"Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name." Psalm 100:4
When was the last time you took time during your prayer time to do something more than just ask God to supply some particular need? The scriptures do tell us to ask if we have a need, so we should. But do you ever take the time to just thank Him for all the prayers He has answered? Do you ever just spend some time telling Him how wonderful He is? Do you ever take the time to give Him praise, honor and glory? Even Jesus taught us that praise was a key element to our prayers when He taught His disciples the "Lord's Prayer".
I know there are times of "urgency" in our prayers when we need an answer. But there should also be times when we just let Him know how truly thankful we are that He allows us to come and make our requests known to Him and that He answers them.
What does your prayer life consist of? Just requests? Just giving Him your petitions? Or do you spend some time just loving on Him through your praises and thanksgiving?
Have a great day. Prayer has more than one part to it-- it's about asking and it's about praising the One we ask for answering us.
For further reading:
Matthew 6:9-13
Philippians 4:6
James 4:2
Psalm 113:1
Psalm 118:21
Friday, January 15, 2010
Thursday, January 14, 2010
"New Day"
"New Day"
"This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24
Have you ever given any thought to the fact that God has been in the "day making business" for a long, long time? He has made every one of them since the first day-- And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day." (Genesis 1:3,5) Each day, day in and day out, for thousands and thousands of years, God has caused each brand new day everyday.
What does that tell you about the Lord? It tells me that He is faithful. Each new day speaks of His faithfulness. There has never been a time in history when He skipped making a day. He doesn't quit and He doesn't give up. He continues to provide us with a new day every day.
It also tells me of His great power. God has the ability to continually produce the resources that are needed to make a day. He is not limited to supply what is needed. His power is so great that the sun obeys His word and rises in the morning at the appointed time. He is so powerful that all of creation stands fast by His word.
Lastly, it tells me that He is a wonderful provider. If God is able to make a day, He is certainly able to supply everything that we need each day. As a matter of fact, it was in the six days of creation that we first see what a wonderful provider He is. When did He create man? On the sixth, last, day of creation. Why didn't He create us on the first? Or on the second, third, fourth or fifth? If He had, where would we have lived? We would have been floating around in space. Or what would we have eaten? How would we have seen without light? He created us on the last day after He had created everything for us that we would need. When He created us, everything was already here waiting for us- the provision was already made.
I have to wonder if the dawning of each new day isn't also a sign from the Lord to us on a more personal level. A sign, or perhaps a reminder of the faithfulness of God, of His mighty power and of His wonderful provisions.
Have a great day. With each new day, let it encourage you personally that God is your faithful, all-powerful, provider.
For further reading:
Genesis 1
Psalm 33:9
Psalm 19:1,2
Lamentations 3:23
Psalm 97:6
"This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24
Have you ever given any thought to the fact that God has been in the "day making business" for a long, long time? He has made every one of them since the first day-- And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day." (Genesis 1:3,5) Each day, day in and day out, for thousands and thousands of years, God has caused each brand new day everyday.
What does that tell you about the Lord? It tells me that He is faithful. Each new day speaks of His faithfulness. There has never been a time in history when He skipped making a day. He doesn't quit and He doesn't give up. He continues to provide us with a new day every day.
It also tells me of His great power. God has the ability to continually produce the resources that are needed to make a day. He is not limited to supply what is needed. His power is so great that the sun obeys His word and rises in the morning at the appointed time. He is so powerful that all of creation stands fast by His word.
Lastly, it tells me that He is a wonderful provider. If God is able to make a day, He is certainly able to supply everything that we need each day. As a matter of fact, it was in the six days of creation that we first see what a wonderful provider He is. When did He create man? On the sixth, last, day of creation. Why didn't He create us on the first? Or on the second, third, fourth or fifth? If He had, where would we have lived? We would have been floating around in space. Or what would we have eaten? How would we have seen without light? He created us on the last day after He had created everything for us that we would need. When He created us, everything was already here waiting for us- the provision was already made.
I have to wonder if the dawning of each new day isn't also a sign from the Lord to us on a more personal level. A sign, or perhaps a reminder of the faithfulness of God, of His mighty power and of His wonderful provisions.
Have a great day. With each new day, let it encourage you personally that God is your faithful, all-powerful, provider.
For further reading:
Genesis 1
Psalm 33:9
Psalm 19:1,2
Lamentations 3:23
Psalm 97:6
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
"Times Of Trouble"
"The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble." Psalm 9:9
Did you notice the verse said, "times of trouble", not just "time of trouble"? It's because trouble comes to us many times during our life- it is not just a one time event. Wouldn't that be wonderful if we only experienced trouble once in our lifetime and never faced it again! But that's not the way it is. Trouble can come to us daily, and even many times a day. Trouble often comes unexpectedly, and at times it seems to be waiting for us around ever corner.
