May 3, 2026

One Touch (Press)

May 8, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Been ostracized for 12 years, I’m used to being alone
Spent everything I had and now it’s gone
I’m used to being put down, my issues tell it all
My only hope is anchored in this fall

If I could just touch the hem of His garment
I know I’d be made whole
If I could just press my way through this madness
His love would heal my soul if only one touch

So many people calling, how could He ever know
That just a brush of Him would stop the flow
If He knew would He rebuke me or shame me to the crowd
Well, I’m desperate ’cause it’s never or it’s now

If I could just touch the hem of His garment
I know I’d be made whole
If I could just press my way through this madness
His love would heal my soul

And then suddenly He turned around
He said somebody has unleashed my power
Well, frightened and embarrassed I bowed
You see I told Him of my troubles and how

I had to touch the hem of His garment
And I know I’ve been made whole
And how I had pressed my way through this madness
And His love has healed my soul

Then with one word He touched the hem of my garment
And you know I’ve been made whole
And somehow He pressed His way through my madness
And His love has healed my soul

I tell you He touched me
He reached way down and touched me
When no one else would touch me
Yeah, Jesus sure enough touched me
And I know I’ve been made whole

~  Sing this song with me as our prayer and worship today.  ~

Nicole C. Mullen – One Touch from 2nafish on GodTube.

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What is on your heart today
that needs His touch to be healed in your soul?

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary
and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28

In the midst of the madness of this world it is easy to get caught up in our circumstances and lose sight of what truly matters—-Him.  Focus on Him. Where in the midst of your madness do you see Him working?  He is always there; He promises never to leave us or forsake us.

And my most favorite promise to hold onto is-

Furthermore, we know that God causes everything to work together for the good
of those who love God and are called in accordance with his purpose;
Romans 8:28

God will always use our circumstances and situations and work them together for our good!  Let hope be the anchor in the fall.

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Heavenly Father, I thank You that, as I press my way through this madness, Your love will heal my soul.  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen!!!

 

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Get Results in Your Weight and Fitness in this Season of Life

May 7, 2014 by

photo (3)

“I have been doing this work out for the past ten years, why am I not seeing any results?”  Have you ever felt like that like?  Trust me; if anyone likes routine and schedules, it is me.  But even with a routine, workout and exercise programs have to change or our fitness level and weight begins to plateau.  Don’t get in the habit of doing the same thing over and over—that will get you stuck. Change the type, intensity, or duration of your exercise.

Have you ever said, “When I used to work out, I did _______; now I can’t stick with anything…”?  The reason is your life and body may be different now. You are a busy woman. Think back…how was your life when you were consistent? How is it different from today? If you get into the habit of thinking you have to exercise the way you once did, exercise may never become a habit for you.

Over the past couple of years, my life has gone through some major changes. Prior to these events, I had a set schedule and, although I changed my exercise with intensity and type, my schedule and routine were consistent. With a new schedule and different responsibilities, I had to change my way of thinking of when I should exercise (if I wanted to get in any type of work out). If I tried to do what I had done up until this point, I would have quit. It simply does not work now.

The Bible tells us,

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven.
Ecclesiastes 3:1

I am in a new season of life and my old way of thinking needed to change. I can’t get frustrated because I can’t do what I once did. It’s a season to create new habits.

I’m curious…

What season of life are you in? Is it time to start forming new habits that will allow you to get the results that you want?

Filed Under: At Home w/ GCH Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Take Joy

May 7, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.  Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.  Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.  Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.   Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Ever been accused of doing something you did not do?  It can be an occasion to become angry, confused, and desperate.  Jesus was foreshadowing how His life was going to play out.  Even though He knew the outcome of His life, He still chose to let others in on God’s basic plan.  God wanted His people, Israel to come back to Him.  From the time that Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, they have done nothing but whine and complain.

In the New Testament we have Christ’s example to follow in order to honor Him. We also have the Apostle Paul and John the Baptist as examples of how to live and not become discouraged. Jesus was tasked to show and tell others about His Father in Heaven, about how to get to Heaven, and how to grow in our faith.  Paul showed us through his perseverance during his journey across the Middle East that teaching others about God’s love was more important than his own safety and comfort. While Paul was beaten, whipped, stranded, jailed, and shipwrecked, he never lost his passion and drive to share with others. The zeal he had used to persecute the Christians was the same he used to tell others the good news!

