30 Days of Thanks & Praise! Day #18 – Thank You Lord, For Your Blessings On Me (Ephesians 1:3)

Thank You Lord, For Your Blessings On Me (Ephesians 1:3)

Ephesians 1:3, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.”

The word blessed means to “praise”. He uses that praise for God. For it is He “who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.” As Ephesians 1 unfolds, Paul would expound on a treasury of spiritual blessings which are available in Christ. Though some put emphasis on the “heavenly places,” the greater emphasis is “in Christ”. Paul states that when we get to Heaven, we will enjoy the spiritual blessings of salvation, eternal life, the inheritance of Christ, a home in Heaven, and living in the presence of God. We also enjoy the blessings of the Holy Spirit now while on earth. We enjoy His comfort, guidance, wisdom, direction, power, and we have access to the throne of God in prayer. Whatever our needs may be, the Lord can supply them.

Count Your Blessings:
When upon life’s billows you are tempest-tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.
Refrain:
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God has done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your many blessings, see what God has done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by.

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings—money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

We all have had those times when we feel discouraged, faced difficulties, and wondered what was the use of going on. You maybe struggling financially, physically, or with your faith. No matter what we face, we have been blessed immensely and need to remember what God has done for us. Anytime someone tells me they are having times like these, I remind them of all the blessings they have in Christ. The Bible does not tell us that we might be accepted, or that we can be accepted, but that we have already been accepted. The righteousness of Christ that has been applied to our account makes us to stand in the very presence of God despite our failings and flaws. Accepting this truth frees us from the constant cycle of worry and uncertainty that comes from trying to be good enough to measure up to a standard we can never meet. God’s grace works in us to give us the ability live righteously so that our witness and fellowship with God are not hindered. But our acceptance is external, coming through God’s grace, and it is eternal, never changing or failing. Because of our relationship and association with Christ, God has given us all the blessings that heaven ever knew! God does not withhold a single spiritual blessing from any Christian! Appreciating and appropriating these blessings, however, is a different matter. Let us not blame God for our little faith.

In Christ, Christians enjoy wonderful benefits, blessings, as well as responsibilities.

1. We are included in the family of God, no longer a child of Satan and walking in darkness. Ephesians 5:8.
2. We have an inheritance reserved in Heaven from the Lord that is incorruptible, undefiled, and that does not fade away. I Peter 1:4
3. We can have intimacy or a close walk with Jesus Christ. I Corinthians 1:9
4. We are inhabited by the Holy Spirit of God who dwells within every believer. Romans 8:9-11; I Corinthians 3:16-17; II Timothy 1:14
5. We gain insights into spiritual truths from the Holy Spirit who is our teacher. John 14:26; I Corinthians 2:13
6. There is an interest in spiritual matters and the things of God. If there is no interest, examine your heart to see if you have been truly saved. Romans 8:5-10
7. We have an invitation to come boldly to God's throne of grace. Hebrews 4:16

If you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, you have been given a treasure chest filled with God's blessings. Many of those treasures are found here in this section of Ephesians. We have been made rich from His redemption. We are loaded because of His love for us. We are prosperous because of God's provisions for us. Every time you open the Bible it’s like opening the lid to the treasure chest.

Count your blessings. Here are 10 to get you started:
1. God’s presence: Hebrews 13:5, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
2. God’s protection: Genesis 15:1, “I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.”
3. God’s power: Isaiah 41:10, “I will strengthen thee.”
4. God’s provision: Isaiah 41:10, “I will help thee.”
5. God’s leading: John 10:4, “And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.”
6. God’s purposes: Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
7. God’s rest: Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
8. God’s cleansing: I John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
9. God’s goodness: Psalm 84:11, “For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.”
10. God’s faithfulness: I Samuel 12:22, “For the Lord will not forsake his people for his great name’s sake.”

These are just some of the countless blessings we have in Christ. Remember all God has done for you and you will be encouraged to keep serving the Lord. Psalm 68:19, “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.” I’ve only listed ten, and there are thousands more. What promise(s) are you most grateful for?

