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I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. --Psalm 34:4-5 According to the Scriptures, worship is the most important thing we’re called to do as believers in Christ. Yet, as A.W. Tozer once said, “Worship is the missing jewel of the church today.” And I believe this is so true. So many believers miss the joy of genuine worship. They just sort of go through the same old routine, week after week. But one of the greatest reasons why we should make the worship of God a habit is because worship fortifies our faith.  When your faith needs a boost, look up! Praise, worship, singing spiritual songs, and expressing adoration to God all strengthen your faith and draw you nearer to Him. Remember what Psalm 22:3 tells us: God is “enthroned on the praises of Israel.” Wherever genuine praise is, so is God! Today, in spite of what kind of storm you may be facing at home or work, I challenge you to find one thing for which to praise the Lord. I am confident that taking your focus off of your troubles and genuinely thanking God for what He has done in your life will strengthen your faith and brighten your outlook on life!   WHEN YOUR FAITH NEEDS A BOOST, LOOK UP IN PRAISE AND WORSHIP Only Part of the Story Wednesday, June 05, 2019 by Dr. Paul Chappell “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” 1 John 3:1–3 About fifty students tried out for the Emsley Laney High School basketball team in 1978. There were only fifteen spots on the roster, and one of the athletes who failed to make the cut was a sophomore. Instead of giving up on the game, he accepted a place on the junior varsity and began to work on developing his game. His name was Michael Jordan, and even most people who aren’t basketball fans know he was one of the greatest players that ever played. But at first, it didn’t look like he would be anything special. Often we judge ourselves and others by what we can see in the moment. But that is only part of the story. What we will be in the future has not yet appeared. If we are faithful to walk in the Spirit and grow in grace, God will shape and mold us to become more and more like His Son. In His hands, we are transformed to be like Jesus. Stephen was stoned for his powerful witness, and in his last moment he echoed the words of Jesus on the cross. “And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep” (Acts 7:60). Although we will not all die as martyrs for the faith, the spiritual maturity and Christlikeness that Stephen demonstrated is God’s goal for each of our lives. Today's Growth Principle:  Nothing will stop God’s ultimate plan for us, and we should never judge the future by what we see today.