Wednesday... We love to be praised, don't we?

But did you know that praise is a test?

Proverbs 27:21 (AMP) says, "The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold [to separate the impurities of the metal], and each is tested by the praise given to him [and his response to it, whether humble or proud]."

Yes, praise is a test. And we don't like tests but we need to see that they are necessary for our growth. They tell us what we need to work on. And for sure, pride is something we need to work on, isn't it?

Now the wisdom of God in sending his son to this earth as an example was great. The human part of Jesus was tested. The CEV says 27:21 this way, "Gold and silver are tested in a red-hot furnace," and Jesus was definitely tested in the fire. He was always being tested. There was always someone in the crowd that was ready to tear what he said apart.

Do you find that true in your life? Well it was true in Jesus' life. He was always being tested and he handled it, didn't he? He showed us that it is necessary in our growth. We too need to be refined by things not always going the way we want them to go.

Now the last part of the verse in the CEV says, "but we are tested by praise." and that was also true of Jesus.

Jesus said in John 7:18 (NLT), "Those who speak for themselves want glory for themselves, but a person who seeks to honor the one who sent him speaks truth, not lies." Praise shows who we are doing what we are doing for. Pride shows it's for us and humility shows it's for God. Yes, praise is a test. It really is.

Proverbs 27:21 in the NLT says, "Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but a person is tested by being praised." Just a reminder, we are doing what we are doing for God and his glory. And praise is a test. Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning

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Monday... He did it by Himself

Isaiah 44:24b (AMP), "I am the Lord, Maker of all things. Who alone stretches out the heavens, Who spreads out the earth by Myself." Monday... He did it by Himself. Many have a tendency to think very highly of themselves and what they can do. Oh we do have great ability but we are not the source. Yes it is important to have self-confidence but we are limited. The prophet Isaiah in 44:9-10 (NLT) says, "How foolish are those who manufacture idols. These prized objects are really worthless. The people who worship idols don't know this, so they are all put to shame. Who but a fool would make his own god - an idol that cannot help him one bit?" Now later in verse 24 (AMP) he writes, "For the Lord, your Redeemer, and He who formed you from the womb says, 'I am the Lord, Maker of all things, Who alone stretches out the heavens, Who spreads out the earth by Myself.'" I love that. "By Myself." Now we do need confidence but we are foolish to ma...

Friday... We have this hope of expectancy.

Psalm 5:3 (NLT), "Listen to my voice in the morning Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly." Friday... We have this hope of expectancy. Now David found a great way to start his day. He says in Psalm 5:1-3 (NLT), "O LORD, hear me as I pray." And that is a great place to start. It really is. Morning sunrise He goes on, "Listen to my cry for help, my King, my God, for I pray to no one but you." And that is so important. We don't try to pump ourselves up by ourself. No, we pray to no one but you, God, my LORD, my King. Now this relationship with God is so, so very important. And then David says, "Listen to my voice in the morning, LORD. Each morning I bring my requests to you" And that is so great. And then he says, "and wait expectantly." Yes, we have this hope of expectancy. We are experienced. That is what a relationship with God and a moment by moment connection does. It makes a difference in our daily wa...

Friday... Yes, we can know this to be true.

Psalm 12:6 (NLT), "The Lord's promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over." Friday... Yes, we can know this to be true. Maybe this is what you want to say in this day in which we live. Psalm 12:1-2 (MSG) says, "Quick, I need your helping hand! The last decent person just went down, all the friends I depend on gone. Everyone talks in lie language; lies slide off their oily lips. They doubletalk with forked tongues." Do you ever feel that way?" Have you found that to be true? Well David the writer of this Psalm continues and says in verse 6 something to encourage us, to lift us up, to give us hope. Psalm 12:6 (NLT) says, "The Lord's promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over." The Message Paraphrase says verses 6-8 this way, "God's words are pure words, pure silver words refined seven times in the fires of his word-kiln, pure on earth as well as in heaven, God, keep ...

Todays Beginning

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