Read Psalm 145:1-6

The first few verses of this beautiful psalm of praise by David show us 3 practical ways in which we can honor our Lord daily. Following these 3 steps will strengthen and enhance our walk with Jesus. They are:

Praise Him every day

“Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever” (vs 2)

There is so much to praise God for and we should be lifting our praise to Him every day. Let us start our day with praise and end it with praise! Let us praise Him as we walk the streets, as we sit at our desk and as we travel. Praise is contagious and soon others will follow your example.

Illustration – I remember a Christian leader saying that as he was traveling in the bus one day and enjoying the beautiful scenery around him, he couldn’t help humming the powerful hymn ‘How Great Thou Art’. The person seated next to him soon turned and said, ‘Feels so true doesn’t it’? A short while later, a few others in the bus started humming the great hymn! That’s the power of praise!

Have you praised God today? Read the rest of the Psalm (21 verses in all) and list down the many reasons David praised God ‘EVERY DAY’.

“My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord” (vs 21)

Meditate on His works

“I will meditate on your wonderful works” (vs 5b)

The works of God are revealed in His powerful Word. We also see them in creation, in our own lives and in the lives of others. Let us meditate on His Word and His works. Meditating on His Word and His works lifts our faith whenever a new challenge comes our way.

A preacher once mentioned that meditating on God’s Word can be compared to a cow ‘chewing the cud’. As the cow receives help with its digestion when it chews the cud, so we too can receive all the strength contained in God’s Word as we spend a few minutes or more, meditating on it. It is interesting to note that The Collins English Dictionary describes the term ‘chewing the cud’ as follows – ‘to reflect or think over something’.

“Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.” (Psalm 119:97)

Proclaim His Great Deeds

“.. I will proclaim your great deeds” (vs 6b)

What has God done for you recently? How did He bring you to salvation? Have you been telling others about His blessings to you? Have you been sharing them with your children? I rejoice in the fact that my 2 sons aged 12 and 10, love to hear my stories about God’s interventions in my life and ministry. In fact, they often ask for repeats!

“One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts” (vs 4).

Why should we proclaim God’s great deeds?  We need to do it “so that all men may know of your (God’s) mighty acts” (vs 12).

Last week, at our midweek service, I was praying at the altar with a young man over a burden he was carrying in a very personal area of his life. As I shared my own testimony in that particular area of life and how God came through for me, his eyes lit up and he shouted, ‘Yes, I now believe God can do it for me too”!

There is power in proclaiming ‘His great deeds’, more so, when we tell people about His mighty ‘saving grace’ in our lives! They just might want what you have!

Prayer: Lord help me to honor you every day by praising you, meditating on your works and by proclaiming your great deeds. Amen.

By Palitha Jayasooriya
Used by Permission

Further Reading

•  Who is On the Lord’s Side – by Deborah Yemi-Oladayo

•  Called to Praise – by Laura Rath

•  Salvation Explained

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“‘Then He said to them, ‘Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.’” Luke 22:46 (NKJV)

It is much easier to sleep than to stay awake and pray. Haven’t we all put our head on the pillow with thoughts to pray and have quickly fallen asleep? Especially in the face of trying circumstances, our minds and bodies tire and prayer seems optional.

Prayer was Jesus’ solace and strength as He faced the great drama of His dreadful suffering. Being in great agony, He prayed all the more earnestly. His heart cried out to His Father in Heaven. He knew the Source of His strength and the power of prayer.

He had asked His followers to pray with Him in the Garden of Gethsemane, yet they fell asleep, exhausted and in sorrow. When Jesus found them sleeping, He called to them: “Rise up and pray, lest you enter into temptation.” It was not a reprimand from their loving Lord, but rather a warning.

Rise up and pray so that you can rise up with strength in the circumstances surrounding you today.

In ordinary days or in difficult and challenging times, prayer is our strength. If we neglect prayer, then the strength we need to rise above the circumstances of the moment will fade when it is most needed.

Father God, it is easy to neglect prayer. Please forgive me for the times I have treated it too casually. Thank You that You draw me into times in Your presence where I can receive strength from You. Help me to take time to listen for Your wisdom, to read Your word and to let Your Spirit speak to my heart and strengthen my mind, body, and spirit. May prayer be my solace, my comfort, and my desire as I draw near to You to be fortified to rise above the challenges of my day. I pray this in the strong name of Jesus, amen.