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30 Days of Thanks & Praise! Day #17 - I Just Want To Thank You, Lord (Colossians 3:17)

I Just Want To Thank You, Lord (Colossians 3:17)

Colossians 3:15-17, “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”

Lyrics: I just Want To Thank You, Lord
For making the sun to shine
Putting the stars in the sky
For the flowers that Bloom
The Ocean so Blue
Thank You, Lord
For the sparrow that sings
That makes sweet melody
For the rivers that flow
The rain and the snow
Thank You, Lord
I just want to Thank You, Lord
I just want to Thank You, Lord
For everything that You've done for me
Thank You, Lord (Thank You, Lord)
I just want to Thank You, Lord
I just want to Thank You, Lord
For making me whole
Saving my soul
Thank You, Lord
For my home and Family
For life's joys that you've given me
For shoes on my feet, plenty to eat
Thank You, Lord
For the church where I worship and pray
For the freedoms that I have today
Sweet spirit I feel
Your presence so real
Thank You, Lord
For being a friend so dear
Giving my sad heart cheer
For holding my hand
When I could not stand
Thank You, Lord
For giving Your life for me
On the Cross of Calvary
For taking my Place
Mercy and Grace
Thank You, Lord
I just want to Thank You, Lord
I just want to Thank You, Lord
For everything that You've done for me
Thank You, Lord (Thank You, Lord)
I just want to Thank You, Lord
I just want to Thank You, Lord
For making me whole
Saving my soul
Thank You, Lord
Thank You, Lord!

A. The Purpose in the believer's conduct.
"…whatsoever ye do in word or deed…" (Colossians 3:17).
This covers every aspect of a life. The believer has a choice. He is the one who speaks and acts; no one speaks and acts for him. Whether or not he speaks and acts for Christ is his choice. The command is there: "…do all in the name of the Lord Jesus…", but the choice as to what he talks about and does is his. He and he alone is responsible for his words and deeds. The believers' manners, as well as the believers' mouths, are to be sanctified by holy conduct. James 1:22, “Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only.” This is a good purpose to guide all that we do. The believer must keep his focus on the One Who saved him if he is going to have holy conduct. All of our activity is to be done in such a way that Christ is honored and uplifted. That doesn't mean our lives are to be void of any fun or pleasure, but everything we do should reflect Christ and bear witness of Him.

B. The Praise in the believer's conduct.
​"…giving thanks to God and the Father by him." (Colossians 3:17).
To thank God is an important part of the believer's performance. Thanksgiving honors God: it praises God; it gives God credit for blessings. Scripture teaches that one purpose in our salvation is to give thanks to God which honors Him. Not only are we to live in such a way that honors the Lord, we are to express our appreciation unto Him for providing the life we live. We accomplish nothing in and of ourselves. God provides the strength we need to go about our daily activities. He provides the wisdom we need to navigate life and process all that we encounter. He is worthy of our praise and thanksgiving for all of His many benefits in our everyday lives.

1. Thankful for the Peace of Christ.
Jesus promised to give His followers peace, “…not as the world giveth…” (John 14:27) but peace to be found in Him, even in the face of trouble that the world gives (John 16:33). This is a deep contentment unmoved by the life-storms that strike us and shake our faith.

2. Thankful for the Preaching of Christ.
Good preaching can and does inspire and impact us and bring the Word of God richly into our lives. Songs stir and prepare our heart for the preaching, so it is vital that our songs have words that are doctrinally sound and exalt the Saviour. These songs are not just horizontal (teaching one another) but they are also clearly vertical (directed to God). We are indeed worshipping God (literally declaring His true worth). The church you attend should be a place of peace where Christ and the Bible is central, and the worship is God-honoring. We teach and admonish one another both through the Word and through doctrinally sound songs. The great hymns of the faith teach solid Biblical truth. This means that biblical truth is essential for worship. The goal of theology should be worship. Jesus told the woman at the well that God is seeking those who worship Him “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). You cannot worship God in truth unless you know who He is as revealed in His Word. If you worship a god who is loving, but he overlooks sin, you’re not worshiping the true God, but rather an idol you made up, because the God of the Bible is loving and holy. True worship rests on knowing God truly as revealed in His Word. Without God’s revealed truth, all the emotion in the world is misdirected and vain. Thankful worship begins by engaging our minds with the word of Christ. When we think of God’s abundant grace, it causes us to be thankful.

