06
Apr '21
Practice Praise
06
Apr '21
Praise ye the Lord. Praise the Lord, O my soul. While I live will I praise the Lord: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being. (Psalm 146:1-2)
As a teenager in high school I had a rather atypical variety of interests. I was a varsity field hockey athlete (you don’t hear that every day), a lifelong dancer and member of the school dance team, and a budding thespian, acting in school plays and performing with a student improv group.
While my specific activities were pretty different, one thing was consistently on my schedule: PRACTICE! All of those activities required me to practice.
Becoming life-long, daily praisers of God also requires practice.
It takes little effort to see that human nature moves us more easily towards criticism and complaint than praise, so we have to replace that natural inclination and train our hearts and minds to praise like an athlete trains his arms and legs to have muscle memory to rely on come game time.
Practice is not often thought of as fun or enjoyable but it is necessary ad beneficial. If we set our minds and hearts to be committed to practicing praise, we are well on our way.
Are you ready to commit to practicing praise?
Write it down or tell someone in your life that you are practicing to be a lifelong, daily giver of God’s praise.
Practice, Practice, Practice!! Commit to practicing praise. I pray you are encouraged to be a daily praiser of God!
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
01
Apr '21
Sing Praises
01
Apr '21
Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. (Psalm 63:3-4)
We must teach our hearts to sing praises to God at all times, no matter what we’re walking through.
A tall order in these post 2020 days, but we have an even bigger God. As we prepare to improve our level of praise, let’s first assess where we are.
When I read this devotion I was challenged to truly answer this one question. How much time to do you spend praising God each day? It’s never to late to start praising God today. Praise Him through the storm.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
30
Mar '21
Even Through Suffering
30
Mar '21
Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)
In this passage, the apostle Paul is offering exuberant praise to God. Despite Paul’s pain, God still delivered him.
This in turn allowed Paul the ability to come alongside others who were also in pain and lead them to Christ.
Since God is the author and origin of mercy and compassion, His tenderness and grace sustain us…even through suffering.
As a father has compassion on his children, so does God lovingly care for you personally.
No matter what painful trial you may be enduring, know that His sweet comfort is permanent and endless. After all, one of His very names is Comforter!
No other person on the planet will be able to console you like your Father.
We never have to tip-toe our way into His presence. As you let the fire of His glory and love soothe your wounded soul, He will transform you into a gateway of His kingdom.
With the power of the Holy Spirit ignited within, you will become a comforting light in the darkness for others, leading them out of their pits of despair.
Give Him praise today from a thankful heart, for He is faithful!
This devotion blessed me so much. “We never have to tip toe our way into His presence”, amen, what assurance. Despite what your facing, offer exuberant praise to God today. We can learn so much from our time of pain and suffering, if we allow The Holy Spirit to ignite within. I pray you are uplifted and encouraged by this devotion today.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
25
Mar '21
Rejoice in The Lord!
25
Mar '21
Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. (Philippians 4:4)
What did Paul and Silas do? They praised God.
What was Paul doing in prison? Rejoicing always.
First, they were praising God for the who, not the what. They were bloody and bound up in prison. If you had asked them, “What are you praising God for?” I don’t think there was any “what” that they could point to. Nothing good was happening, but their God was still good. They weren’t praising God for the what. They were praising Him for the who. You can do that too.
Your circumstances may be bad, but your God is still good. He is near, His promises are still true, His love still unconditional, His grace still amazing, His timing still perfect. You may not like the what of what’s going on, but you can still praise God for the who of who He is.
Second, they were praising God before the provision. So often we hold off on praising God until He provides what we want. Think about that. Doesn’t it sound like an entitled little snot-nosed kid? I won’t be grateful until I get exactly what I want. We are better than that and, more important, God deserves better. Paul and Silas praised God before He answered their prayers or changed their circumstances. That’s the kind of person I want to be.
Third, they were praising God and then He showed up. Paul and Silas were worshiping God in the middle of the night and—boom!—God showed up.
And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. (Acts 16:26)
They did not praise God because He showed up; God showed up because they praised Him.
When we praise Him, He will show up. When He shows up, it will change our thinking. If we change our thoughts, we change our life.
When I read this devotion it has stuck with me and I had to share it with you. Praise Him through the storm, not for what your going through but for who He is and He will show up every time.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
23
Mar '21
Re-Prioritize
23
Mar '21
Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying, Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste? Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways. Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes. (Haggai 1:3-6)
The prophet Haggai was sent to speak to the group who had come back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple of the Lord. The Book of Ezra explains how the first group came back to begin the rebuilding process. Due to great opposition, the work came to a stop over the course of time. Haggai was sent by the Lord to re-start the work and get the people going again. The Lord was telling them to get their priorities straight. They had settled into their lives and homes but the temple was still not finished. They lived in paneled houses while God’s house lay in ruins (Haggai 1:4). If they took a close look at their lives, they would see how their efforts had produced little.
Do you ever feel as though you work really hard, try to do the right things, yet nothing seems to come from it? Are you blessed? Do you see the Lord’s hand in your work? If you feel as though you work to put your wages in a bag with holes, then maybe you need to “consider your ways.” Check your priorities. Are you giving your first fruits unto the Lord? It is not just about your work for God that matters, it is about your heart before the Lord. Is He truly first in your life? Do you do things for Him because you love Him, or is it for other reasons?
These are the questions that we all must ask ourselves. Sometimes we get so focused on our own lives that we lose God’s perspective. When that happens, we often begin to sense that things are not quite right. We do not see the blessings as we would expect or hope to see. As the Lord continued to tell His people through the prophets, “Repent and Return.” The message is the same for us today. Maybe it is time to put some new priorities in your life. Pray about what the Lord wants you to re-prioritize and ask Him to help you to make the changes He wants. Instead of pockets with holes, you will see storehouses that overflow with His blessings.
