Yesterday around 10 am my office phone brought a call from a
pastor I knew 40 years ago. “Jerry, I
just wanted to thank you.” His appreciation for ministry that I do was
authentic and heart-felt. It was encouraging. Among the voices of the critics, hearing
one of with affirming words is a blessing! "Thanks-living"
has the capability of transforming another’s bad day into a good one, changing a
miserable situation into one that is tolerable.
Do you realize that offering sincere praise to God opens our
hearts to the inflow of the Holy Spirit? "Worship
the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. … Enter his gates
with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his
name." (Psalm 100:2,4, NIV) You can break the grip of discouragement
with a genuine offering of worshipful praise. Go beyond the trite – “Thank you,
God, for beautiful flowers.” Thank Him
for grace, for faithful friends, for forgiveness, for strength, for promise and
purpose.
Praising Him is sometimes easy, almost spontaneous! "Thank you, Lord! Praise God!"
bursts from my lips. There are days when
we offer what the Bible calls a 'sacrifice
of praise.' A choice is made to look
past the problems, to thank God for His goodness, that He is indeed Lord of
life, in spite of situations that defy understanding. Avoid the error of implying that God is the
author of terrible things like war, disease, or sinful oppression by thanking Him
for
those things. He allows us great freedom – to create good and to do evil. And,
in the middle of the messes that the sinful of humanity (ours and others)
create, He invites us thank Him for His
faithfulness, for His love, for His goodness.
When we are filled with worshipful praise of God, there is a
shift in our human relationships. We more readily offer genuine thanks! When you hear yourself slipping into criticism,
pause. Find a word of appreciation. Watch the tone of the conversation change.
It will amaze you. And you'll feel so much better, so much more encouraged, at
the end of the conversation.
Take these simple thoughts to heart today and make it a day for
"thanks-living." Why not start right now with 5 minutes of praise
prayer? Don't ask God for anything, just
thank Him - profusely for people who bless you, for His plan in situations
that challenge you, and for His love for you! Then, as you go through the day,
look for opportunities to drop a word of affirmation and thanks into the lives
of people.
Here is a word from the Word. Read it slowly, pausing to let
the truth sink in.
"I will praise
the Lord at all times.
I will constantly speak his praises.
I will boast only in the Lord;
I will constantly speak his praises.
I will boast only in the Lord;
let all who are
discouraged take heart.
Come, let us tell of
the Lord’s greatness;
let us exalt his name
together." (Psalm 34:1-3, NLT)
"Taste and see
that the Lord is good.
Oh, the joys of those
who trust in him!
Let the Lord’s people
show him reverence,
for those who honor
him will have all they need." (Psalm 34:8-9, NLT)
One last thought- Thank
you for sharing life with me through this daily blog called CoffeeBreak with the Word!
________
O worship the King all
glorious above,
and gratefully sing
his power and his love:
our shield and
defender, the Ancient of Days,
pavilioned in splendor
and girded with praise.
Your bountiful care,
what tongue can recite?
It breathes in the
air, it shines in the light;
it streams from the
hills, it descends to the plain,
and sweetly distils in
the dew and the rain.
Frail children of dust
and feeble as frail -
in you do we trust, nor
find You to fail;
your mercies, how
tender, how firm to the end!
our maker, defender,
redeemer, and friend.
O measureless Might,
unchangeable Love,
whom angels delight to
worship above!
Your ransomed
creation, with glory ablaze,
in true adoration
shall sing to your praise!
Robert Grant, public domain
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