By Gail Rodgers
Used by Permission

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“Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go get something to eat and drink, for I hear a mighty rainstorm coming!” So Ahab went to eat and drink. But Elijah climbed to the top of Mount Carmel and bowed low to the ground and prayed with his face between his knees. Then he said to his servant, “Go and look out toward the sea.” The servant went and looked, then returned to Elijah and said, “I didn’t see anything.” Seven times Elijah told him to go and look. Finally the seventh time, his servant told him, “I saw a little cloud about the size of a man’s hand rising from the sea.”  1 Kings 18:41-44(NLT)

I want to encourage those that are on the verge of giving up and throwing in the towel. Lately it seems as though nothing has changed. You have prayed fervently. Asking, seeking, and knocking, but no response. Don’t give up yet, God says look again.

Elijah prayed fervently for rain after a 3 year drought. He sent his servant to look for rain as he prayed. He saw nothing. Elijah said look again. The servant returned seven times, awaiting the expected rain. On the seventh time he reported seeing a cloud the shape of a man’s hand.

I say to you today, look again. If you don’t see anything immediately, keep looking; just as the servant did. Keep asking. Keep seeking. Keep knocking. Do not allow what you see in the natural to overrule what the Lord is doing behind the scenes. The Lord will reward your persistence. If you do not faint, you shall see the manifestation of the Lord. Remain steadfast and unmovable. Do not stagger at the Lord’s promises. He is at work on your behalf, even now. Look again; your breakthrough is on the horizon!

Father I lift up those that have been struggling in their relationships, health, finances, and life in general. I ask that you will infuse them with inner strength. Father, they have been holding on so long for things to change. I ask that you begin to show them a glimpse of your goodness. Lord continue to strengthen and develop them during this process. Increase their faith. May your grace and peace rest upon them as you wrap them in your loving arms. We graciously await your response Lord. In Jesus name Amen.

By Mary Pinckney
Used by Permission.  Revised August 2014

RELATED READING

Never Give Up by Helen Lescheid

Never Give Up by Roy Lessin

Never Give Up by John Grant

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Prayer

Lord, I thank You that believers are receivers and that You are the giver of every good and perfect gift. I thank You that through believing I receive Jesus, salvation, peace, joy, answered prayer, and the power to live a life that pleases You.

Lord, make me a believer who continues to believe, a follower who continues to follow, and a servant who continues to serve. May my belief and trust in You never become a thing of the past. May I never look back or refer to my walk of faith as the “Good old days.” Keep me ever growing, ever moving on in You, ever pressing into Your heart…move me from faith to faith and glory to glory.

May I be a believer who believes Your word and trusts it; who sees Your path and follows it; who knows Your strength and counts upon it; who hears Your voice and follows it; who leans upon You and never pulls away.

Lord, when I obey You, may it be with the belief that Your ways are best; when I worship You, may it be with the belief that You are wholly worthy; when I obey You, may it be with the belief that You will never fail. Help me, Father, not to partially believe, but to fully believe; not to occasionally believe, but to consistently believe; not to reluctantly believe, but to enthusiastically believe.

I pray that what I confess with my mouth will be in agreement with what I believe in my heart. I ask that my life will be a daily witness to the world that I am a believer in your Son, Jesus Christ.

Scriptures: Acts 16:31, 27:25, Matthew 21:22, John 6:29, 11:10, 14:1, 20:31,  Romans 10:9-10, 15:13, Ephesians 1:19, 1 Peter 1:8

by Roy Lessin
used by permission

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A Prayer for Inner Peace and Joy

Prayer for Power

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‘Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:13

When I saw the caller ID on my cell phone as the ‘Capitol Police’, of course I answered.  “Mr. Grant, this is Sergeant Walker, and I am holding your driver’s license in my hand.” “No,” I said, “that couldn’t be“.   I knew it was in my money clip, but when I looked, sure enough, it was missing. He told me which entrance to the capitol he was calling from and I told him I would be right there.

I still don’t know how it slipped out of my pocket, but the bigger mystery was how they found out my cell phone number, so I asked. Sergeant Walker who responded by telling me that they have a gigantic computer that probably has more information about me than I know about myself. Scary, isn’t?

As I walked down the hall, those words ‘more than I know about myself‘ kept ringing in my ears. There’s a spiritual parallel here. God knows me better than I could ever know myself. He loves me and created me even knowing everything that I would ever do. God knows me completely inside and out.  He knows every detail, far beyond my ability to understand.