When I read this devotion it blessed me. I pray in return it blesses you, encourages you and causes you to pause and consider your ways.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
18
Mar '21
Like an Eagle
18
Mar '21
Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s. (Psalm 103:5)
Did you know an eagle molts its feathers about once a year? While old ones fall away, new ones grow back as a replacement. Interestingly enough, this process is not all at once.
The eagle molts his feathers slowly and gradually, allowing him to fly unhindered.
In a way, this is the same for us and God. When we follow and stand on His word, He promises to renew us daily with His overflowing abundance of joy, peace and strength.
The second we became born again, our old self was “molted” or stripped away. We instantly became new creations through Christ, robed in the light of His righteousness and glory.
Like the eagle renewing his feathers, the Lord promises to renew your youth by His grace. You now have His nature and He satisfies you with the goodness and glory of who He is.
No matter how many obstacles you have faced or how weary and worn you feel, it is never too late to take flight like the eagle.
Even in the midst of trials, you can still soar above and beyond… allowing God’s grace to transform you from the inside out and renew your soul.
I pray after reading this devotion you are encouraged to fly like the eagle, above and beyond, unhindered. Allow God’s grace to transform and renew your soul.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
16
Mar '21
Be Still In His Presence
16
Mar '21
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. (Psalm 46:10)
Be Still. On the days when we have a to-do list that’s a mile long, it can feel nearly impossible to do this.
When we are consumed and lost within the chaos of our schedules, we become numb to His voice and lose out on the precious things the Lord wants to share with us.
Too often we waste time struggling and panicking about our problems, thinking we have the power to solve them alone. We saddle ourselves with more tasks than we can bear, hoping our issues will fade away if we just try hard enough.
All the while, the Lord is standing alongside us, patiently waiting for us to cease our struggling so He can reach over and help.
Think of a person who is at a hospital waiting to receive a shot. The doctor cannot do their job effectively if the patient is struggling to sit still.
For us, it is the same with God. He is the ultimate physician and problem solver, but He will never force Himself upon you when you attempt to do things without Him.
Today, try to find time to sit down and be still before Him. The Lord will not shout over our chaos, but wait for us to quiet ourselves in His presence.
That is the place where you will hear His voice the clearest. When you choose to do this, He is exalted and able to bless you with His love.
When I read this devotion it blessed me. I pray you are encouraged to be still, quiet yourself and make time to bask in His presence. He is patiently waiting for you.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
11
Mar '21
Free Indeed
11
Mar '21
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
What a wonderful gift this is!
Never do we have to feel condemned or measured by our performance. There is no rat race of good works that earns us the love and approval of God.
While we should do our best to obey His word, it’s inevitable that we will mess up and fall short at times. But because of what Jesus did on the cross for us, we can walk through life in complete freedom!
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (John 8:36)
Ever since the day of your salvation, Jesus has lived inside your heart. He sent His Son to die for us so that He could break down the walls between you and Him and have an intimate relationship. This is the difference between Christianity and other worldly, false religions.
Relationship with the God of the universe is greater than any man-made religion.
When the garment of guilt oppresses you after you make a mistake, lay it down at His feet and remind yourself that God is faithful to forgive. Then, you can put on the garment of praise and put on the robe of righteousness He has already given you.
Today, walk in the freedom Christ purchased for you. You are who He says you are, not what the world says. You are a chosen child of the Most High God!
When I read this devotion it reminded me of an old hymn, “Put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, lift up your voice to God.” I pray whatever you may be facing today, you are encouraged to put on the garment of praise.
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
09
Mar '21
Jesus, You are my Joy!
09
Mar '21
Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. (Philippians 4:4)
How wonderful is this truth? The Lord is the source of our joy and strength!
We don’t have to put pressure on ourselves to try to dig up joy where it cannot be found.
God has everything we need in this life and beyond! Because we have been united with Christ, He is the giver of our hope, peace, comfort, joy and strength.
Even in difficult seasons, you can still have His joy. His word says to be cheerful with joyous celebration in every season of life!
We don’t have to wait for life to be perfect and problem-free in order to access all that He has for us. Since He is always with you, the joy and peace of His life-changing presence is always available to you.
When you accepted Jesus into your heart, He sanctioned you to rise above all circumstances of life. As children of God, we are not held down by the weight of the world.
As you go through today, ponder on what He has done for you and all He’s already given. Whispering His name and saying, “Jesus, you are my joy” is all it takes to remind you of His never-changing presence.
I love this devotion! I pray you are encouraged each and every day to whisper His name and say, “Jesus, YOU are my joy”. Hallelujah! Amen!
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!
04
Mar '21
Focus on The Lord
04
Mar '21
And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. (1 Corinthians 9:25)
The world we live in is always in a constant rush and rat-race to climb to the top. You will even encounter people willing to trample over you and cheat their way through in hopes of gaining the success and self-glorification they so desperately crave.
Sadly, the crown the secular world seeks will perish and fade away like dust. However, in the Kingdom of God, this is not so.
God promises us the crown of Life.
Unlike a trophy or wreath, this crown will last forever! His crown and heavenly reward pale in comparison to any earthly prize the world offers.
When we become worn down by the race of life, we can also remember the crown of Righteousness He has secured for us. This reminds us how it is His righteousness that has saved us, solidifying our place in Heaven alongside Him.
This devotion blessed me. It needs to be shared time and again. When it seems like trial after trial is coming at you, keep your focus on the Lord. Remind yourself of His promised crown of Life that will only be rewarded to those who truly love Him!
Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!