30 Days of Thanks & Praise! - Day #10 – An Attitude of Gratitude (Psalm 100:4)
Psalm 100:4, “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” As the Old Testament people of God entered the Temple, they were instructed to do so with thanksgiving. To this day, one of the besetting sins of God’s people is a lack of thanksgiving to God. Such ought always be a part of our prayer life. We are to enter into his courts with praise. As we come into the presence of the Lord, it is to be with praise. As Old Testament Israel entered the Tabernacle/Temple, they were to do so with songs of praise upon their lips. As we come into the presence of the Lord in prayer today, we ought always do so with praise to our God. It is universal and eternal. Be thankful unto him, and bless his name. The importance of thanksgiving to God is emphasized by it being repeated again. We are to bless His name. The condition of our heart should be of great concern, because what comes out of it is going to determine how we live and act. If it is tender, we will be tender. If it is hard and cold, we will tend to be this way with people. The Bible teaches that we are the one that determines the condition of our heart. We are responsible for our attitude. The choices we make can harden us or keep us yielded to God. Hebrews 3:15, “While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.” We are not to harden our hearts as God's people did in the days when they rebelled and provoked the Lord. Hebrews 4:7, “Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.” When the Lord speaks to us, we are not to harden our heart against Him. God's people were to enter God's courts with thanksgiving and praise. He invites us to fellowship with Him. If you are not close to the Lord, it's not God's fault. He is ever inviting us to be close to Him. He does not force Himself upon us. He wants us to make the choice to come to Him. He holds out His hand, but we must take it. In spite of all the corruption that was going on in Israel, Isaiah mentions six times that God's hand was stretched out to His people (Isaiah 5:25; 9:12, 17, 21; 10:4; 14:27). An attitude of gratitude leads to singing, serving, submission, striding to the place of worship, and speaking forth in praise to the Lord. If you want to keep your sinfulness in check and off of your back, then be grateful for what God has done for you. When you praise God, all the world can do is listen in wonder. In 1988, the Los Angeles Dodgers won the National League Championship and the World Series. The Dodgers had a great pitcher by the name of Orel Hersheiser, a mild-looking young man whose nickname was "Bulldog" because of his fierce competitiveness. In 1988, Hersheiser won about every award a pitcher can. He pitched 63 consecutive scoreless innings, still a record. In the World Series, he started and won several games. Orel Hersheiser was the Most Valuable Player and the toast of the baseball world. He was a guest on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Johnny Carson was interviewing him and asked how he, Hersheiser, seemed to stay so calm, steady, and focused in those incredibly tense, pressured situations out there on the pitcher's mound, alone, with 50,000 screaming fans and millions of people watching on television. Hersheiser's answer stunned Carson. "I sing a hymn," Hersheiser said. "I sing a hymn to myself out there that we sing every Sunday in church." Carson was momentarily speechless and caught a bit off guard and then asked if Hersheiser would sing it—on NBC-TV—and he did! Amen! Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Johnny Carson said later he was moved when Orel began to sing this song. In fact, he chose this taped segment to conclude his prime-time 27th anniversary television special of the Tonight Show. When we have a praising and grateful spirit for the Lord, He has a way of putting us in situations where people will hear our praise. “So much has been given to me that I have no time to ponder that which I don't have.”—Helen Keller “Giving thanks is not a matter of feeling thankful, it is a matter of obedience.”—Joni Erickson Tada (She is quadriplegic.) “The pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts—nevertheless, [they] set aside a day of thanksgiving.”—H. W. Westermeyer “Gratitude is an offering precious in the sight of God, and it is one that the poorest of us can make and be not poorer but richer for having made it.”—Unknown “Giving thanks is too often demoted to a secondary place in the prayers of Christ’s people. We are quick to make our requests and slow to thank God for His answers. Because God so often answers our prayers, we come to expect it. We forget that it is only by His grace that we receive anything from Him.”—Unknown God wants us to be grateful for all the things He has done for us. When we are ungrateful, we demonstrate our immaturity. A spirit of ingratitude is the first step toward apostasy. There may be times when you may need to offer loving, tender, constructive criticism. Immaturity, however, is demonstrated when you constantly and hatefully complain instead of compliment; when you demand instead of delivering love and thankfulness for what is done for you. We can be this way with our parents, pastor, teachers, neighbors, family members, and so on. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com
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30 Days of Thanks & Praise - Day #9 - A Great Sinner and A Great Saviour (Romans 5:20)
