Thursday... It is such a productive thing to do...

Thursday... It is such a productive thing to do. It really is. Our praise can make such a difference in others but it can make such a difference in us. Praising God can make all the difference we need to face the difficulties in this day in which we live. It takes our eyes off of the problem and on the solution.

Psalm 148:13-14 (MSG) says, "Let them praise the name of God - it's the only name worth praising. His radiance exceeds anything in earth and sky; he's built a monument - his very own people."

Praise is a way of showing humility, of building confidence, of acknowledging dependence. Praising someone else can give them confidence and even power but in praising God, He turns it back on us. We reap the reward from Him. Like the scripture says, "he builds a monument - his very own people." It's amazing how that works.

The Amplified Bible puts it this way, "Let them praise the name of the Lord, for His name alone is exalted and supreme; His glory and majesty are above earth and heaven. He has lifted up a horn for His people [giving them strength, prosperity, dignity, and preeminence]"

There is definitely power in praise. Why not start your day with praise. Praise God for who He is and then thank Him for what He has done. Praise and thanksgiving renews your strength, faith and confidence in facing each new day. It really does.

Verse 5 (NLT) says, "Let every created thing give praise to the Lord, for he issued his command and they came into being. He set them in place forever and ever. His degree will never be revoked." And then verse 13 again in the NLT, "Let them all praise the name of the Lord. For his name is very great; his glory towers over the earth and heaven. He has made his people strong."

And then verse 14b, "Praise the Lord!" Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning

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Tuesday... I wonder what would happen if we didn't take the credit?

Nehemiah 6:16b (NLT), "They realized this work had been done with the help of our God." Tuesday... I wonder what would happen if we didn't take the credit? Over in the Old Testament in the book of Nehemiah it tells of a major task that through the leadership of Nehemiah was accomplished. The walls of Jerusalem had been torn down and God had laid it on Nehemiah to build those walls back up. It was definitely an almost impossible task but Nehemiah 6:15-16 says, "So on October 2 the wall was finished - just fifty-two days after we had begun. When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God." Now, we so many times want to take credit for doing the impossible. It would make such a difference for us. But I wonder what would happen through us if God got the credit? Psalm 96 tells us what we are to do. Verses 2-3 says, "Sing to the LORD; praise his name. ...

Tuesday... We just have trouble listening.

1 Corinthians 13:7 (NLT), "Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." Tuesday... We just have trouble listening. Over in Jeremiah 25:4 (NLT) it says, "Again and again the LORD has sent you his servants, the prophets, but you have not listened or even paid attention." And Jeremiah went on to tell what was going to happen. There will be consequences if we do not listen to what God says through his Word. Now the Apostle Paul over in 1 Corinthians was having a problem with some professed Christ followers who were having trouble at listening. And we too can have problems at listening. We can think that being a Christ follower means we do a lot of finger pointing and we give up on people who don't do what we say. We can even do that in our families. But Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13:7 (NLT), "Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance." In verse ...

Thursday... Yet, now this is true.

Colossians 1:22a (NLT), "Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body." Thursday... Yet, now this is true. Now Paul a prisoner in Rome is writing a letter to a church in Colossae. And in Colossians 1:21 (MSG) he says, "Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds, engaging in evil deeds" The NLT says "This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated by your evil thoughts and actions." And that is where so many in this world live today. They are blowing it and they don't know what to do. Yes, they are hostile in their minds and they are engaging in evil deeds but there is Good News. Now Paul in verses 19-20 sets the stage for an answer to those who don't want to live that way. He says, "For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and earth b...

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