John the Baptist is an example of sacrifice for his beliefs. God sent John to be a messenger for Jesus’ ministry.  John was raised with rules and a different purpose than most other kids.  Being taught Scripture by both parents, he was raised in a strict Nazarene lifestyle—set apart and different.  I am sure he was persecuted for the way he behaved and how he was different while he was young and definitely during his ministry. The Holy Spirit was with John while he preached the coming of the Messiah. He was able to discern the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and other religious leaders when they came to hear him speak.

We all know the outcome of each of their lives. What is more important is how they lived. The desire to serve God was so overwhelming they could not stop themselves. I pray that we, also, would receive a desire like their’s to share the Lord’s love with others as we live our lives.

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Empty Me

May 7, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

I’ve had just enough of the spotlight when it burns bright
To see how it gets in the blood
And I’ve tasted my share of the sweet life and the wild ride
And found a little is not quite enough

I know how I can stray
And how fast my heart could change

Empty me of the selfishness inside
Every vain ambition and the poison of my pride
And any foolish thing my heart holds to
Lord, empty me of me so I can be filled with You

I’ve seen just enough of the quick buys of the best lies
To know how prodigals can be drawn away
I know how I can stray
And how fast my heart could change

‘Cause everything is a lesser thing
Compared to You, compared to You
‘Cause everything is a lesser thing
Compared to You so I surrender all

~  Listen while you read!  ~

Songwriters:  Chris Sligh, Tony Wood, Clint Lagerburg 
Sung by Chris Sligh
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Chris Sligh wanted to write about his American Idol experience. He saw how quickly fame and fortune can tug at you, change your priorities, and cause you to seek the things of this world.  However, he quickly decided to write about his need for only Jesus, only Christ in his life.  And for that to be possible, he needed to empty himself of those desires and fill up with what Jesus would want for his life.

In the last two years, God has really taught me through some hard experiences that He is all I need.  If He is number one in my life, and I thank Him for being Him, I will have an abundant life.  He didn’t say a rich life without problems or struggles.  He said a full life, full of Him.  He IS all I need!

What does that look like for you?  Is salvation enough and letting Him be everything to you?   If so, then you can pray this simple prayer that I pray every morning: “Empty to fill, Jesus.”

Pretty simple, right?  But so life-changing!  What if you and I really emptied ourselves of all that consumes us and let Him work through us?  What if we really did what we are called to do and died to self?  Philippians 1:21 says this,”For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.”  To truly live this out, we must have the Holy Spirit to empower us, to enhance the faith we already have, and we must commit our whole life to Jesus. We must have a love for Him and a desire for a transformed life… and let nothing else matter.

The sole purpose of this life is to serve the Lord Jesus
and to share Him with others.

So today , let’s make a new commitment!  Let’s pray this prayer every morning and ask the Holy Spirit to help us die to self and be completely filled with Him. I’m excited to see what the Lord will do with us when we are willing!

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Let us pray: Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for being our everything!  Thank You that while we are on this earth, waiting to be with You, that You bless us so with rainbows and flowers and showers…for the beautiful trees and blue skies and oceans and sand.  You are so patient with us when we put other things before You.  But life is so much more amazing when You are first.  We ask that the Holy Spirit give us the strength to empty ourselves of this world and fill ourselves up with You, to let You shine through us and live through us. Help us to share You with Your people.  Empty to fill, Lord Jesus-–daily we ask this. For it is in Your son’s name we pray, amen.

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Blessed…Even When Persecuted

May 6, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo


Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.  Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.  Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.  Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.   Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Typically blessed is not a word I would normally tie to persecution, and definitely not a word I would think when harsh words are being spoken about me. Thankfully, I don’t have to rely on what I think, or how I feel.

When I read this verse, the last line jumped out at me “for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”  For myself, it brings me comfort to know that there were those before me who experienced persecution, taunting, false speech, and evil.  It brings me comfort to know that they were blessed, and to read their stories of how, with God at their side, they overcame the figurative—and, at times—literal stones that were thrown at them.  Having the examples of their lives offers hope that we can and we should rejoice and be glad, despite what we may be facing.