Romans 5:20, “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound…” The word “abounded” that Paul uses to describe this abundance of sin means more. It refer to something that exists in abundance. This describes an abundance that is growing larger and more expansive with the passing of time. This proves that sin is never stagnant but continually grows, increases, and expands. This describes the growing nature of unrestrained sin. Paul added, “…where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” The words “much more abound” describes something that is growing out of measure, beyond proportion, and out of its banks to a far-stretched extreme. It is like a giant river that is being flooded with waters from upstream. Those waters are coming downstream so fast that the river can no longer hold the raging current in its banks. Its water rises, rises, and rises until it finally begins pouring out of its banks and begins to flood everything in sight. This is exactly the idea when Paul writes, “…grace did much more abound”. John Newton lived a wicked life until he met Christ as Saviour. He had previously been a captain of slave ships and was an investor in the slave trade. He served as a sailor in the Royal Navy (after forced recruitment) and was himself enslaved for a time in West Africa. He is noted for being author of the hymn Amazing Grace. After his salvation he spent the rest of his days promoting and living by the grace of God. Those famous words in the iconic hymn reveal the attitude and disposition Newton had toward God’s unmerited favor: “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me…”. Those words would summarize the entire scope of his life. On his death bed, Newton told his loved ones, “My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things: That I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior.” Indeed, we are all great sinners. Our nature, our decisions, our birth, our attitudes, our mind, and our flesh are sinful to the core. We may think we are “good” and “decent” beings, but the Bible says no one is good, not one. We have all fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:10, 23). All have gone astray; there is not one person who is righteous enough to be accepted of God. We are great sinners. But in the same breath, we delightfully see that Christ is a great Saviour. His nature, His decisions, His birth, His attitude, His mind, and His flesh was holy, righteous, and acceptable unto God. His death secures our birth. His cross secures our life. His resurrection secures our glory. No wonder Newton died with those words upon his lips; we are all great sinners, but thankfully, we have a great Saviour! If we forget where we were and where we were headed before God saved us, we will not be as grateful as we should be. The very best that we are able to do on our own is disgustingly filthy in His eyes because it is measured against His perfect holiness. Isaiah 64:6, “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” In order to have the proper gratitude toward God for His salvation, we must never forget that we were once wretched sinners with no hope apart from His grace. During Newtons days of slave trading from the coasts of Africa to Europe, the slaves who died on the voyage were thrown overboard. It is said that the sharks still swim the same route today that Newton and other salve traders used centuries ago because they fed from the dead souls cast overboard. Newton did not write Amazing Grace in the beginning but when he was much older when he could understand the grace of God deeper. I, too, can say that the older I get, and the more mature I grow in the Lord, the more I can understand the grace of God and am amazed that a Great Saviour could ever love a great sinner like me. Jesus is able to say to us in our trouble, “believe in God; believe also in me” and, “be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 14:1; 16:33). We who believe in him have every reason to “be ye thankful” (Colossians 3:15). For an empty cross and empty tomb speak this to us:
PRAYER: Father, thank You for all that You have done for me. I am so grateful! Thank You for Your grace, Your mercy and Your love. Thank You that I can trust my life to You! In Jesus' name. Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com 30 Days of Thanks & Praise - Day #8 - Sacrifice of Praise (Hebrews 13:14-16)
Hebrews 13:14–16, “For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” What could you give to God that would express your gratitude and convey honor to Him? Hebrews 13 suggests the “sacrifice of praise”. All throughout Scripture we see people offer this sacrifice to God. Job worshipped God when he had nothing (Job 1:20–21). The book of Psalms chronicles David’s praise in both the good times and the bad. Mary expressed praise when she learned she was to be the mother of Christ (Luke 1:46–55). And one man from the group of ten lepers Jesus healed offered thanks and praise (Luke 17:15–16). From these testimonies, we see that our sacrifice of praise should be continual—not contingent on our mood or current circumstances. “Sacrifice” here is used symbolically to represent an offering to God. Our very lives should be “as living sacrifices, holy, acceptable and well pleasing to God” (Romans 12:2; Philippians 4:18). That is the only sacrifice God now requires of his people. This sacrifice is not just songs of worship or other verbal expressions of praise offered up to God during a worship service in church. While that is a good thing, in truth this setting is where people are gathered specifically for that very reason. The place where praise and worship truly become a sacrifice is outside of the church, where Christians must show their devotion to God and live in a way that truly brings honor and praise to God in all they say and do. A. W. Tozer said, “Gratitude is an offering precious in the sight of God, and it is one that the poorest of us can make and be not poorer but richer for having made it.” Even in times when we do not have as much as others in the way of material blessings, we still have so much for which to be thankful. And when we purposefully give thanks to God, that sacrifice of our heart is pleasing to Him. Finding something to be thankful for in everything is certainly a step above having only random grateful thoughts. But there is still plenty of room for developing a deeply thankful heart. Here’s what you’re going for: graduate school thankfulness. Ephesians 