3. Thankful for the Person of Christ.
The glory of God is always on the heart and mind of a heavenly citizen, and we glorify Him most when we live thankful lives: thankful for His salvation, thankful for His good gifts, and even thankful for trials we go though Lord. We thank Him because He is good. We must do nothing that dishonors Christ. Whenever we speak, and whenever we act, Christ is honored by our behavior. We must always remember that Christ hears every word and sees every deed. We love Him with all our hearts; therefore, we seek never to hurt or cause pain for Him by what we say or do. We diligently seek to bring only honor to His name. God the Father has become the believer's Father by Christ, and only by Christ. Therefore, the believer is constantly thanking God the Father. If we stopped for a moment to consider what Jesus might actually think, let alone do, about what we do in His name, would we persist in doing it? Where better than your home to test and prove that dedication to Christ’s service really does embrace everything? Everything we say and do should be as representatives of the Lord Jesus. Through our lives, we should always be giving thanks to God and the Father by him. We should be thankful for the awesome privilege of being Jesus’ representatives on earth, which is what it means to be a Christian.
To do all in the name of the Lord Jesus means to...

1. Claim the name of Christ in all that we say and do.
2. Live, move, and have our being in the name of Christ.
3. Represent Christ in all that we say and do.
4. Trust and depend upon the name of Christ in all that we do.

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30 Days of Thanks & Praise! Day #16 Thankful for Godly Mentors (II Timothy 2:1-2)

Thankful for Godly Mentors (II Timothy 2:1-2)

II Timothy 2:1-2, “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”

Paul was Timothy's spiritual mentor. He taught him of the faith, showed him how to follow God, and warned him against dangers he may face. Having a godly spiritual mentor is invaluable in your Christian walk. A good mentor is someone who has a daily relationship with God, faithful to God's house, and someone that can be trusted. A mentor will help keep you accountable and counsel you on matters you face in life. When a mature Christian mentors a growing Christian in the Lord through a discipleship relationship, the young Christian has the opportunity to observe unedited how the Christian life works. Having a good relationship with a wise mentor is like having personal access to a goldmine. It’s an opportunity anyone would be foolish to not take advantage of! Proverbs 1:5, “A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels.” God has allowed we Christians to be influences in the lives of other Christians. Mentors experience the joys of helping a younger Christian understand the faith and seeing them grow in faith. The real gifts, the ones we remember, are not always bought at shopping malls, gift shops, or online. They are acts of love, springing from a heart filled with the love of God. And when we give like this, God gives back to us. He ensures that there are people around to help us when we are hurting.

Over a century and a half ago, there lived a humble pastor in a small village in Leicestershire, England. He had never attended college and had no degrees. He was just an ordinary, faithful pastor. In his church was a young student to whom he gave special attention, teaching him the Word of God. This young man was later to be renowned as William Carey, one of the greatest missionaries of modern times. This same pastor had a son, a boy whom he taught faithfully and constantly encouraged. The boy's character and powers were profoundly affected by his father's life. The son was Robert Hall, the mightiest public orator of his day, whose sermons influenced the decisions of statesmen and whose character was as godly as his preaching was phenomenal. It seemed that the small village pastor accomplished very little. But his faithful witness and godly life had much to do with giving India its William Carey and England its Robert Hall. God honors and blesses faithfulness.

As a young boy, I remember skipping rocks with my older brother into creeks and across ponds. My brother and I would often compete in trying to see whose rocks skipped the most, or made the biggest splash. I can remember my brother picking up and hurling a large rock into the water and watching the ripples reach clear across the other side of the pond. When I think back to those times, I’m amazed that such a small rock compared to a large body of water could make such a huge impact on the entire body of water. If God is the force behind the large faith-rock of your life, He can toss you higher than any other and cause you to make waves in the water of this world that will reach and influence many lives.

