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Thursday... Now this really, really matters.


Thursday... Now this really, really matters. I know it does to me.

I love being a grandpa. I really do. I love to make my family happy but there is one thing that really matters to me. I really do love to give them what they want and need and help them when they are in trouble but there is one thing that I want in return and the same is true of my Heavenly Father.

Over in Psalm 50 we see how much it matters to Him. Now as a grandpa, I'm not going to go this far but it will make me contemplate what I am going to do for them. Verse 22 (GNT) says, "Listen to this, you that ignore me, or I will destroy you, and there will be no one to save you." I think He is really serious. The Message says, "Time's up playing fast and loose with me. I'm ready to pass sentence, and there is no help in sight." He is really serious. It is really important for us to understand that. 

And then He says in verse 23 (NLT), "But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me. If you keep to my path, I will reveal the salvation of God." Giving thanks really matters to Him, it honors Him.

Up in verses 12-13 the Psalmist writes what God wants from us. He says, "If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for all the world is mine and everything in it. Do I eat the meat of bulls? Do I drink the blood of goats?" Of course the answer is no. Verse 14 says, " Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High." He goes on in verse 15. He shows us the if and then. If we are thankful to Him, we can. He gets personal, "Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory." 

The Amplified Bible says, "Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving and pay your vows to the Most High; Call on Me in the day of trouble; I will rescue you, and you shall honor and glorify Me." There is great power in being thankful and honoring Him and giving Him glory. Listen, it really matter to Him and it might be an important way to start your day.

Living a life of despair and anxiety does not show our appreciation and thankfulness for all He has done for us. He does not reward despair. He understands it but He doesn't reward it.

The Good News Translation says, "Let the giving of thanks be your sacrifice to God, and give the Almighty all you promised. Call to me when trouble comes; I will save you, and you will praise me." Again, "I will save you, and you will praise me." That really matters to Him so let's do it! Why not start right now. Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning

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