5:20, “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” No matter what’s happening, no matter how dark the moment, God is in control. He can be explicitly trusted. He’s working out a purpose beyond what you can imagine. Some of it you’ll see in this life; some of it you’ll see in the life to come. Give thanks to God— always for all things! Thank Him for the hardest part of your life. Just say, “Thank You, God, even for this”, and trust in His steadfast love which endures forever. Sometimes people have a tendency to feel sorry for themselves and think that things are not going well for them. When we focus on our circumstances and lose sight of God's promises, then we are setting ourselves up for discouragement and disappointment. As Christians, we have been blessed beyond measure and we have so much to be thankful for in Jesus. We need to analyze what we have in Jesus and realize that the world has nothing that can compare and it never will. When I think of all that God has done for me, the privilege of serving Him and the great family and friends that I have, I consider myself a rich man indeed. Never allow the standards of this world to be the guide by which you gauge things. They do not have any equipment that can accurately assess life beyond this world, but we do in the Word of God. Take a close look and consider the real blessings of the Lord! Be thankful for all the things He has given you. Praise Him for your health, your family, your financial blessings, your church, and so on. Never take them for granted. But learn to be more thankful for those things which you can never lose! Learn to be thankful for those things that cannot change! When all the physical blessings have faded and when you can find no reason for praise in them, thank the Lord that there are some things that will never change! In these things, you have an unchanging reason for eternal thanksgiving! Come before Him right now and just thank Him for Who He is and for what He has given you! Prayer, When I say “Thank You,” Lord, help me pause long enough to really mean what I’m saying. Help the attitude that should trigger those words be a more constant part of my character. Show me where I’m most lacking in gratitude, and give me strength to give You authentic thanks for those trying places. Please guide me into a continual practice of thanksgiving, Lord. And I will be forever grateful, in Jesus’ name, amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com 30 Days of Thanks & Praise! - Day #7 – God Keeps His Promises (II Peter 1:4)
II Peter 1:4, “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” An elderly Christian lay on his death bed and called for the pastor. As the man of God entered into the room, the dying man said, “Preacher, all of my life I have relied on the promises of God, but now, in the hour of my death, I cannot recall one promise by which I lived.” The pastor took the man by the hand and said, “Dear brother, it may very well be that we forget the promises of God. But the One who made the promise has no trouble at all remembering what He said.” It is true. God keeps His promises regardless of our ability to remember or embrace them. The apostle Peter said it this way, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward” (I Peter 3:9). As children of God, on any given day, we receive promises, many to which we did not even ask. The Lord fulfills His promises out of love and desire to provide for our needs. Often we do not know what is best for our lives; at times, we do not know what to ask for. But regardless, we are recipients of His care and provision. Therefore, don’t be dismayed. The Lord knows what is best for our life, and He is weaving His promises through every situation. We may forget to claim them, but He never forgets to keep them. As we come to know and understand the Word of God accurately, there unfolds unto us great and precious promises. In other words there are mega promises hidden for us in His Word as we become familiar with it. Due to this truth, this should encourage the believer to take out their spiritual shovels and begin exploring by digging deep for His riches in the Bible. The Bible is full of promises which give us insight and help in the issues of life. These promises are called precious. It is used by Peter several times where he speaks of our “precious faith” (I Peter 1:7; II Peter 1:1), Christ’s “precious blood” (I Peter 1:19), and here, “precious promises.” If you feel overwhelmed or insufficient today, I challenge you to identify a promise from God’s Word—and claim it! When we stand on the promises of God, we stand on solid ground. Do you ever feel inadequate for the demands of the day? I do—every day! The longer I serve the Lord, the more I recognize my need for His power. Also, the longer I serve Him, the more I recognize my need to trust His power. Through God’s Word, He has given us “exceeding great and precious promises” (II Peter 1:4). But we often trust our fears and our feelings more than we trust His Word. In many cases, our thinking runs directly opposite from God’s promises. We say: God says: I can’t figure things out. I will direct your steps. (Proverbs 3:6) I’m too tired. I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28–30) It’s impossible. All things are possible with Me (Matthew 19:26) I don’t have enough faith. I have given everyone a measure of faith. (Romans 12:3) It’s not worth it. It will be worth it. (Galatians 6:9; Titus 2:13) I can’t go on. My grace is sufficient for you. (II Corinthians 12:9) I can’t do it. You can do all things through Me. (Philippians 4:13) I can’t manage. I will supply all your needs. (Philippians 4:19) I’m afraid. I have not given you a spirit of fear. (II Timothy 1:7) I’m not able I am able. (II Timothy 1:12) I’m always worried. Cast your cares upon Me. (I Peter 5:7; Philippians 4:6) I feel all alone. I will never leave you nor forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5) I’m not smart enough. I give you wisdom. (James 1:5) Which of God’s promises are