The first time we came to Carrabelle (2016), it was our desire to be a blessing and an encouragement to the people for the weekend. Since becoming pastor, it’s my desire to not only see our church grow in the Word of God, but also to impact the community with the Word of God. Allow the Lord to launch you into someone’s life today and make an impact for Christ. It is a privilege to pass on to new Christians the truths others have handed to me. And it’s exciting to see them grow in the Lord, and then eventually turn around to teach their new converts. God has given us the opportunity to be an influence in the lives of others. Ask God to show you how you can help someone else today. If you don't have anyone to mentor, look for someone in your church or in your family who you can help to grow closer to God. Thank God that He has allowed you to have a part in mentoring and that He has provided mentors in your life. If you do have a spiritual mentor, thank God. Having a godly, spiritual mentor is precious and priceless in your Christian walk. They will look to you for help and guidance, and they will take your advice to heart. Who can you mentor spiritually in your life?

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I thank You for placing me under people who helped me grow when I was a young Christian. Their influence was important in my spiritual development, so I thank You for them right now. For their patience, their love, their kindness, and their willingness to let me get close enough to really learn how to walk with You. Now it’s time for me to do this for someone else, so please lead me to a young disciple whom I can begin to show how to walk in the power and authority of Your Word. May others around me see the love of Jesus through me. May I be Your witness. Use me for Your Kingdom and glory. I dedicate my life and service to You. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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30 Days of Thanks & Praise! Day #15 - Never Forget To Give Thanks (Luke 17:13-18)

Never Forget To Give Thanks (Luke 17:13-18)

Luke 17:13-18, “And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.”

One of the common features of a Thanksgiving dinner in America is a turkey. Whether it’s baked, broiled, or deep fried, it seems that it is a must in most households. Consequently, the words often heard in the Thanksgiving season are, “Don’t forget the turkey!” In the hurry and scurry of it all, some forget to thaw the frozen turkey. Others drive hours to meet with their family members only to discover they left the turkey at home in the refrigerator. Since Thanksgiving Day has lost its original significance to many and is only a time for a big meal, a football game, and is even called by some “Turkey Day,” the number one item that has been forgotten is “thanksgiving” itself. In all the frenzy of the season, may the Lord enable us to be thankful.

The memorable account of Jesus healing the ten lepers sounds out this message. All ten men came to Him to be healed, and all ten of them left having been healed. Nine of them, however, forgot to give thanks. Only one of them “turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks” (Luke 17:15-16). Jesus’ questions are heart-searching even today, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?” (Luke 17:17).

Giving thanks involves looking back to Christ’s mercy! The one grateful soul “turned back” toward the Lord Jesus. He had cried to Him for mercy (Luke 17:13) and now realized that he had received mercy. He not only had been prey to a hated disease, but he was a hated Samaritan, a reject in the Jewish culture. Yet the mercy of God was greater than his disease and his background, and he gave thanks. What a reminder for us to look back on all Jesus has done for us!

Giving thanks involves falling down at Christ’s feet! The divine record reveals that the healed man “fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks.” While he literally fell down on his face before Jesus (something that would not hurt us, either!), the basic idea is one of humility and lowly appreciation. Giving thanks doesn’t come from proud hearts. We must humble ourselves before the Lord in genuine gratitude.

Giving thanks involves speaking up for Christ’s glory! Was this healed man’s thanksgiving genuine? When he shouted “with a loud voice,” did he truly “glorify God?” (Luke 17:15). According to Jesus he did. His commentary was, “There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger” (Luke 17:18). During this Thanksgiving season, like the appreciative Samaritan, may we be found among those who never forget to give thanks!

Never let a single day pass without expressing our thanks to God for His grace and mercy to us. Our lives should be filled with constant praise day after day, not just on a certain single day set aside each year. God is good to us all the time, and our thanks should be equal to His blessings and benefits. When our words and our songs are filled with gratitude, our hearts will be fixed on God as they should be. It is foolish to think that failing to be thankful will not impact our lives in many negative ways. If we are not careful, the tendency in our prayer lives is that they become centered on what we want and need. God has given us the privilege of bringing our requests before His throne, and it is right for us to do so. But our prayers should not be requests for ourselves alone. In the model prayer Jesus instructed us to pray about God’s kingdom and God’s glory as well as our daily needs. Part of Bible prayer is giving thanks even while we are waiting for God’s answer. Some people fail to find peace in their prayers because they are missing the thanksgiving that should go along with prayer and supplication. Gratitude should be a part of our prayer as we discover God’s peace.