Everyone has some knowledge, but only God has all knowledge. Everyone is present somewhere at any given moment, but only God can be present absolutely everywhere at every given moment.  Every person has some power, but only God has unlimited power.

He knows all about us just as the painter knows his painting. Psalm 139 is so clear as the author celebrates God’s perfect knowledge of man’s thoughts and actions, and the reason of this wonderful knowledge, namely, that God is the Maker of man… He knows me! Nothing I say or do or go or think can be hidden from Him.

David lays down this great doctrine in Psalm 139, that the God with whom we serve has a perfect knowledge of us, and that all the motions and actions both of our inward and of our outward man are naked and open before Him.

Now, that’s a word picture if ever I have heard one – naked before God. So maybe I need to be a little more careful what I think, say or do, because God knows and sees it all.
(a thought on life from John Grant)

by John Grant
John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney

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“In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.”  Isaiah 30:15b 

Have you ever just sat silent and still for a little while, with quietness wrapped around you like a comforting favorite blanket? If you have, you know the stillness can become a moment that invokes an atmosphere of peace.

How did that happen? Well, the world slowed down because you slowed down. Calm had a chance to breathe.

When I sit still and silent, I close my eyes and breathe deeply this gift of serenity, for just a little while.

Sometimes we all need a little time to truly catch our breath …

Just for a little while, we need quiet, peaceful moments to hear ourselves think the deep thoughts—thoughts that compete for our attention but stay hidden in the shadows, because they have been crowded out by our busyness.

But for a little while savor your deep thoughts and listen to what your heart wants you to hear.

You know the thoughts I’m talking about. Maybe a prayer for someone. Maybe an idea, a dream, a hope you have felt stirring. Maybe letting go of piled-up stress that needs to be exhaled and released. Maybe acknowledging God’s nearness and drawing close to him.

Don’t pick that phone up again. The call can wait. This is a moment for stillness. The innermost part of your heart is trying to tell you something. You need this. From time to time, we all need this. 

We need to give ourselves permission to savor quiet, restful moments.

They will refresh you. They will remind you who you are. You will have a new outlook on life and all that is going on around you.

All you have to do is be still … for a little while.

By Kathy Cheek
Used by Permission

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When Silence is More Than Being Quiet

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Am I Quiet?

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“In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters and he lives in all of us.” Colossians 3:11 (NLT)

We all like to be treated like someone special. I guess it’s a natural human trait. Maybe we like a little extra care, or perhaps we want to impress others and create the image that we are just a little bit better.

In the past few years it seemed that I was in the air more than I was on the ground. It seemed like I was traveling somewhere nearly every week, often internationally and I began to really rack up the miles. First I became a silver, then a gold and finally a platinum flyer. With that came prior boarding, complimentary upgrades and lots of other perks.

I must admit that I got spoiled. Flying first class over the Pacific or the Atlantic is a nice experience, especially when you are going for a one or two day meeting and heading right back home.

Now, my schedule has changed and I rarely fly internationally and not nearly as much domestically either. Recently I was on a flight and when they called for pre-boarding for the “elite” flyers, I naturally walked to the gate only to find out that I was in “Zone 4.” By the time I got on board and settled in my narrow coach seat, the overhead space was gone and no came to ask me to step up to first class. I was lucky to get a bag of peanuts and a glass of bottled water. What a shock.

I had to realize that my elite status was but for a season and when all was said and done, I was just one of the crowd.

Have you ever met a self proclaimed “elite” Christian. They are the ones who think that because of the office they hold in the church or the class they teach, they are better than everyone else. Many devotedly religious people who think they are saved aren’t. Their elitism exudes spiritual deception. They fail to examine themselves or think they are “in” because their good deeds outweigh their bad ones.

The church at Colossi apparently had some of these elite problems because Paul wrote to them saying it matters not what you are but rather whose you are. He said Christ is all that matters and He lives in all of us.

Ever think you are better than others …… consider yourself as an “elite” Christian? Remember that the ground is level at the foot of the cross.
(a thought on life from John Grant)

by John Grant
used by permission
John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney

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FURTHER READING

More Than Euphoria

Choosing the Uncommon Life

The Church is for Sinners, Not Saints

The post Warning against Elite Christianity appeared first on Thoughts About God.