precious to you? Which ones are you storing up in your heart and mind to carry with you into the future? Perhaps you should start a list of God’s promises as you read His Word. Make it your intention to believe His promises are precious and very great. Then commit to start knowing them by heart. Then you'll be ready to hang on to them through whatever challenge comes next. What five promises of God can you write down right now? How did each of them become memorable to you? Where are you tracking how God is keeping His promises? If you aren’t, how will you put that into practice? God's love never fails and His promises never cease. We can always trust what God says, no matter what may be going on around us. Thank Him today for His promises to you. PRAYER: LORD, we thank You already for what You are going to do for us. For Your Son’s promise to always be with us. Thank You for the confidence to face the uncertainties of the year ahead because I can have confidence in You. We commit ourselves anew to believe Your Word and to listen to Your Spirit’s prompting. Your promises are precious and I thank You for making them available so I can lean on them and rest in them every day. Once Your Presence and Your Promises are presented to us, our lives cannot be the same. Without You we can do nothing. LORD, abide in us. In the power of Jesus name, Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com 30 Days of Thanks & Praise! - Day #6 – The Joy of Finishing Strong (II Timothy 4:6-8)
II Timothy 4:6-8, “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” Here we have the dying words of an old soldier. Without reservation Paul says, “I am now ready to be offered”. This wording takes us back to the Old Testament practice of pouring out wine upon certain sacrificial offerings. Paul viewed his martyrdom and the shedding of his blood as an offering poured out to God. Paul had lived for Christ and now he was willing to die for Him. Our challenge is not merely to fight, but to fight a good fight. The word good speaks of that which is "worthy, honorable, noble, and commendable." He fought for things of eternal value. He fought for sound doctrine. He fought to see souls saved, Christians discipled, and churches planted. The Apostle Paul did not have a great start in Scripture. He came upon the biblical scene as a zealot whose ministerial ambition was to destroy the church of Jesus Christ. However, upon his conversion, he became the chief advocate of the very church he once sought to destroy. In the closing chapter of his life, he wrote in II Timothy 4:6-7, “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” Paul had a lousy start, but a great finish. In those closing remarks, Paul mentioned a man by the name of Demas. Demas was a co-laborer in the work of the Lord. Demas started out strong in the Lord but failed to stay on course. Paul wrote of this man in II Timothy 4:10, “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica.” Demas had a great start, but a lousy finish. Somewhere in the journey, Demas became mesmerized and distracted by the world around him. He took his eyes off the eternal, and placed them on the temporal. As a result, he will forever be remembered as a man who finished poorly. Consistency is the key to crossing the finish line in good standing with God. I’ve been around long enough to know some men and women whose lives were totally sold out to God a few years ago but who have since walked off the track in the middle of the race. They’ve given up. They’ve lost their longing for God and all that He is. The possibility is real for all of us unless we allow our hearts to be completely gripped by God. The faithfulness of my walk with God in the next year and the next decades depends on my willingness to stay in relationship with Him. Every one of us needs a reason to live, a compelling cause and purpose that keeps us going when we would rather quit. The truth is that we all face obstacles that hinder us and make life difficult. Some people allow those obstacles to stop them. Others overcome. The difference is not in the obstacles, but in the determination and drive of the person who faces the obstacles. The passion and purpose of every believer should be to glorify God and bring others to Him. If that is our purpose, then nothing will stop us from continuing on the right course. Many people start well, but they are always looking back. It you keep looking back, you will eventually fall back. Paul finished his course because his heart was set on finishing. When Paul faced the threat of imprisonment or even death for preaching, he said, “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24). His purpose for life was so compelling that it drove him to overcome and finish the course which God had laid out for Him. May that be true of each of us. What kind of epitaph will men place on your headstone? Regardless of what you and I may say about our lives, or what others may write about us when we are no more, God has the final word! At the end of your life, will you be able to look back and say, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith”? You can! Perhaps you wandered in here and you are lost today. Let me just remind you that you can only get to Heaven if you know Jesus Christ. If you have never been saved, please come to the Lord today and call upon Him by faith. He will save your soul if you will come to Him. PRAYER: Lord, I don’t know if I have minutes, days, or years ahead of me, but I realize I need to be ready to cross the line. Whenever my time comes, I want to be found faithful. I want to run this race with endurance for Your glory. Help me to keep close to Your Son and help me keep the faith. I confess how desperately I need Your strength in the fight. Urge me on to cross the finish line and break the tape, accelerating with joy! In Jesus’ worthy name I pray, amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com 30 Days of Thanks & Praise! - Day #5 – One Day in God’s House (Psalm 84:10)