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us,
and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,
who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself,
lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.
Hebrews 12:1-3 NKJV

‘Lest you become weary and discouraged….’   The One who suffered the greatest persecution of all, the One who gave His life so we could live, offers us another example of perseverance in the face of persecution.  He knows the weight that lies on our shoulders, He understands how difficult it is to rejoice, to be glad, and to not become weary or discouraged.  But He also knows that we are capable of these things in these situations.  Not only does He know we can do it, but He has given us the skills to do so.  In these situations I (we) need to remember the examples given to us in His Word—examples of those who walked our path before us.

Let’s Pray: Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for not only offering examples of those who have walked this path before us, but thank You for living the greatest of those examples.  When life begins to weigh down on us and perseverance is not something we think to practice, Your words are a page away and remind us that it can be done.  I pray that we see examples of joy and gladness in our lives and in others.  Just as You and the prophets of old are examples for us, that we may be examples for others.  In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

The Motions

May 6, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

This might hurt, it’s not safe
But I know that I’ve gotta make a change
I don’t care if I break
At least I’ll be feeling something
‘Cause just okay is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of life

I don’t wanna go through the motions
I don’t wanna go one more day
Without Your all-consuming passion inside of me
I don’t wanna spend my whole life asking
What if I had given everything
Instead of going through the motions

No regrets, not this time
I’m gonna let my heart defeat my mind
Let Your love make me whole
I think I’m finally feeling something
‘Cause just okay is not enough
Help me fight through the nothingness of this life

Take me all the way
(Take me all the way)
Take me all the way
(‘Cause I don’t wanna go through the motions)
Take me all the way
(Lord, I’m finally feeling something real)
Take me all the way

~  Sing this song with me as our prayer and worship today.  ~

Songwriters: Sammi Zell, Jason Houser, Matthew West
Performed by Matthew West 
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The question on my heart for myself and for you is this:
Are you going through the motions
or are you walking with an all-consuming passion?

I want to live with abandon and give all that I have in this life!!!  When I get to the end of my life I don’t want to have any regrets.  I want to invest, with my whole heart, all that I have.  And not miss any opportunities that God gives me each and every day.

Last night I had the opportunity to go to a Toby Mac concert, and he shared this thought:  “With every opportunity and people you meet along the way you either drain them or lift them up.”  When I ponder this question it really makes me want to use the most of each and every opportunity I am given each and every day to speak life into the lives of others.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
Proverbs 18:31 ESV

What we speak and how we act will reap fruit—it can either be good fruit or bad fruit.  The choice is ours….

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Father, I pray that we will be women completely living with Your all-consuming passion; living with abandon to serve You, and to make the most of the opportunities You give us.  May we not be women who just go through the motions!  In Jesus’ Name, AMEN!!!!

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Cinquo de Mayo Salad and Salsa

May 5, 2014 by

Who loves Mexican food? Raise your hand! Oh, me, too! So in keeping with the Festival of Cinquo de Mayo, we enjoyed a delicious Tex-Mex meal over the weekend. Of course, I wanted to keep to our healthy but oh-so-yummy point of view. Included below are two healthy, full of fresh ingredients and easy recipes for side dishes: a Black Bean warm salad and a simple mango salsa. Enjoy!

2014-05-04 19.14.29

Black Bean Salad

Ingredients:2014-05-04 19.09.00
1 cup corn, either frozen, or cut fresh off the cob
1/2 yellow bell pepper, diced
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
1/2 small red onion, finely chopped
1 heaping tablespoon chopped garlic (I use jarred)
1/2 teaspoon chipotle chili powder
1 tablespoon, plus additional 1/8 cup, extra-virgin olive oil
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
Sea salt, freshly ground pepper
1 cup grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
2 teaspoons minced, seeded jalapeno pepper (optional)
1 small avocado, halved, pitted and diced
1 teaspoon lime juice, fresh if possible
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, leaves and stems

Directions:

  • Cook the bell pepper and onions in the olive oil 5-6 minutes over medium-high heat in a saute pan.
  • Add the corn, and cook for 3-4 minutes more.
  • Then add the chili powder and chopped garlic, and cook for 1 more minute stirring constantly so that the garlic does not burn.
  • Reduce heat and toss in the black beans to warm through.
  • Add the additional olive oil and toss to coat evenly. Adjust seasoning with sea salt and pepper.
  • Remove from the heat and gently fold in the tomatoes, (jalapeno pepper, if using) avocado, and cilantro.   Serve immediately.