Times of trouble come to us all- none are exempt- but when it does, we are not at its mercy. We, who know the Lord as our Savior, know that He is also our refuge in those times when trouble comes. As we have said already, trouble doesn't happen to us just once in our lifetime, therefore, neither does the Lord come to our aid only once. He doesn't tell us to pick which trouble we want His help in because He is only going to help us once. No, He is a refuge to us each and every time we face trouble.
Are you going through one of those times of trouble this morning? There is a place of refuge and help for you. It's the Lord Himself. He will make His presence your place of refuge. Go to Him and find help, safety, comfort, strength, guidance, whatever you need to make it through these times.
I guess I should add this too. Trouble comes many times, and God will be a refuge each time so don't get the "mentality" that you should pick and choose which time to go to God. Some people do that. That won't go to Him in times of "certain" trouble because they think this trouble is too small to bother God about. Or they think that they have gone to Him too many times already for His help. That's wrong thinking! That's just what the enemy wants you to think so that you will not go to your place of refuge and help so that he can destroy you. You can't go to God too much! You can't seek His help too many times! There is no trouble too small or too big for Him! You are not bothering Him when you do! It doesn't matter how many times you go to Him because He wants you to come to Him.
So, again, if today you are in one of those times of trouble. Remember you have a refuge- Jesus!
Have a great day. Trouble comes to us many times... and God is our refuge each time.
For further reading:
Psalm 27:5
Psalm 37:39
Psalm 46:1
Psalm 57:1
Proverbs 14:26
Isaiah 33:2
Did you notice the verse said, "times of trouble", not just "time of trouble"? It's because trouble comes to us many times during our life- it is not just a one time event. Wouldn't that be wonderful if we only experienced trouble once in our lifetime and never faced it again! But that's not the way it is. Trouble can come to us daily, and even many times a day. Trouble often comes unexpectedly, and at times it seems to be waiting for us around ever corner.
Times of trouble come to us all- none are exempt- but when it does, we are not at its mercy. We, who know the Lord as our Savior, know that He is also our refuge in those times when trouble comes. As we have said already, trouble doesn't happen to us just once in our lifetime, therefore, neither does the Lord come to our aid only once. He doesn't tell us to pick which trouble we want His help in because He is only going to help us once. No, He is a refuge to us each and every time we face trouble.
Are you going through one of those times of trouble this morning? There is a place of refuge and help for you. It's the Lord Himself. He will make His presence your place of refuge. Go to Him and find help, safety, comfort, strength, guidance, whatever you need to make it through these times.
I guess I should add this too. Trouble comes many times, and God will be a refuge each time so don't get the "mentality" that you should pick and choose which time to go to God. Some people do that. That won't go to Him in times of "certain" trouble because they think this trouble is too small to bother God about. Or they think that they have gone to Him too many times already for His help. That's wrong thinking! That's just what the enemy wants you to think so that you will not go to your place of refuge and help so that he can destroy you. You can't go to God too much! You can't seek His help too many times! There is no trouble too small or too big for Him! You are not bothering Him when you do! It doesn't matter how many times you go to Him because He wants you to come to Him.
So, again, if today you are in one of those times of trouble. Remember you have a refuge- Jesus!
Have a great day. Trouble comes to us many times... and God is our refuge each time.
For further reading:
Psalm 27:5
Psalm 37:39
Psalm 46:1
Psalm 57:1
Proverbs 14:26
Isaiah 33:2
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
"Misplaced Value"
"Better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich." Proverbs 28:6
The scripture is making a comparison here- not between the rich and poor, but between the one who does good and the one who does evil. Unlike us, the Lord puts more value on what a person is on the inside rather than what he has in possessions. What we have is temporary, what we are is eternal. Riches and material possessions only last for a short time, you can't take them with you when you depart this earth and you have no guarantee that you will keep them while you are here.
Jesus told the story of two men- one was a rich man and the other was a poor man, a beggar named Lazarus. By our estimation the rich man was the one who was prosperous and well off, and Lazarus was the one who was poor. God's estimation was different. God considered Lazarus the richer of the two. How do we know? The story goes on to tell us that Lazarus went to heaven when he died and the rich man went to hell. Lazarus may not have had material riches while he was here, but he had eternal ones when he died- therefore, he was the richer one.
True wealth is not measured by the size of your bank account, the size of your house, what vehicle you drive, your annual income. True wealth is measured by Jesus Himself. If Jesus isn't in your life, then you are poor, even though you may have millions in the bank. Many people have misplaced value- they value the things of this world instead of putting value on the things that are eternal. When the scripture asks,"For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matthew 16:26), it is really pointing us in the direction of what we should value more highly-- our eternal soul and making sure that we have eternal life when we leave this world. That's the real riches. Any one who wants to have true riches can have them, they come by putting your faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior and then following Him as your Lord.
Have a great day. You may have lots of possessions but that doesn't mean that you are rich- having eternal life is what makes you truly rich.
