lift our praise to - the Lord, our Creator, our King, our Guide, our Rock, and our Eternal Rest. He is our God and we are His people, and He alone is worthy of our praise.

But there is one part of this passage that I don't want to overlook. In verses 7-8, the psalmist delivers a warning: "Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts." The Israelites' disobedience serves as a cautionary example; they witnessed God's mighty actions, were rescued from slavery, and experienced His faithful provision, yet they chose their own path, disregarded His counsel, and complained about every inconvenience in the wilderness. Instead of leaning on God and trusting His proven leadership, they became self-reliant people. They hardened their hearts and stopped listening to their Shepherd. Because of this, that entire generation, including Moses, was punished and was no longer allowed to enter the Promised Land. In this new home, God had promised to dwell among His people in a place of worship —a place where they would be able to encounter God with their thanksgiving and praise. His presence would rest on His people there, but because they chose their own way, they could not enter His rest.

We can shake our heads in disbelief at the Israelites, but how relevant is this message for us as well? How often have you witnessed God's goodness, experienced His provision, and felt of His perfect love? When we hear the voice of God, when He shows us His truth in His Word, when we witness His miraculous works, we have a choice - listen or disregard, obey or harden our hearts. And God's promise of His presence, His rest, is complete through Jesus' sacrifice; it's a heavenly home, a new heart, and a relationship with the One who deserves all the glory. Through Jesus, God has made a way and invites us into His presence, not in a building, but through the Holy Spirit. And once we have a relationship with Him, God continues to invite us to listen to Him and follow Him every day. He invites us into His eternal rest. We can rest in His presence through trusting Him and daily raising our hands in praise and surrender. God has invited us into His presence to sing, praise, lift our hands, bring our burdens, and worship with our whole hearts. Will we live to serve our desires or will we live our lives as an act of worship? Don't wait until Sunday to worship - choose Him and rest in Him today.

Take two minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

Use the S.O.A.P. Method to study God’s Word.

• SCRIPTURE: What stands out to you in today’s passage?
• OBSERVATION: What is this text saying? What is the context? How does it fit with the verses before and after it? Are there any commands, instructions, or promises?
• APPLICATION: How can you apply this verse to your life? What does this mean today? What is God saying to you?
• PRAYER: Respond to the passage in prayer. Ask God to help you apply this truth to your life and spend some time listening to what He may be telling you.

PRAY FOR TPW 2025

Over 500 students, nearly 200 volunteers, and dozens of Venture Church staff will attend Turning Point Weekend this Friday through Sunday. TPW is Venture Students’ annual fall retreat designed for students in grades 7th through 12th to reach a powerful turning point in their faith and walk with Christ. Students from every Venture Church campus will come together to build relationships, play games, and, most importantly, passionately worship Jesus Christ. 

As a church, before the weekend, we want to PRAY FIRST. Join us in praying every day this week for one minute at 1:00 PM for God to move in the lives of students and leaders!

How to pray for TPW 2025 this week:

• Pray for protection - physical and spiritual. 
• Pray for the students and their experience this weekend, that it would be a turning point in their faith that ripples through their families, schools, and communities. 
• Pray for our team and all the leaders who will be volunteering their time.
• Pray for Salvations!