I'm Going To Dance
5 Day Devotional
Day 1: The Value of True Praise
Devotional: When we think about praise, we often associate it with happy moments and celebrations. However, true praise goes far deeper than just expressing joy in good times. It's a reflection of how much we value God in our lives. Just like we naturally talk about things we're passionate about - whether it's our favorite sports team, a new hobby, or our loved ones - our praise for God should flow naturally from a heart that truly values Him. When we understand His worth in our lives, praise becomes less about obligation and more about genuine expression of love and gratitude.
Bible Verse: "And David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a priestly garment. So David and all the people of Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord with shouts of joy and the blowing of rams' horns." - 2 Samuel 6:14-15
Reflection Question: What does your pattern of praise reveal about how much you value God in your life?
Quote: "Praise and worship we offer to the Lord reflects the value we place on him, our life. If you don't value him much, you don't praise him much. You value him a lot. You really appreciate what he's done. You praise Him a lot."
Prayer: Lord, help me to see Your true worth in my life. Transform my understanding of praise from a mere activity to a genuine expression of my love for You. Let my heart overflow with authentic appreciation for who You are. Amen.
Devotional: When we think about praise, we often associate it with happy moments and celebrations. However, true praise goes far deeper than just expressing joy in good times. It's a reflection of how much we value God in our lives. Just like we naturally talk about things we're passionate about - whether it's our favorite sports team, a new hobby, or our loved ones - our praise for God should flow naturally from a heart that truly values Him. When we understand His worth in our lives, praise becomes less about obligation and more about genuine expression of love and gratitude.
Bible Verse: "And David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a priestly garment. So David and all the people of Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord with shouts of joy and the blowing of rams' horns." - 2 Samuel 6:14-15
Reflection Question: What does your pattern of praise reveal about how much you value God in your life?
Quote: "Praise and worship we offer to the Lord reflects the value we place on him, our life. If you don't value him much, you don't praise him much. You value him a lot. You really appreciate what he's done. You praise Him a lot."
Prayer: Lord, help me to see Your true worth in my life. Transform my understanding of praise from a mere activity to a genuine expression of my love for You. Let my heart overflow with authentic appreciation for who You are. Amen.
Day 2: Praise Through Sacrifice
Devotional: Life isn't always filled with mountain-top moments. Sometimes, we find ourselves in valleys where praise feels more like a sacrifice than a natural response. Yet, these are often the moments when our praise carries the most weight. When we choose to praise God despite our circumstances, we demonstrate a faith that goes beyond feelings. It's in these moments of sacrificial praise that we often experience the most profound spiritual breakthroughs.
Bible Verse: "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger." - Psalms 8:2
Reflection Question: What situations in your life right now require sacrificial praise, and how might your perspective change if you chose to praise God in spite of these circumstances?
Quote: "True praise emerges from both sacrifice during challenging times and gratitude for God's faithfulness. A sacrifice always precedes dancing. A sacrifice always precedes praise. And you know what comes after that? Dancing always follows deliverance."
Prayer: Father, give me strength to praise You even when it's difficult. Help me to see beyond my circumstances and focus on Your unchanging character. Let my sacrifice of praise become a testimony of Your faithfulness. Amen.
Devotional: Life isn't always filled with mountain-top moments. Sometimes, we find ourselves in valleys where praise feels more like a sacrifice than a natural response. Yet, these are often the moments when our praise carries the most weight. When we choose to praise God despite our circumstances, we demonstrate a faith that goes beyond feelings. It's in these moments of sacrificial praise that we often experience the most profound spiritual breakthroughs.
Bible Verse: "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger." - Psalms 8:2
Reflection Question: What situations in your life right now require sacrificial praise, and how might your perspective change if you chose to praise God in spite of these circumstances?
Quote: "True praise emerges from both sacrifice during challenging times and gratitude for God's faithfulness. A sacrifice always precedes dancing. A sacrifice always precedes praise. And you know what comes after that? Dancing always follows deliverance."
Prayer: Father, give me strength to praise You even when it's difficult. Help me to see beyond my circumstances and focus on Your unchanging character. Let my sacrifice of praise become a testimony of Your faithfulness. Amen.
Day 3: Breaking Free from Self-Consciousness
Devotional: Sometimes, our biggest barrier to authentic praise isn't our circumstances - it's our self-consciousness. We worry about what others might think or how we might appear. David, a king, danced before the Lord with all his might, unconcerned about maintaining a royal image. His example challenges us to break free from the constraints of self-consciousness and human opinion. True worship requires vulnerability and authenticity before God, regardless of who might be watching.