Prayer, Lord God, I choose today to say thanks. Though my life is far from perfect, I choose to thank You for all that’s good in my life. I want to grow in this spiritual discipline of gratitude, and that requires the Holy Spirit’s sanctification and my willingness. By faith, I thank You even for the hard things in my life, for You use those to grow me. I love You, I trust You, so I can thank You in every circumstance. I want to give thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of Your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, in whose name I pray, amen.

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30 Days of Thanks & Praise! Day #14 Praise from a Grateful Heart (Psalm 119:108)

Praise from a Grateful Heart (Psalm 119:108)

Psalm 119:108, “Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, and teach me thy judgments.”

This verse addresses the issue of our adoration. If it is your desire to be faithful to the very end, it would be helpful to nurture an attitude of praise and gratefulness in your heart. It is difficult to be bitter when you are grateful and praising God. The two don't go together. Praise and gratefulness are like fragrant pine cones to a blazing fire. They fuel the fire of dedication and devotion to God.

1. The acceptance of the offering. "Accept... the... offerings of my mouth."
The psalmist wanted his offerings to be acceptable before God. We need to be primarily concerned that God approves and accepts our offering. The psalmist wanted the Lord to accept the freewill offerings from his mouth even though he was facing difficulties in his life. All throughout the book of Psalms, we find the importance of offering our praise and thanks to the Lord. May our tongue be an altar in which we can present to the Lord words that will bring honor and glory to Him and be pleasing to His ears. Those who embrace the Scriptures will be more inclined to give than those who do not embrace and show devotion to the Scriptures. May our prayer be like the psalmist in Psalm 51:15, “O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.” With our mouth, may we make an offering to Him. Psalm 34:1, “I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Psalm 40:3a, “And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God.” Psalm 145:21a, “My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord.” Psalm 109:30, “I will greatly praise the Lord with my mouth; yea, I will praise him among the multitude.” May the passion of our heart be, "With my mouth I will make an offering!"

1. With my mouth I will make an offering of purpose that sings with eagerness and gratitude, "Here am I Lord, send me."
2. With my mouth I will make an offering of pondered Scriptures that I have hid deep within my heart that I might not sin against God.
3. With my mouth I will make an offering of a plea for forgiveness from those I have hurt or offended.
4. With my mouth I will make an offering of promoting another's accomplishments over my own.
5. With my mouth I will make an offering of peace with those who have opposed me and chosen to be my adversary.
6. With my mouth I will make an offering of a promise to be surrendered to the Lord's will and obedient to His Word.
7. With my mouth I will make an offering of pointing others to the Lord Jesus Christ, who walk in darkness and are lost.

2. The attitude and articulation of the offering. "…offerings of my mouth, O Lord, and teach me thy judgments."
There are more offerings than monetary or tangible. There are the offerings of the mouth which include praise and thanksgiving. 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.” The psalmist looked upon his vow to obey God’s Word without compromise as an offering or sacrifice to the Lord. The psalmist humbly asked God to accept these acts of worship and, in return, to teach him His Word more intimately than ever before. This undoubtedly tells us of his thirst for understanding of God’s Word. The psalmist's objective is to learn more and understand more about the Word of God. The difficult and often treacherous path he had chosen required God’s help, and he knew that only God’s Holy Word would sufficiently meet his deepest needs. As we present our lives to the Lord, we need to ask God to teach us His Word, just as this psalmist did. Ask God to accept your worship and to teach you His Word, as you need His help on your journey in this life. We cannot fulfill our promises to Him without His help. God’s Word will not only produce holiness in us and transform our minds, but it will also meet our every need as we take up our crosses and follow in the footsteps of Christ.

The Word of God challenges us to offer our lives as living sacrifices to the Lord. Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” While some believers may be called to die for Christ, all are called to live for Him (Romans 12:1). We should strive to live in such a way that God will be pleased with us, that our lives will be acceptable to Him.

