This week we’re using the PRAISE framework as a launch point to connect with God and worship him.
A tip of the hat to Darlene Fray for developing this framework and teaching it to our worship team.
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P – Proclaim (declare) truth
R – Renew our Mind, Refresh our Soul
A – Adoration
I – Intimacy & Intercession
S – Sanctification
E – Expectation (expect to meet with God)
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Today we’re looking at the letter R in the word Praise, and the R stands for Renew our Mind and Refresh Our Soul.
In the framework, our second step begins with renewing our minds.
Why? Because the world we live in is toxic to our worship of God. Because God knows how important protecting ourselves is to everything else we do:
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
Proverbs 4:23 NIV
Your mind is the battleground on which the war for your emotions, purpose, effectiveness, and fullness of life is won or lost. It’s your mind that is attacked daily by the enemy. It’s your mind that the world is trying to influence for its own benefit.
And it’s your mind that the Lord desires to renew daily in order for you to live in abundant relationship with him.
So if the mind truly is a battleground, how do you come out the winner? How do you come out victorious over Satan and his schemes?
Scripture tells us that to achieve victory over our mind it must be continually renewed by the power of God’s word:
Do not allow this world to mold you in its own image. Instead, be transformed from the inside out by renewing your mind. As a result, you will be able to discern what God wills and whatever God finds good, pleasing, and complete.
Romans 12:2 Voice
Fitting into the world’s image and plan is diametrically opposed to being transformed by the renewal of your mind. According to Scripture, there is no gray area.
And when our mind is renewed, what’s the result? The ability to discern God’s will, and know what God will find good, pleasing, and complete. In other words, it transforms our minds to a greater degree. And becoming more attuned to God’s will Refreshes our Souls.
Here’s the thing. Whether we choose to be molded to the world’s image or transformed into God’s image, they both unleash self-perpetuating motion to continue along the same path.
So choose Renewing your Mind. And enable Refreshing your Soul.
That’s worship.
–Pastor Steve.