In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. - 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NKJV As believing Christians, we are blessed beyond measure. God sent His only Son to die for our sins. And, God has given us the priceless gifts of eternal love and eternal life. We, in turn, are instructed to approach our Heavenly Father with reverence and thanksgiving. But, as busy people we often get caught up in the inevitable demands of everyday life. So, we sometimes fail to pause and thank our Creator for the countless blessings He has bestowed upon us.
When we slow down and express our gratitude to the One who made us, we enrich our own lives and lives of our loved ones. Thanksgiving should become a habit, a regular part of our daily routines. Yes, God has blessed us beyond measure, and we owe Him everything, including our eternal praise.
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For we are His making, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them. - Ephesians 2:10 HCSB God has things He wants you to do and places He wants you to go. The most important decision of your life is, of course, your commitment to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior. And, once your eternal destiny is secured, you will undoubtedly ask yourself the question "What now, Lord?" If you earnestly seek God's will for your life, you will find it ... in time.
So prayerfully consider what God's path is for your life. Study His Word and be ever watchful for His signs. Associate with fellow believers who will encourage your spiritual growth, and listen to that inner voice that speaks to you in the quiet moments of your daily devotionals. Rest assured: God is here, and He intends to use you in wonderful, unexpected ways. He desires to lead you along a path of His choosing. Not yours, His. Your challenge is to watch, to listen... and to follow. A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord determines his steps. - Proverbs 16:9 HCSB Sometimes, we must accept life on its terms, not our own. Life has a way of unfolding, not as we will, but as it will. And sometimes, there is precious little we can do to change things.
When events transpire that are beyond our control, we have a choice: we can either learn the art of acceptance, or we can make ourselves miserable as we struggle to change the unchangeable. We must entrust the things we cannot change to God. Once we have done so, we can prayerfully and faithfully tackle the important work that He has placed before us: doing something about the things we can change... and doing it sooner rather than later. Then He said to them all, "If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me." - Luke 9:23 HCSB Even the most inspired, can, from time to time, find themselves running on empty. Why? Because the inevitable demands of daily life can drain us of our strength and rob us of the joy that is rightfully ours in Christ Jesus. Thankfully, God stands ready to renew our spirits, even on the darkest of days. God's word is clear: When we genuinely lift our hearts and prayers to Him, He renews our strength.
Are you almost too weary to lift your head? Then the answer is simple, bow it - in prayer. Offer your concerns and your needs to your Father in Heaven. He is always at your side, offering His love and His strength. Your search to discover God's purpose for your life is not a destination; it is a journey that unfolds day by day. And that's exactly how often you should seek direction from your Creator: one day at a time, each day followed by the next, without exception. The plans of the diligent certainly lead to profit, but anyone who is reckless only becomes poor. - Proverbs 21:5 HCSB Are you willing to plan for the future - and are you willing to work diligently to accomplish the plans you've made? The Book of Proverbs teaches that the plans of hardworking people (like you) are rewarded.
Basically, you reap what you sow. If you desire to reap a bountiful harvest from life, you must plan for the future while entrusting the final outcome to God. Then, do your part to make the future better (work dutifully), while acknowledging the sovereignty (power) of God's hands over all affairs, including your own. Are you in a hurry for success to arrive at your doorstep? Don't be. Instead, work carefully, plan thoughtfully, and wait patiently. Remember that you're not the only one working on your behalf: God, too, is at work. And with Him as your partner, your ultimate success is guaranteed. Therefore, through Him let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of our lips that confess His name. - Hebrews 13:15 The Bible makes it clear: it pays to praise God. But we often allow ourselves to become so preoccupied with the demands of everyday life and bogged down with the things of this life that we often forget to say "Thank You" to the Giver of all good gifts.
Worship and praise should be a part of everything we do. Otherwise, we quickly lose perspective as we fall prey to the demands of the moment. Do you sincerely desire to be a worthy servant of the One who has given you eternal love and eternal life? Then praise Him for who He is and for what He has done for you. It is not about you, it is about Him. And don't just praise Him on Sunday morning. Praise Him all day long, every day, for as long as you live ... and then for all eternity. So, what are you doing today? Or you wallowing in sorrow and in grief? Or even in doubt? Give it all to Him and give Him praise. Let's praise God!!! “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) Be sharp in the word of the God because the word of God is your sword and shield against the trials, temptations and tribulations of this world we live in. If we know the word of God, we can use it to stand against the rising flood. It can give you strength in times of temptation. It can give you hope in times of despair. It can bring you comfort. Trust in the word of God and trust in God. For he will never leave you nor forsake you and unlike man, God keeps his promises.
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your cares upon Him, because He cares about you. - 1 Peter 5:6-7 HCSB Are you worshipping God with faith and assurance? If not, you should. When we worship God with faith and assurance, when we place Him at the absolute center of our lives, we invite His love into our hearts. In turn, we grow to love Him more deeply as we sense His love for us.
St. Augustine wrote, "I love you, Lord, not doubtingly, but with absolute certainty. Your word beat upon my heart until I fell in love with you, and now the universe and everything in it tells me to love you." Let us pray, that we, too, will turn our hearts to our Heavenly Father, knowing with certainty that He loves us and that we love Him. God is love and God's love is perfect. So, open yourselves to His perfect love, be touched by the Creator's hand, and therefore, be transformed, not just for a day, but for all days, for all eternity. So, today open yourselves to His presence and to His love. He is here. He is waiting. His love is here, always. Accept it - now - and be blessed. Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. - Hebrews 10:22 HCSB It has been said that character is what we are when nobody is watching. How true. When we do things that we know aren't right, we try to hide them from our families and friends. But even then, God is watching.
Few things in life torment us more than a guilty conscience. And, few things in life provide more contentment than the knowledge we are obeying the conscience that God has placed in our hearts. If you sincerely want to create the best possible life for yourself and your loved ones, never forsake your conscience. And remember this: when you walk with God, your character will take care of itself ... and you won't need to look over your shoulder to see who, besides God, is watching. So, when you hear the still small voice, when you hear your conscience, realize it is God speaking to you. God is trying to open your eyes, your ears, your heart to realizing he has the best in store for you. So, today, trust your conscience. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths. - Proverbs 3:5-6 HCSB At the center of your Bible, you find the Book of Psalms. In it are some of the most beautiful words ever translated. The most beautiful is the 23rd Psalm. There is no scripture more beautiful than the 23rd Psalm. David describes God as a shepherd who cares for His flock. It's no wonder why these verses have provided comfort and hope for generations of believers.
On occasion, maybe even today, you will confront circumstances that trouble you to the very core of your being, your soul. But, when you are afraid, trust in God. When you are worried, turn your concerns over to Him. When you are anxious, be still and listen for the quiet assurance of God's promises. And then, place your life in His hands. He is your Shepherd today and throughout eternity. Trust the shepherd. Sometimes the very essence of faith is trusting God in the midst of things He knows good and well we cannot comprehend. |
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