Your love to me did not cost me; but it cost You Your life. You willingly and freely gave Your life on the cross at Calvary. What a delight and joy You truly are. Your free flowing love is not only a principle but also a pattern for me to follow. Let the stream flow in the full tide of affectionate devotedness. May my service be Yours, and no other's. May others know that I am captivated by Your love and consecrated to Your labor. I know that it is only by Your grace that you are willing to accept my service. For what have I to offer to You, that is not already "Your own?" Teach me Your Word that I may be instructed to present a purer offering to You.

Prayer: Lord, though I sincerely desire to live for You and am committed to be obedient to Your commandments, I often find myself in a dilemma in decision making. Don't let me resort to my own wisdom and insight but let me always be guided by Your Word. In Jesus name, amen.

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30 Days of Thanks & Praise! - Day #13 – His Praise is Worthy Even When I’m Weary (Psalm 119:62)

His Praise is Worthy Even When I’m Weary (Psalm 119:62)

Psalm 119:62, “At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.”

1. The Passion. "At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee…" (Psalm 119:62).
When this was written, people went to bed early. To get up at midnight expressed extraordinary devotion and love for the Lord. The psalmist chose not to sleep but to spend time alone with God to express his gratitude. This truth is seen in studying the Hebrew word for "give thanks." It is from the Hebrew word yadah which means "to throw or cast down; to shoot as you would shoot arrows." Whether you throw something down or shoot an arrow, you do it with force and resolve. You want to hit the target which is on the receiving end of your focus. Our focus and aim are to be upon our Lord. Getting up at midnight to worship will involve considerable passion for the things of the Lord. When consistent praise flows from our lips for all that God is and what He has done, you will appreciate the preciousness of your portion in Him. Praise brings us closer to Christ. It develops an attitude of gratitude because we are focused on what He has done by counting our blessings. Our praise and thankfulness are not to be timid and petty. Oh no, they are to be given with focus, with enthusiasm and generously.

There is another reason we should praise the Lord with enthusiasm and firm resolve. Praise is a natural and necessary response to fully enjoy the object that is being praised. For example, when watching a football game on television, it is a natural response to praise a tremendous play made by your favorite team. To shout, "WOW! Did you see that?" after an acrobatic catch in the end zone is not only natural, but necessary to fully enjoy the game. If you do not believe that it is necessary, the next time you watch a football game try to not express yourself at all. Sit on your couch in a nonchalant manner and you will quickly find that you do not enjoy the action of the game nearly as much as you do when you have the freedom to express yourself in praise, cheering, booing, and excitement. When we are a thankful people, we will have time for God, church, the Bible and prayer. Praise and gratefulness will help you to remember how precious the Lord is.

2. The Praise. "…give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments" (Psalm 119:62).
What profound dedication. The psalmist will praise God for His Word. He will praise God for God's ways. He pledged to praise God for His righteous laws at all times and in all circumstances (Ephesians 5:20; I Thessalonians 5:18). Ephesians 5:20, “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” I Thessalonians 5:18, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” David got up in the middle of the night to thank God for His Word. There is no equal, even in sacred history, of another so dedicated as to rise at midnight to thank God. Notice also how he described God’s Word as “thy righteous judgments.”

When I consider Paul and Silas while they were in prison at midnight singing, praying, and praising God; giving thanks to God because of His righteous judgments, it encourages and motivates me to praise Him even when I’m spiritually spent and physically frayed. When my flesh is growling no! While my spirit is shouting yes! I’m reminded to be instant in season and out of season. The more the flesh is denied for the service of God, the more we shall be elevated for His enjoyment.

a. He is Worthy of our Praise because He suffered for us.

b. He is Worthy of our Love because of the Life that He lived.

c. He is Worthy of our Worship:

1. For the Wonder of His Service, causing the blind to see, the lame to walk, the deaf to hear, and the dead to rise again.
2. For His Way of Salvation, simply and freely offered to all mankind by putting faith in Him.
3. For His Wonderful Scriptures, written over a period of 1600 years by over 40 men of different backgrounds and occupations. These were men that were inspired by the Holy Spirit of God to record the message that God had for us about our past, our present, and our future. Answers to where we came from, where we are now, and where we are going are on the table for all to see and know.
4. For His Wondrous Will, that can take any man or woman, surrendered to His will, and use them for His glory to do mighty deeds.
   • To accomplish what looks impossible.
   • To refute false ideas that are illogical.
   • To perform deeds that are incredible.
   • To reach people that seem intractable.
   • To solve conflicts that appear irresolvable.
   • To conquer hard hearts that are invincible.

