Grateful
Praise
Praising
God is for our benefit as much as for God's. Praise keeps us in a good mood,
promotes positive thoughts and health, and lifts us from the pit of depression
and degradation. Many people watch as we praise Him during our trials, and their
thanksgiving also overflows for God's glory (2 Corinthians 4:15; Psalm 35:18).
Our
Father qualified us through the blood of Jesus to share in His inheritance with
all the righteous people in His Kingdom of Light; therefore, we can give joyful
thanks to God, even in our negative circumstances (Colossians 1:12).
As
we daily consider His Word, consult His will each moment of the day, and leave
all of our cares in His competent hands, we are rooted and grounded in Him, and
our faith is strengthened as we overflow with gratitude (Colossians 2:7;
Proverbs 3:5-6).
As
members of Jesus' Body, when we devote our self to watchful prayer and
continual thankfulness, this causes the peace of Christ to control our heart
(Colossians 3:15, 4:2). We inherit His Kingdom, which cannot be shaken, and we enthusiastically
worship Him in reverence and with awe (Hebrews 12:28).
Even
when we do not feel happy, or currently do not see anything to thank God for,
we can offer up the sacrifice of praise to Him, by openly professing His
righteousness, His mighty works, and the power of His name (Hebrews 13:15;
Psalm 9:1, 54:6).
We
have no need to feel any shame over our past, or anxiety about our current or
future events, as long as we gratefully lift them to God in prayer (Philippians
4:6). Every living creature will give Him, who sits on the throne and who lives
forever, all honor and glory and thanks (Revelation 4:9).
His
beloved children continually sing grateful praises to our Most High Lord, and
we make music to Him on instruments and with our lips (Psalm 7:17, 147:7),
because He is good to us, and His love for us endures through every generation
(Psalm 106:1).
Prayer:
Father
God, thank You for all that you did, do and will do for us all of the days of
our life. As sheep of Your pasture, we constantly praise You with our whole
heart, because we hope in Your glorious name throughout every generation (Psalm
52:9, 79:13, 86:12). Thank You for Your provision for us of every good and
perfect blessing (James 1:17).
You
provide us with gifts from above; and we thank You, as our Father of heavenly
lights, for not changing like shifting shadows (James 1:17; ); You are the
same, yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Since we were bought by the
price of the blood of the Lamb, we ask You to teach us to honor You with our
whole spirit, soul and body (1 Corinthians 6:20).
Thought
for the Day:
The
Lord God is our strength, wisdom, strong tower and shield; and our heart trusts
only in Him, which causes our heart to leap with joy and a new song to break
forth from our lips; we give praise to His name, and we glorify Him with a thankful
life. - Psalm 28:7, 69:30