“ . . . for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” Hebrews 13:5b

Abandonment is a common issue in this world. Maybe you have experienced it yourself.

Your spouse may have decided to leave you when life became tough, but God says he will stick with you no matter how hard it gets. Your family members may have been pushed to the limit and have had enough of you, but God doesn’t feel that way about his children.

Regardless of whether you feel abandoned or not, take time to develop your relationship with the Lord. When you take baby steps toward relying on him as your source of comfort, you will find that the comfort provided by people pales in comparison.

Even for those who have ever experienced abandonment, developing your relationship with God will help you be well equipped if the time comes. You won’t act as disappointed and hurt as one who has not known the unending love of God.

His love is unconditional and the deepest love you will ever experience. You can’t compare it to the love that your family members, spouse, or anyone else has given you. In fact, it exceeds any human love you’ve ever experienced.

God reminds us that he will always be with us both in good times and bad times. We may try his patience with our sinful selves on a daily basis, but he is patient and faithful, continuing to care for us anyway.

Why not take comfort in this promise of God to never leave you or forsake you? Love others and let them love you, but love God first and embrace his eternal love as your joy.

Dear Lord, please give me the ability to rely on you as my sole source of joy and comfort. Thank you for not abandoning me. Amen.

By Ashlea Massie
Used by Permission

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Never Abandoned

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“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men…” Ecclesiastes 3:11

Restlessness is not always a bad thing. The sense that there is something better somewhere, that the grass is greener elsewhere, is part of the eternal call of God on our hearts.

As believers we know that we are just passing through this world. Our restless spirit is often the call to focus on more eternal things.

Faith is the steadfast refusal to seek ultimate things – ultimate pleasure, ultimate fulfillment, ultimate purpose, ultimate understanding – where God has not laid them. (The Rest of God Chapter 14 by Mark Buchanan)

We know God calls us to a greater value system, to His ultimate purposes for us. Let that realization anchor your heart with hope.

Rest is mixed with restlessness. Vacations are always too short and sometimes less than ideal. Dream homes have problems. Good health is hard to maintain and can be snatched away suddenly by mishap or stray virus. Community is fragile and even amid close friends we can feel a little lonely.

Today find delight in the rich things that the Lord has blessed your life with. And know that when they cannot satisfy you entirely, it is His call upon your heart to look upward. Look homeward to Him and know that the richest treasures are not kept in an earthly bank. Find time to be in His presence where true rest is found.

Heavenly Father, Today I ask You to train my restlessness in Your ways and help me find the deep treasures of Your Kingdom as I walk. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

Thought: Pay attention today to any restlessness within you and use it to train your heart and mind to look beyond to the source of real rest in His presence.

By Gail Rodgers
Used by Permission

restles

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“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love and fit into his plan.”  Romans 8:28

Our son and his family were coming from Northern Alberta to spend a week with us. Four of those days the whole family (all 17 of us) were going to vacation at a resort at Whistler Mountain for a family time. We were looking forward to the activities together: cousins playing together, hiking, bike riding and shopping. Mostly we were looking forward to the time together at the end of the day spent eating and talking.

It was a time of celebration. A new grandson, one grandchild turned 18, one couple was celebrating their 25th anniversary and Marvin and I were celebrating our 65th birthdays.

But the day after our son and his family arrived, Sarah, their four-year-old daughter, fell while getting off the trampoline and broke her arm. So the first day of their vacation was spent at the hospital. After that, her activities were very limited but the older cousins did a very good job at thinking of ways to entertain her.

The same day, I was hit with a bad case of vertigo. Because of the extreme dizziness I was flat in bed for eight hours while the rest of the family was running around helping. My daughter had to help me walk to the bed and my husband had to hang on to me when I went to the bathroom.

But I could pray and praise. So I did. I prayed all afternoon and listened to praise music. I had a wonderful time with the Lord. I was just where God wanted me. By evening the medication began to work and I was able to walk in a straight line again.

Some days just don’t turn out the way we plan. God interrupts! And then we have a choice: to accept what He brings our way and be thankful or worry and grouch our way through life and make everyone miserable. Praising is much more satisfactory!

Lord, help us to accept the things we cannot change. Give us the strength to change the things we can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

By Katherine Kehler
Used by Permission

Further Reading

•  Today with the Lord 
•  A Poem of Hope …”I feel the arms of God around me”

Learn more about knowing Jesus at: https://thoughtsaboutgod.com/four-laws/

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