The Lord will use you if you are obedient to Him and willing to be used. He will give you a purpose for your life. He is worthy of our worship and may we “…rise to give thanks unto thee.”

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30 Days of Thanks & Praise! Day #12 God is Good and He Does it Good (Psalm 119:68)

God is Good and He Does it Good (Psalm 119:68)

Psalm 119:68, “Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.”

“The center of God's will is our only safety”, Betsy Ten Boom. How do you feel about the goodness of God when you are facing a particularly difficult time? George Mueller's response was quite amazing. Mueller's wife, Mary, died of rheumatic fever on February 6, 1870. They had been married 39 years and four months. He was 64 years old. Shortly after the funeral, he was strong enough to preach a "funeral sermon" as he called it. What text would he choose when God had taken his beloved? He chose Psalm 119:68, " Thou art good, and doest good."

His three points were:

1. The Lord was good, and did good, in giving her to me.
2. The Lord was good, and did good, in so long leaving her to me.
3. The Lord was good, and did good, in taking her from me.

Under this third point, he recounts how he prayed for her during her illness: "Yes, my Father, the times of my darling wife are in Thy hands. Thou wilt do the very best thing for her and for me, whether life or death. If it may be, raise up yet again my precious wife. Thou art able to do it, though she is so ill; but howsoever Thou dealest with me, only help me to continue to be perfectly satisfied with Thy holy will." This is an amazing prayer from an amazing man. And yet, he would stand before you even today and say that he was only an ordinary man with an extraordinary God. You have the same God who will help you. Go to Him when you need strength.

1. The Person for the teacher. "…Thou…".
2. The Prerequisite for a teacher. "…Thou art good, and doest good…"
3. The Praise for the teacher. "…Thou art good, and doest good…"
The psalmist has repeated his request to be taught. He is fervent about being taught. Such an attitude will greatly help the learning process of the student. Ask God to teach you His Word. Witnessing God’s goodness to him through his suffering inspired the psalmist to long for more instruction from the Lord. He asked God to continue teaching him His Word.

The psalmist confessed his faith in the holy character of the Lord. Even though he was suffering intense persecution, he reemphasized the fact that God is good and that everything He does is good. Notice again that he did not blame, question, or doubt the Lord. Experiencing God’s goodness through his affliction actually reinforced the fact that God has a purpose for everything He permits to enter our lives. Every affliction, every challenge, and every trial—even persecution is an opportunity for God to reveal His goodness to us. David proclaimed, “Thou art good, and doest good...” God is good! And He does that which is good! Therefore, David prayed, “..:teach me thy statutes.” David appealed for God to teach him. If David, the man after God’s own heart, the sweet psalmist of Israel, and God’s anointed, needed God to teach him, how much more do we?

The psalmist wanted to know the right way - God's way. Many seeking knowledge never show interest in learning this knowledge which is far more important than all the other subjects man pursue. What can I say to this but You are good, and do good? What may I not then expect from You? Teach me Your statutes. Teach me the Revelation of Yourself. Teach me the knowledge of Your Son. For this is life eternal, that I might know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

Prayer: Lord, give me discernment and knowledge that I might walk in Your truth, following Your ways. Make me free from sin through obedience to Your Word. Use the trials and afflictions that certainly come to draw me back to the precepts and principles that should guide my life, correcting behavior and attitudes that are contrary to Your way.

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30 Days of Thanks & Praise! - Day #11 - It’s Good to Give Thanks to the Lord (Psalm 92:1-2)

Psalm 92:1-2, “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High. To shew forth thy loving kindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night.”

The Bible speaks of these three elements of true worship.