Psalm 84:10, “For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.” The psalmist declared in Psalm 84:10, “For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.” Just for a moment, consider the magnitude of that statement. One day versus one thousand days. One thousand days almost equates to three years. So in essence, the psalmist implies that one day in the house of God is better than three years somewhere else…anywhere else. Think of the lush beaches of Hawaii. Consider the majestic beauty of the Rocky Mountains. What about the subtle serenity of the Smokies? Think of palaces, castles, mansions, and coliseums. None of these places compare to the incomparable glory of the presence of God! The courts are God's courts and represent His presence. A day in his presence is better than a 1000 days in anyone else's. If you could spend a thousand days with some important politician or entertainment figure, you would be very excited at the opportunity. The prestige that comes from being with a famous person would be great. But the Scripture says a day with God is better than 1000 days with anyone else. The psalmist was so mesmerized and infatuated with God’s House that he succumbed to the notion, “I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.” He would rather be a lowly servant in God’s House fulfilling a menial task than to sit among the world’s elite in places of luxury. David Livingstone said, “I'd rather be in the heart of Africa in the will of God, than on the throne of England, out of the will of God.” Spurgeon wrote, “To feel his love, to rejoice in the person of the anointed Saviour, to survey the promises and feel the power of the Holy Ghost in applying precious truth to the soul, is a joy which worldlings cannot understand, but which true believers are ravished with.” A doorkeeper at God’s house was the lowest position assigned to the Levites. Likely, the youngest Levites with the least seniority were assigned this humble task. There was no glory in standing guard at the doors of the Tabernacle. The tents of wickedness undoubtedly refer to the places of sinful entertainment—the nightlife of that day, the haunts of the high rollers, the resorts of the rich and famous. God’s worst is better than the devil’s best. The psalmist pleads guilty to desiring only the humblest service in God’s house rather than the posh pleasures of the elite. Indeed, there is no greater job than in serving the King of kings. Even the lowest level of His service is higher than anything the world has to offer. This psalm describes people who are so devoted to God that they desire above everything else to be in God’s house to experience God’s nearness, to worship Him with other faithful believers. In a day when Christians frequently skip church to pursue recreation, I wonder how many could honestly say that one day of gathering with God’s people to worship Him is better than a thousand days of other leisure activities? The psalmist enjoyed the company of God’s people greater than anything that the world had to offer. If we can’t join him in these feelings, maybe we need to re-examine our values! It is certain that we can worship and serve God outside of the walls of His House (and indeed we should). However, there is something gratifying about approaching our designated places of worship. What you find at God’s House you find nowhere else. If you are dedicated to the Lord, you will know what is good, best and better. You will have a good sense of values and will show it especially in the spiritual sphere. You will know what is important and what is not. The world will not help us here. It has a very distorted sense of values. It will sacrifice eternity upon the altar of time. When we have a poor perspective or sense of values, we will spend on what is worthless and will not spend for that which is of great value. Such a practice, when it is in the spiritual area of our life, is to invite eternal disaster. The better the dedication to the Lord the better the priorities and perspective of life. If I had just one day to live, I'd want to live it still surrendered to the Lord's will for my life. Being used in the Lord’s service and fully surrendered brings the most satisfaction. There is no higher calling than that of simply being what the Lord wants you to be! When the Lord is preeminent, all of His things will become exceedingly precious to me, and I will want to be near Him at all times! Prayer: Father in Heaven, Give me a longing for Your presence in my life above all worldly attractions and desires. It is awesome to think that You will withhold no good thing if I will abide with You and walk in Your ways. Give me a desire for You and faith to trust You each day. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com 30 Days of Thanks & Praise! - Day #4 – Fearfully and Wonderfully Made (Psalm 139:14)
Psalm 139:14, “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” Our God is a God of expression. When you examine nature, you realize He is the Divine Artist. Consider the animal kingdom and the various species He formed, or the vegetative world and the surplus of colors and designs. Consider how every person who has ever lived has a unique DNA. Yes, He is a God of expression and He created you and me in His image; therefore, we too, are to be creatures of expression. The creative genius of our being, both physically and spiritually, is awesome and wondrous. The word fearfully in this context has the sense of ‘awesome.’ The psalmist fully understood the genius of His creation. Therefore, he determined to praise his Creator, the creative Genius Who designed human life in general and each of us specifically. My heart has no battery. It doesn't run on gasoline or nuclear fuel, yet, it has not ceased to beat for nearly 50 years when it began its drumbeat after three weeks from my conception. If I live to be 70, it will have beat over 2 and a 1/2 billion times based on an average of 70 beats per minute. God's design of our bodies speaks of His genius.