Bible Verse: "Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets." - 2 Samuel 6:14-15
Reflection Question: What holds you back from expressing praise freely, and how can you begin to overcome these barriers?
Quote: "Let go and let God, who cares what the person behind you, in front of you, next to you thinks."
Prayer: Dear God, free me from the fear of others' opinions. Give me the courage to worship You authentically, just as David did. Help me focus on You alone when I praise. Amen.
Devotional: Sometimes, our biggest barrier to authentic praise isn't our circumstances - it's our self-consciousness. We worry about what others might think or how we might appear. David, a king, danced before the Lord with all his might, unconcerned about maintaining a royal image. His example challenges us to break free from the constraints of self-consciousness and human opinion. True worship requires vulnerability and authenticity before God, regardless of who might be watching.
Bible Verse: "Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets." - 2 Samuel 6:14-15
Reflection Question: What holds you back from expressing praise freely, and how can you begin to overcome these barriers?
Quote: "Let go and let God, who cares what the person behind you, in front of you, next to you thinks."
Prayer: Dear God, free me from the fear of others' opinions. Give me the courage to worship You authentically, just as David did. Help me focus on You alone when I praise. Amen.
Day 4: The Power of Expressed Praise
Devotional: While we can worship God silently in our hearts, there's something powerful about expressed praise. When we vocalize our worship, we declare God's goodness not only to ourselves but to the world around us. Our expressed praise becomes a testimony that can encourage others and confuse the enemy. It's a public declaration of our private conviction, turning our internal gratitude into external influence.
Bible Verse: "After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: 'Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.'" - 2 Chronicles 20:21
Reflection Question: How might expressing your praise more openly impact both your own faith journey and those around you?
Quote: "Praise is saying, I want you to know publicly what I'm feeling privately."
Prayer: Lord, give me boldness to express my praise more openly. Let my worship be a testimony that encourages others and glorifies You. Help me to be unashamed in declaring Your goodness. Amen.
Devotional: While we can worship God silently in our hearts, there's something powerful about expressed praise. When we vocalize our worship, we declare God's goodness not only to ourselves but to the world around us. Our expressed praise becomes a testimony that can encourage others and confuse the enemy. It's a public declaration of our private conviction, turning our internal gratitude into external influence.
Bible Verse: "After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: 'Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.'" - 2 Chronicles 20:21
Reflection Question: How might expressing your praise more openly impact both your own faith journey and those around you?
Quote: "Praise is saying, I want you to know publicly what I'm feeling privately."
Prayer: Lord, give me boldness to express my praise more openly. Let my worship be a testimony that encourages others and glorifies You. Help me to be unashamed in declaring Your goodness. Amen.
Day 5: Praise as a Lifestyle
Devotional: Praise isn't meant to be just a Sunday morning activity or something we do only when we feel like it. It's meant to be a lifestyle - a constant attitude of gratitude and worship that permeates every aspect of our lives. Whether we're experiencing victories or facing challenges, praise should be our natural response. This kind of lifestyle praise transforms not just our own perspective but also influences our environment and relationships.
Bible Verse: "Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army." - 2 Chronicles 20:21
Reflection Question: What practical steps can you take to make praise a more consistent part of your daily life?
Quote: "Praise shouldn't be something we do. It should be who we are. You praise him when it's up, you praise him when it's down."
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me develop a lifestyle of praise. Let worship become as natural as breathing. Transform my daily routines into opportunities to honor and glorify You. Amen.
Devotional: Praise isn't meant to be just a Sunday morning activity or something we do only when we feel like it. It's meant to be a lifestyle - a constant attitude of gratitude and worship that permeates every aspect of our lives. Whether we're experiencing victories or facing challenges, praise should be our natural response. This kind of lifestyle praise transforms not just our own perspective but also influences our environment and relationships.
Bible Verse: "Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army." - 2 Chronicles 20:21
Reflection Question: What practical steps can you take to make praise a more consistent part of your daily life?
Quote: "Praise shouldn't be something we do. It should be who we are. You praise him when it's up, you praise him when it's down."
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me develop a lifestyle of praise. Let worship become as natural as breathing. Transform my daily routines into opportunities to honor and glorify You. Amen.
