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This past weekend we hosted a worship conference called “After His Heart.”  As a church, we desire to be unreserved worshippers of God. The Lord is moving us forward in this area, and is teaching us to worship Him with complete abandonment.  On Friday, we started off with a worship night and I shared on “Beholding the Beauty of God” from Psalm 27:4. It was a powerful night, and God’s presence was in the room.  It was so encouraging to have representation from different churches around our community. On Saturday morning, we had Ryan Iverson from Love City Church in Calgary ministering to us, and he brought a powerful word about being individuals who are after the heart of God just like David was, “A man after God’s own heart.” (Acts 13:22)  

I wanted to give a quick overview of Ryan’s second session, “Seven Hebrew Words for Praise,”  as I strongly believe that this is an important teaching for us to get ahold of as we pursue becoming unreserved worshippers of God.

1) Hallal

  1. To Shine, To Rave
  2. To Praise, To Boast
  3. To be Clamorously Foolish
  4. To Act Madly 

2 Samuel 22:4 - I called to the Lord who is worthy of praise, (Hallal) and have been saved from my enemies.

1 Chronicles 29:13 - Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.

2) Yadah

  1. To Revere or Worship, To give thanks or praise.
  2. To lift the hands

Psalm 28:7 - The Lord is my strength and my shield;  my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.

3) Barak

  1. To Bless, To kneel, To Salute

Judges 5:2 - “When the princes in Israel take the lead, when the people willingly offer themselves, praise the Lord!

4) Tehillah

  1. A song or a hymn of praise
  2. Spontaneous Expression of spiritual song

Psalm 34:1 - I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.

Psalm 51:15 - Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise.

5) Zamar

  1. To make music, to sing praise
  2. To play a musical instrument
  3. To pluck and Twang

Psalm 30:12 - That my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever.

6) Towdah

  1. Confession, praise
  2. Thanksgiving

Psalm 42:4 - These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go to the house of God under the protection of the Mighty One with shouts of joy and praise among the festive throng.

7) Shabach

  1. To Exclaim, To Shout
  2. To laud, praise commend

Psalm 63:3 - Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you!

My prayer for our church

I pray that God would continue to challenge us and push us to honour Him with all of our heart, soul and mind. Matthew 22:36 - ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’

I pray that the Holy Spirit would push us to Jesus, and that Jesus would be all consuming; that He would become our main priority, and that His heart would become our heart.  I pray that we would look to Him in every area of our lives.

NOTE: Ryan will be sending me a recording of Saturday sessions. If you would like a copy, please send me an email at randall@cochranealliance.com.

If you'd like to watch Ryan's Sunday sermon, click here.