1. The ways of worship (Psalm 92:1-3)
We may worship God in words, in songs, and in music.

2. The object of worship (Psalm 92:2)
One of the objects of worship is to proclaim God’s lovingkindness and His faithfulness.

3. The time of worship (Psalm 92:2)
Although we may worship at any time, morning and evening are the special times of worship.

We are to be consistent in gratefulness. Considering all the goodness of the Lord, it is only fitting to return thanks to Him, especially on the Lord’s day. This involves singing praise to the name of Him who is higher than any other. There is a level of praying and praising which cannot be expressed in words. It is an activity of worship within the realm of the spirit. We are called upon to not only thank Him, but to sing praise to Him. Psalm 92:1-2, “To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night.” Praise is due God not only on Sunday, but in fact, we should praise Him every morning as well as every night. Implied is beginning and ending the day with the Lord. Specifically, David notes praising His lovingkindness and His faithfulness. How often we take these stellar attributes of God for granted. Giving thanks is not just something that is good to do—it is our duty and privilege. It is clear that a sacrifice must consist of praise and thanks, or must at least not be without praise and thanks, if it is to please God. And if it is without praise and thanks, He neither wants nor likes it, as indeed He says in Isaiah 1:11, “To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.” We cannot give God anything; for everything is already His, and all we have comes from Him. We can only give Him praise, thanks, and honor.

The demoniac was grateful for deliverance and told others what the Lord had done (Mark 5:19-20). David was grateful for his dear friend Jonathan and to his shepherd, the Lord, when He said that his cup was running over (Psalm 23:5). He expressed his love by caring for Jonathan's son, Mephibosheth (II Samuel 9:6). A woman washed the feet of Jesus with her tears and wiped His feet with her hair because she was grateful for His pardon and forgiveness (Luke 7:37-38). Truly grateful people show their gratefulness to others! 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.” Why is "praise" a sacrifice? Have you ever praised the Lord in the presence of unsaved people? Unsaved people can intimidate you into silence by their looks, comments, and rejection of your praise. Praise Him anyway in the good times and even in the dark times. God is good to us all the time, and our thanks should be equal to His blessings and benefits. When our words and our songs are filled with gratitude, our hearts will be fixed on God as they should be. If it is a good thing to give thanks to the Lord, then quite obviously it is a bad thing to withhold such gratitude. It is foolish to think that failing to be thankful will not impact our lives in many negative ways.

John Wesley was about 21 years of age when he went to Oxford University. He came from a Christian home, and he was gifted with a keen mind and good looks. Yet, in those days, he was a bit snobbish and sarcastic. One night, however, something happened that set in motion a change in Wesley's heart. While speaking with a porter, he discovered that the poor fellow had only one coat and lived in such impoverished conditions that he didn't even have a bed. Yet, he was an unusually happy person, filled with gratitude to God. Wesley, being immature, thoughtlessly joked about the man's misfortunes. "And what else do you thank God for?" he said with a touch of sarcasm. The porter smiled, and in the spirit of meekness replied with joy, "I thank Him that He has given me my life and being, a heart to love Him, and above all, a constant desire to serve Him!" Deeply moved, Wesley recognized that this man knew the meaning of true thankfulness. Many years later, in 1791, John Wesley lay on his deathbed at the age of 88. Those who gathered around him realized how well he had learned the lesson of praising God in every circumstance. Despite Wesley's extreme weakness, he began singing the hymn, "I'll Praise My Maker While I've Breath." The Lord was his song of praise. Praise for God graced his lips in death because he lived and served Him throughout his life. He could say the same thing as the psalmist in Psalm 119:56, “This I had, because I kept thy precepts." How are you spending your life?

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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.

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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:

• In all our trouble, God makes known the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10).
• He is working all things together for our good (Romans 8:28).
• He will complete the good work he began in us despite how things look now (Philippians 1:6).
• If we trust the Father in the worst, darkest, most horrible troubles we face, he will make us more than conquerors (Romans 8:37–39).
• Every troubled tear we shed over the effects of the fall are kept in God’s bottle (Psalm 56:8) and will be wiped away forever (Revelation 21:4).

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.

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