His Praise for God "I will praise thee." Throughout the psalms, the psalmist exhorts us to praise God. We sing Amazing Grace which says, "When we've been there ten thousands years...we've no less days to sing God's praise then when we first begun." When we are in heaven, we are going to do a lot of praising of God. This will be different than what is going on in this world today. No one will be present to protest our praise to God. His Prudence of God "I am fearfully and wonderfully made." The psalmist credits creation to the Creator. The psalmist is no evolutionist. The human body is marvelous in its creation. Something of that magnitude could not just happen as evolution says it did. Of course, evolution is taught because it leaves God out of the picture, and it leaves out praise to God for the creation of man. We know one thing for sure — those high-tech machines and manufacturing facilities did not build themselves. You’ll never hear a tour guide say, “So all this cool stuff in front of you somehow appeared over time and eventually started working perfectly on its own.” In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Complicated machinery can only be built by an even more capable source. Manufacturing facilities require intelligent designers, fabricators, and engineers to mastermind the operation so things will work just right. The human body is a marvel. It is an ingenious composition and how marvelous it all is. Man could not have made man; he would have messed up somewhere and he would have messed up a lot. His Perception about God "Marvelous are thy works and that my soul knoweth right well." The psalmist knows that His work of creation of man was "marvelous." The Psalmist is very knowledgeable about God. To know about God "right well" ought to be the desire of everyone of us. We will not learn much about God when we read the Word of God infrequently and casually. Psalm 139:17, “How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!” Thank God for the wisdom He gives to us. Thank God for the ability to just "think" and function through life. What a gift to be able to live for the Lord. Paul urged us to use our mind and body for Christ (Romans 12:1-2; I Corinthians 7:23; Philippians 2:5). Because the Lord is our Creator, He is very familiar with us and knows us well. He knows all things. Our Lord sees with the greatest perception, into the depths of a person's heart and soul. He knows what we think, what we feel, and how we are doing. He knows the heart that has been broken by burdens and compacted by calamity and crosses to bear. He knows when doubt and disbelief try to demolish your soul. He knows the drain of despair and depression that siphon the soul of serenity. He also knows the devotion and dedication of those who are diligent in their duty to God. God's acquaintance with us leads to wonderful blessings. Because He knows, He is not surprised by our predicaments. Because He knows, we have security when life is precarious. Because He knows, we have serenity when we are in peril. Because He knows, we have solutions to our problems. We were designed to give Him praise and honor. We are to express our appreciation and gratitude to our Creator through worship. Do you frequently express your love to Him? Perhaps you think that God knows how you feel and there is no need to express your love. Do you suppose that kind of thinking would work in other relationships? Probably not. Our spouse, children, and parents may know that we love them, but if we fail to regularly express our love they may feel as though we undervalue their presence in our life. Take time today and express your gratitude toward the Maker of this world. He has given and sustained our very existence; without Him we would have nothing and be nothing. Questions to Consider:
Prayer: Father in Heaven, thank You for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous. Help me grow in deep love for You as I continue to seek Your face, Your presence, Your power, and Your will for my life. Help me to be what You want me to be for You. In Jesus name Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com 30 Days of Thanks & Praise! - Day #3 –
Praise You in the Storm (Psalm 145:2; Hebrews 13:15) Psalm 145:2, “Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.” David committed himself to praise God. He vowed to not let a day pass by in which he did not pause to praise His Redeemer and Saviour. That vow remains as a lesson for the people of God to this day. One cannot go wrong praising God. This is a commitment to praise God for eternity. What is worth noting is that eternity will not be long enough to adequately praise God. God is the One Who is to be praised. Don’t be ashamed to praise the Lord before others. Don’t be embarrassed to tell unbelievers what God has done for you. Our society seems to think this is a bad thing to do and that it would be injurious to some people if we praised God. But, in truth, it will be very injurious to those who do not want to praise Him. Praising God for all that He has done will draw you closer to Him. You will sense His presence in your life. When the Christian praises God, he can take circumstances that discourage and defeat him and turn them into victory. For example, on the eve of Hurricane Michael, Pastor John Blount of St. Andrew United Methodist Church in Panama City stayed in the church and helped shelter 25 people who stayed in two bathrooms and a small closet. The next morning, he began to assess the damage to the building that was built in 1955. He walked into the auditorium and viewed the wreckage. He noticed the church Bible was still intact with minimal water damage to a few of the pages. He saw the blue sky and said, “God is God”. On Sunday morning the sun was shining down on the members. They lost their building, but not their faith. We too, can pick ourselves out of the wreckage of life by trusting in the Lord and rising above our circumstances. How can we truly praise God in the midst of severe trials? Our joy and praise enable us to endure. Hebrews 13:15, “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” A Voluntary Praise: We must make the choice to come into the presence of God and praise Him (Psalm 100:4). We only have ourselves to blame if we fail to praise Him. A Virtuous Praise: Those that are pure in heart will have a good relationship with God and praise Him (Matthew 