For further reading:
Luke 16:20-26
Matthew 6:21
Proverbs 8:18
Proverbs 11:4
Proverbs 13:7
Proverbs 23:5
The scripture is making a comparison here- not between the rich and poor, but between the one who does good and the one who does evil. Unlike us, the Lord puts more value on what a person is on the inside rather than what he has in possessions. What we have is temporary, what we are is eternal. Riches and material possessions only last for a short time, you can't take them with you when you depart this earth and you have no guarantee that you will keep them while you are here.
Jesus told the story of two men- one was a rich man and the other was a poor man, a beggar named Lazarus. By our estimation the rich man was the one who was prosperous and well off, and Lazarus was the one who was poor. God's estimation was different. God considered Lazarus the richer of the two. How do we know? The story goes on to tell us that Lazarus went to heaven when he died and the rich man went to hell. Lazarus may not have had material riches while he was here, but he had eternal ones when he died- therefore, he was the richer one.
True wealth is not measured by the size of your bank account, the size of your house, what vehicle you drive, your annual income. True wealth is measured by Jesus Himself. If Jesus isn't in your life, then you are poor, even though you may have millions in the bank. Many people have misplaced value- they value the things of this world instead of putting value on the things that are eternal. When the scripture asks,"For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matthew 16:26), it is really pointing us in the direction of what we should value more highly-- our eternal soul and making sure that we have eternal life when we leave this world. That's the real riches. Any one who wants to have true riches can have them, they come by putting your faith in Jesus Christ as your Savior and then following Him as your Lord.
Have a great day. You may have lots of possessions but that doesn't mean that you are rich- having eternal life is what makes you truly rich.
For further reading:
Luke 16:20-26
Matthew 6:21
Proverbs 8:18
Proverbs 11:4
Proverbs 13:7
Proverbs 23:5
Monday, January 11, 2010
"Weak Knees"
"My knees are weak through fasting; and my flesh faileth of fatness." Psalm 109:24
The Psalmist said that his knees were weak because of his fasting (abstaining from food). I want to talk about another fasting that brings weakness, not to our bodies, but to our spirits.
The Bible calls its words bread, milk and honey. When we aren't reading it, studying it and meditating upon it, we are doing what I call "spiritual fasting". God's word feeds us spiritually. When we neglect it and go without it, we aren't "eating". The result? "Weak knees".
What does that mean? People who have weak knees have a hard time moving around. People who have weak knees also have a hard time standing. People with weak knees are prone to falls. Likewise, having weak knees, spiritually speaking, makes it hard for us to move around- it makes it hard for us to "walk in the Spirit". It makes it hard for us to "stand" when the enemy comes against us and easy to fall.
"Weak knees" is also an idiom that expresses a strong emotion about something or someone- this emotion is often fear. If you are fasting God's word, you will have "weak knees", which means you will be operating in fear instead of faith, you'll be led by your emotions instead of by the Spirit, you'll be intimidated instead of having boldness, you will always feel defeated because you won't have a "spiritual leg" to stand on because your knees will "buckle" under you, and the result will be a fall.
There is a way to have "strong knees" instead of weak ones so that you can stand, move freely in the spirit, keep from falling and be full of faith. The remedy: EAT! You are going to have to "eat" God's word everyday.
Have a great day. Spiritual fasting causes spiritual weakness.
For further reading:
1 Peter 2:2
John 5:39
Psalm 119:11
John 6:63
The Psalmist said that his knees were weak because of his fasting (abstaining from food). I want to talk about another fasting that brings weakness, not to our bodies, but to our spirits.
The Bible calls its words bread, milk and honey. When we aren't reading it, studying it and meditating upon it, we are doing what I call "spiritual fasting". God's word feeds us spiritually. When we neglect it and go without it, we aren't "eating". The result? "Weak knees".
What does that mean? People who have weak knees have a hard time moving around. People who have weak knees also have a hard time standing. People with weak knees are prone to falls. Likewise, having weak knees, spiritually speaking, makes it hard for us to move around- it makes it hard for us to "walk in the Spirit". It makes it hard for us to "stand" when the enemy comes against us and easy to fall.
"Weak knees" is also an idiom that expresses a strong emotion about something or someone- this emotion is often fear. If you are fasting God's word, you will have "weak knees", which means you will be operating in fear instead of faith, you'll be led by your emotions instead of by the Spirit, you'll be intimidated instead of having boldness, you will always feel defeated because you won't have a "spiritual leg" to stand on because your knees will "buckle" under you, and the result will be a fall.
There is a way to have "strong knees" instead of weak ones so that you can stand, move freely in the spirit, keep from falling and be full of faith. The remedy: EAT! You are going to have to "eat" God's word everyday.
Have a great day. Spiritual fasting causes spiritual weakness.
For further reading:
1 Peter 2:2
John 5:39
Psalm 119:11
John 6:63
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