This week, I have had the joy of being surrounded by women lifting their hearts and their praises to our Great God!  It has been so encouraging and inspiring!  There has been MUCH praise spoken and sung.

And in the midst of it…all throughout the week…I have been thinking of those who continue to praise our Awesome God throughout the storms of life.  My loved ones and friends who set their hearts towards our Faithful God recognizing His goodness and grace and mercy and lovingkindness.  In spite of losing loved ones who have died, struggles in marriages, increasing financial burdens, loss of jobs, sadness due to broken relationships, worry over children, concerns with serious health issues and a myriad of other hurts, anxieties, and pressures—they continue to acknowledge how wonderful God is!  I have heard them express their hearts praising their Father God using words that are so similar to what the Psalmist wrote,

Many, O Lord my God, are the wonderful works which You have done,
and Your thoughts toward us; no one can compare with You!
If I should declare and speak of them, they are too many to be numbered.
Psalms 40:5

During times of trial—perhaps even DESPITE the things we go through—our hearts and minds must be focused on the goodness of God.  He loves us unconditionally.  He is Faithful and True.  He never leaves nor forsakes us.  He keeps His promises. He never changes.

Remember:

• we treasure and hide His Word in our hearts so that we don’t sin
• we remind ourselves of the TRUTH so that we cannot be deceived by lying thoughts
• we take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ
• we put on the whole armor that God has provided for us so that we can stand
• and we speak and proclaim and shout and sing our praises!

Consider this psalm; perhaps you might read it aloud using it to express the words of your own heart!  May you be encouraged through these praises to always bring your own thoughts back to the One Who loves you so and to proclaim His faithfulness, His steadfast love, His trustworthiness, His truth.

Psalm 40
I waited patiently and expectantly for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry.
He drew me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, steadying my steps and establishing my goings.
And He has put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many shall see and fear and put their trust and confident reliance in the Lord.
Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his refuge and trust, and turns not to the proud or to followers of false gods.
Many, O Lord my God, are the wonderful works which You have done, and Your thoughts toward us; no one can compare with You! If I should declare and speak of them, they are too many to be numbered.
Sacrifice and offering You do not desire, nor have You delight in them; You have given me the capacity to hear and obey; burnt offerings and sin offerings You do not require.
Then said I, Behold, I come; in the volume of the book it is written of me; I delight to do Your will, O my God; yes, Your law is within my heart.
I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great assembly. Behold, I have not restrained my lips, as You know, O Lord.
I have not concealed Your righteousness within my heart; I have proclaimed Your faithfulness and Your salvation. I have not hid away Your steadfast love and Your truth from the great assembly.
Withhold not Your tender mercy from me, O Lord; let Your loving-kindness and Your truth continually preserve me!  For innumerable evils have compassed me about; my iniquities have taken such hold on me that I am not able to look up. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart has failed me and forsaken me.
Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me; O Lord, make haste to help me!
Let them be put to shame and confounded together who seek and require my life to destroy it; let them be driven backward and brought to dishonor who wish me evil and delight in my hurt!
Let them be desolate by reason of their shame who say to me, Aha, aha!
Let all those that seek and require You rejoice and be glad in You; let such as love Your salvation say continually, The Lord be magnified!
As for me, I am poor and needy, yet the Lord takes thought and plans for me. You are my Help and my Deliverer. O my God, do not tarry!

Praying for each of you!  ♥ 

♥  coleen

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If you would like to send a personal message to Coleen concerning this blog post, you may email her at: Coleen@girlfriendscoffeehour.com