5:8). Rather than having a sour spirit filled with protests, have a sweet spirit filled with praise to the LORD. A Victorious Praise: As we bear fruit for the LORD, others will see our praise to His goodness (Psalm 145:2). Every day George Muller practiced this prescription of praise. He acknowledged that “the business of every day is first of all to seek to be truly at rest and happy in God”. When a heart is in obedience and submission to the Lord and His Word, praise will abundantly flow naturally. We should offer up to the LORD songs and praise during worship in the church. However, may we also show forth our praise to Him outside the church in public. May we show our devotion to God and live in a way that truly brings honor and praise to Him in all we say and do. Our very lives should be “as living sacrifices, holy, acceptable and well pleasing to God” (Romans 12:1; Philippians 4:18). Praising God for His blessings each day is a great way to start the day and express your gratefulness. You get your focus on the positives in your life instead of the negatives when you do this. You see that which is good instead of dwelling on that which is bad. Learning to rejoice and praise the Lord in difficult circumstances is one of the keys to overcoming frustration and worry because it directs your focus from your losses to the Lord. It creates an attitude of joy in your heart. One day we all will stand before the LORD. Above all things, I desire to hear, ‘’Well done, thou good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21). Praise for the Lord has a strengthening effect upon us and others around us. Psalm 95:2, “Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.” Praising the Lord will help us to be firm in our faith and trust in Him. In 1853, a missionary society discussed the closure of a station in Ongole, India, because only ten people had been won to Christ in fifteen years. These Christians made up a single church which someone called the "Lone Star" of India. Samuel Smith, author of the U.S. national anthem, "My Country Tis of Thee", was a member of this mission board. As he contemplated this matter, he was moved to write the following bit of verse. Shine on, Lone Star, in grief and tears, and sad reverses oft baptized; Shine on amid thy founder's fears, Lone Stars in Heaven are not despised. The next day he read this poem to his colleagues and they unanimously voted to continue the work. Because of this decision, God moved in mighty power. Thirty years later, the Ongole church had grown to 15,000 members! May God help us to offer sacrifices with both our lips and our lives. Prayer: Father in heaven, help me trust in You and praise You no matter how dark the storm rages. I desire to have hope in You in the midst of the storm. In Jesus name Amen. If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com 30 Days of Thanks & Praise!
Day #2 - God’s Power & Praise (II Samuel 5:17-25) II Samuel 5:17-25, “But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold. The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. And David enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the Lord said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand. And David came to Baalperazim, and David smote them there, and said, The Lord hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baalperazim. And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them. And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. And when David enquired of the Lord, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees. And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the Lord go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines. And David did so, as the Lord had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gazer.” One of David’s greatest strengths was his strong conviction that God’s help and direction were absolutely necessary for success in battle. David made it a habit to check with God before he made major decisions. Fulfilling God’s plans for our lives depends on His guidance. For this reason, we should follow David’s example of frequent and regular prayer, as well as submission to the Holy Spirit, who now lives within Jesus’ followers and leads them in God’s direction (Romans 8:1-17). The major lesson to be learned from this point is prayer. In facing the crisis of the Philistine invasion, David prayed, asking the Lord for guidance. When facing the enemies of this life, we have the most wonderful resource imaginable, that of prayer. After getting direction from the Lord, David attacked the Philistines and defeated them. Like the water gushing from a broken dam and sweeping its path, God helped David to sweep the Philistines. He gave God the credit and glory for the victory and named the place of victory Baalperazim, which means "Master of the Breakthroughs." That is what our Lord is to us. God has a way of coming through when the storms are the darkest, when the floods of frustration are raging, when life is like a fog and we can't find our way, or when we don't know what to do or what direction to take. God breaks through for us. He is the master of the breakthroughs! We will enjoy victory in our own lives when we rely upon His power and praise Him for His blessings. Romans 8:37, “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” Psalm 21:13, “Be thou exalted, Lord, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power.” I Corinthians 10:13, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” II Timothy 4:18, “And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” God broke through for Israel at the Red Sea. God broke through for the three Hebrews in the fiery furnace. God broke through for Daniel in the lion's den. God broke through for Esther and the Jews against Haman and the Persian Law. God broke through for the Apostles that were imprisoned. God broke through for the Saviour when He arose the third day after His crucifixion. In 1880, a Christian couple, George and Sarah Clarke, purchased the lease for the Pacific Garden Mission of Chicago. This was the second oldest rescue mission in the United States, which ministered to homeless alcoholics and downtrodden men and women. Colonel and Mrs. Clarke bore the cost of the mission themselves, but as expenses grew and the ministry expanded, their funds ran low. Eventually, the day came when they could not pay the rent. Attempts to secure