Today I was at it again in the Word!. Back story before I get into the mind blowing thing I learned today!

I love to read from the Old Testament, Psalms, Proverbs, and New Testament. I have been following this plan I found from InTouch Ministries with Pastor Charles Stanley for many years now.

Two particular things happened while in study: One I was talking with the Lord specifically about an area in my life I have been talking with Him about for years.

I went to Psalm 146 thinking I was where I was supposed to be. Actually it was Psalm 148. On the Blue Letter Bible, which I use as a study guide along with the physical Bible, it read “The LORD An Abundant Helper.”

Wow. Just wow.

Went on down to read this at verse 5:

“Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God.”

Interesting things are happening here in this one sentence. First of all, LORD. The very first time in the Bible He was called LORD God was Genesis 2:4. In Genesis 1, He is called God BUT when He finished what He started, He is LORD God. “Jehovah Elohim” – a God of power and perfection, a finishing God. He performed what He promised.

Amen!

Okay, now think about this, Friend…hope. Yeah, we say “hope” but do we really know what hope is, biblically?

The first time this word is referenced is in Ruth, Chapter 1. It’s the Hebrew word “tikvah”.

“It is a life line. In fact, the Israeli national anthem is called Ha Tikvah, the hope. However, the root of the Hebrew word is also the word for rope. It can mean rope, cord, or line…”

“…we are binding ourselves to God’s spoken word. His promises, and reality as He describes it. We have faith to join with Him in agreement about things we can’t yet see, but He can. That which is yet to come. This is hope. Binding ourselves to God’s spoken word and promise.” – One for Israel

Wow. Think on that a moment.

As I sat there just amazed by that, I turn on over to Psalm 148. My mind is absolutely blown! Now, check this: I read in this same Bible last year this same Psalm but didn’t catch what I’m about to tell you. This is why it’s so important to read over and over again, taking your time, studying, sitting with the Lord, communing with Him.

It says “praise” 12 times in Psalm 148. Friend, Psalm 148 is short. I looked up “praise” on the Blue Letter Bible where it tells me the Hebrew definition.

The first time the word “praise” is ever used in the Bible is Genesis 29:35. Leah says: “…now I will praise the Lord therefore she called his name Judah and left bearing.” Awesome side note is that Jesus is also known as the Lion of the tribe of Judah for He came through the lineage of Judah.

Now here it is:

Praise is thanksgiving and lifting our voice to the Lord to celebrate. Thanksgiving and praise naturally follow the acknowledgment or confession of benefits received.

Alrighty then, hmmmmm…I say to myself:

What is worship then, biblically, from the Hebrew meaning?

Worship is bowing down, literally. It means to sink, be depressed. Ya’ll, some of us out here being depressed and bowing to the wrong things!

Genesis 22:5 is the first instance of the word “worship”. The situation was Abraham and he said he was going to worship. It means physically getting down, to sink, to be depressed, to fall down on your knees and put your forehead to the ground. No spoiler alert here. Go look and see why he needed to worship.

Did you know that Jesus Himself said:

“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your mind.” – Matthew 22:37

The Greek word “dianoia” (the mind). It is saying that devotion to God involves rational thought, intellect, and reason alongside emotion and physical strength.

So where do we do that in these little brains of ours? I mean, literally they weigh like 3 lbs.

The forehead. The forehead is where the prefrontal cortex is located. This is also known as the executive function. This is where decision making occurs. When we are putting our foreheads down literally to the ground we are saying, in effect, I don’t have it all figured out, and I submit this to You, LORD! You, who finished what You start!

This truly convicted me! I thought of people that bow with such fervency to the wrong god, praying to a god that does not hear, and cannot save. How many times have I gotten down on my knees and placed my forehead to the ground to the One True God who does hear, does see, does answer, and did save and still saves people today? Until today, none. I don't recall ever in my walk with the LORD ever doing that.

My Aunt Joanna, who is our fellow Sister in the Lord, passed away years ago. Uncle Matt found her on her knees praying with her head to the ground. She had an aneurysm and she fell asleep in the Lord on her knees. WOW.

Interestingly enough, do you realize that in Matthew 4 Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil? Guess what happened? Watch.

“Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.

And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”

Did you catch that? FALL DOWN and WORSHIP. Did he say anything about praise? No. Worship? Yes.

Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”

I don’t know about you, Friend, but for me, it’s time to fall down, be depressed, sink down, press my forehead into the ground and worship