So many times our humanness gets in the way of a right relationship with the Lord. In a twisted form of arrogance, we place our wretched past up on a pedestal and proclaim it to be “too terrible” for the Lord to forgive. Yes, your past may be riddled with bad choices…but nothing God hasn’t forgiven beforehand. Murder, adultery, rape…the list goes on in the Bible of deplorable actions done by people in difficult situations. But when they took responsibility for their sins and asked forgiveness…God forgave them. For there’s nothing so serious, so vile, that God’s redemptive power can’t forgive.
Tag: Praise the Lord
Malachi 1:6 ” A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a Father, where is the honor due Me? If I am a Master, where is the respect due Me? says the Lord Almighty. “
We’ll readily agree that God is our Heavenly Father and the Master of the universe. But our actions seldom match the honor and respect we should be showing the Lord Almighty. Our reverence and appreciation usually goes to material things and our comfort… rather than God. We should all then ask ourselves if we’re showing God the respect and honor He’s due, or placing ourselves on the throne instead.
Malachi 1:14 “For I am a great King, says the Lord Almighty, and My name is to be feared among nations.”
You are the Lord Almighty. The mightiest Warrior…the all-powerful King of Israel. Your Rulership is over the entire universe. By Your power, You have created all things, and You stand ever ready to preserve their existence. We thank You Lord for Your faithfulness, and stand in awe of Your total authority.
Psalm 52:9 ” I will praise You forever for what You have done; in You name I will hope, for Your name is good. I will praise You in the presence of Your saints.”
Do you see your glass as half empty, or half full? Rather than focus and dwell on the have nots…concentrate on what the Lord has already accomplished in your life. Thank Him for what He’s brought you through as you expectantly wait for Him. Linger in the miraculous happenings of your life story with the Lord as you anticipate what He’ll do next. As one of the faithful, your glass will never again be half empty…for the Lord’s love will fill it to overflowing.
Colossians 3:20 ” Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.”
Let’s look at this verse from the perspective of different generations. Read this verse to a young child and they’ll readily agree that they need to obey Mommy and Daddy…but the dance starts in the application of this into everyday living. As children grow, so does their autonomy. We draw a line in the sand and they push their big toe across it…just to see what happens! Let a teenager read this verse and you’ll probably get eye-rolling and an argument of every point…like, what exactly is the definition of obedience? And does everything mean “everything”? Finally, we read this as a parent or Grandparent, having gained a wealth of experience, wisdom, and insight… and we say, “Yes, Amen!” to this verse. For all those past experiences and circumstances have drilled into us the importance of obedience… not only to our parents, but to God.
Isaiah 25:1 “O Lord, You are my God; I will exalt You and praise Your name, for in perfect faithfulness You have done marvelous things, things planned long ago.”
God has a plan and purpose for your life. It was formulated before the creation of time. He has put in place wonderful and miraculous things in order for you to accomplish it. He is trustworthy and steadfast in His objectives for you…never wanting you to fail. You may think God can’t use you…but you are oh so wrong. You are exactly what He’s looking for…you have been placed on this earth at this very moment in time to accomplish great things in His name.
Psalm 20:7 ” Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”
Take a moment to reflect on what exactly you put your trust in. Is it modern technology and the digital age? Or are you putting trust in the Stock Market and future commodities? Or maybe your trust lies in simpler things you hoard away. You need to remember, nothing here on earth can be trusted…for we all live in an imperfect world filled with imperfect people. But there is One that you can trust without reservation…His name is the Lord our God.
I Thessalonians 2:4 ” On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the Gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, Who tests our hearts.”
There will come a time when you’ll come to a crossroads and you’ll have to make a hard decision…do you please man, or God. Sure, pleasing man is easy, painless and non-confrontational…for the moment. But it usually comes with compromise and difficulties in the end. When we intentionally and deliberately focus our conduct on what the Lord would want us to do…people will see that our walk matches our talk.
I Corinthians 1: 27-29 ” But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him.”
God is in control…His choices explicitly and precisely are done to direct the course of redemptive history. He takes the simple-minded, the humble, the frail, and transforms them by the Holy Spirit into mighty men and women of God. For it is not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord Almighty in Zechariah 4:6. Under His anointing, the powerless become strong…the lowly and scorned become bold. Never underestimate what the Lord can do through you…never underrate the glory and honor you can give Him by simple obedience.
Psalm 16: 2 ” I said to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord; apart from You I have no good thing.’ “
Without the Lord in my life I have nothing. Without His constant love and guidance, I am adrift in a chaotic and scary world. Without God’s mercy and grace I am condemned by my sinful actions. Without my Father, I am alone and separated from His love. Without Jesus, my sins will ultimately send me to hell. Without the Holy Spirit next to me, I have no counsel. Without the Lord in our lives…we have nothing…nothing but fear, turmoil, and condemnation.
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