the needed funds failed, and Colonel Clarke was told he had only 24 hours to make the payment. Otherwise, he would lose his lease, and the Pacific Garden Mission would close. Throughout the night, Colonel and Mrs. Clarke prayed, asking God to guide and to provide in His own way and time. They reminded the Lord of the souls being saved each night, of the men and women whose lives were being salvaged. Determining to trust God, they remained before the throne of grace in simple faith and in earnest pleading until the breaking of dawn. When they emerged from their Morgan Park house that morning, they gasped. Something had happened to their front yard. It was covered with white. It was something that instantly reminded them of the manna God provided the children of Israel during their wilderness wanderings in the book of Exodus. Looking closer, they discovered their lawn was filled with mushrooms of the very best quality, which was quite mysterious because it wasn't the season for mushrooms. Harvesting the crop of mushrooms, the Clarkes carted the mushrooms down the street and sold them to the chefs at the Palmer House, the famed hotel just off of Michigan Avenue, for a large price. The receipts were enough to pay the rent, with enough left over to meet other ministry expenses. So, the Pacific Garden Mission carried on, its work undeterred. Hundreds of thousands have been won to Christ through this ministry, and through the lives that have been saved and changed. One well-known convert was a professional baseball player from the Chicago White Sox. His name was Billy Sunday. Billy became an evangelist for God. Historians that studied his ministry state that he preached to more than one hundred million people face-to-face and that over one million people came to Christ in his revivals. The fruit of his ministry was an extension of the Pacific Garden Mission and the power of God working in his life. Questions to Consider: · How is the Lord using you to minister within your church? · When was a time the Lord gave you a Baalperazim moment? Points to Ponder: · Give God the credit and glory for those times He vives you victory when He “breaks through” your circumstances. · When you feel like you can’t make it through the day it’s time to enquire of the Lord, and get ready to give Him the PRAISE If this post in any way, has blessed you, please share this website and its articles with others: www.fellowshipbaptistcarrabelle.com Encouraging the Discouraged (Proverbs 25:11)
Proverbs 25:11, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” The person who sets out to be an encourager will never find a shortage of people to help. The word encourage means to put courage into another. Now more than ever, people are more discouraged due to the pressures in life. One of the most overlooked needs that people have is to be encouraged. Often it is easier for us to read the physical needs of people rather than their emotional needs. “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver” (Proverbs 25:11). The right word spoken at the right time can make all the difference to someone whose world is crashing. William Arthur Ward said, “Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you.” You Can Encourage Others by Extending Friendship. In Acts 9, we read of Saul who had been an enemy of the early Church—even having some Christians killed. He became a believer, but the Church was still hesitant to receive him into fellowship. Acts 9:26-27 says, “And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.” Barnabas encouraged Saul by extending love and friendship to him. He befriended this new believer. You Can Encourage Others by Re-Building Relationships. In Acts 15:36-41, we see that earlier in their ministry, Paul and Barnabas had taken a young John Mark with them on their first missionary journey. Somewhere along the way, Mark left the team and went home. Later, when they wanted to retrace their steps, Barnabas wanted to take Mark with them but Paul refused. Barnabas took Mark one way and Paul took Silas another. Barnabas sought to mend the broken relationship. II Timothy 4:11, “Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.” Later, Paul asked for Mark to come to him. Paul’s relationship with Mark was restored and their ministries continued in part because Barnabas refused to let go of a good man just because he failed. Good counsel is great or beautiful. Words are verbal or written expressions of our thoughts. They convey what we think to those with whom we desire to communicate. It is not only important what we say to others, but how we say it. Saying the right thing in the right way at the right time can be very effective in making peace with another person. Our speech is to be always with grace, seasoned with salt. When our words or our counsel are fitly spoken, they will be as valuable and beautiful as golden apples. The reference to gold apples in a silver setting describes something that is both exceptionally beautiful and extremely valuable. It rightly illustrates the benefits of well-chosen, properly spoken words that bring reconciliation. Be proficient in your speech. The right word spoken at the right time can be valuable and beneficial. Wise people are careful in choosing their words when settling differences. Good counsel will help us to prevent hurt feelings and damaged relationships. Our counsel can bring healing to a broken heart. The counsel of our words can cause our enemies to be at peace with us or turn away the wrath of those who are angry. If you think about it, that is worth its weight in gold. How many wars or broken homes could have been avoided by good counsel. The Bible places great value on good words and counsel (Proverbs 11:13; 15:23; 24:26; Ephesians 4:15, 29; Colossians 4:6). Let's decide to do what we can with the resources the Lord gives us to encourage those who are hurt and struggling. When we see someone in a trial or heartache, let's encouragement them. Those words will mean more than any treasure because God has used our words in wonderful ways. Points to Ponder:
Questions to Consider:
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AuthorDr. Blackman is passionate about helping others grow in the grace of the Lord. His devotions are centered on how to grow closer to the Lord through a personal relationship with Christ. Archives
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