Simple Mango Salsa2014-05-04 19.08.18

Ingredients:
1 large mango, peeled, pitted, and cut into medium-size dice
1/2 small red onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
2-3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
2 teaspoons minced seeded jalapeño pepper (optional)

Directions:
Gently combine all ingredients in a small bowl; chill in refrigerator ‘til ready to serve.

Filed Under: At Home w/ GCH Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Persecution…Say WHAT?!?

May 5, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo


Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.  Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.  Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.  Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.   Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

  ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~  *

Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous—
with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation,
regardless of your outward conditions) are you when people revile you and persecute you
and say all kinds of evil things against you falsely on My account.
Matthew 5:11 AMP

Have you ever thought of persecution as a good thing? Something to take joy in, to rejoice over? Nope, not me. Yet this verse states we are blessed if we are mocked, reviled, defamed, cursed or falsely accused. Say What?!? How can persecution possibly be good?

Look at it this way: persecution forces us to focus on what we believe, why we believe it, and what, (or Whom), we are suffering for. Living a “Kingdom life” for Christ’s sake is a display of our discipleship. Our values and morals are at odds with the world. Those who persecute us hope to tarnish our witness. And, our tormentors may not be just unbelievers. According to David Guzik empty religion hates genuine faith and rejects true faith. So we may be persecuted by so-called “Christians” as well. But consider this…if we weren’t living a radical life for Christ, we would go unnoticed. Right?

1 Peter 4:14 puts it like this:
If you are censured and suffer abuse [because you bear] the name of Christ,
blessed [are you—happy, fortunate, to be envied, with life-joy,
and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of your outward condition],
because the Spirit of glory, the Spirit of God, is resting upon you.

We can suffer and be persecuted for Christ only because He first became human to suffer for us. He was persecuted so that our suffering, our persecution would not be meaningless. Our suffering for His sake is a prelude to glory and joy. We are blessed because of the reproach, the defamation. It shows we are following Jesus, that we are being identified with Him. And the best part? Through our persecution, Christ is glorified. Hallelujah!   Can I get an amen?

 ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~  *

Lord, help us see persecution as a good thing, for it means we are following closely to You. Let our attitude through torment and trials bring glory and honor to You. Let us remain steadfast and remind us we can do ALL things through You, for in our weakness Your strength is perfected. In Jesus’ precious name, amen – so be it.

Filed Under: Seeking Him Daily Devotional Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Acts Of Love

May 4, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Sitting at the stoplight
He can’t be bothered by the heart-cry
Written on the cardboard in her hand
But when she looks him in the eye
His heart is broken open wide
And he feels the hand of God reach out through him
As Heaven touches earth

Oh – we bring the Kingdom come
Oh – with every act of love
Jesus, help us carry You
Alive in us, Your light shines through
With every act of love
We bring the Kingdom come

There’s silence at the table
He wants to talk but he’s not able
For all the shame that’s locked him deep inside
But her words are the medicine
When she says they can begin again
And forgiveness will set him free tonight
As Heaven touches earth

God put a million, million doors in the world
For His love to walk through
One of those doors is you
I said, God put a million, million doors in the world
For His love to walk through
One of those doors is you

~  Sing this song with me as our prayer and worship today.  ~

Written by Singer/Songwriter Jason Gray along with Jason Ingram

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Over on our Seeking Him devotional blog, we are just finishing up nine weeks of studying the Beatitudes.  Y’know, the portion of the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus taught the blessing of having certain ‘heart attitudes’ i.e., being meek, having humility, mourning, etc.  This past week, our focus was on Matthew 5:10.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

It almost seems that, in this beautiful song, Jason Gray could be offering up a suggestion for an addition to the Beatitudes.  “Blessed are those who do acts of love…for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.”  Living our lives with a heart to carry out acts of love definitely puts us in the category of those who are ‘blessed!’

Let all that you do be done in love.
1 Corinthians 16:14

This verse follows along after the great ‘LOVE’ chapter in 1st Corinthians.  No words minced here:  ‘Let a-l-l. that you do….’  Not some things, not a random act, not one good deed per day—but all that you do.  Whew!  Really?!?  When Paul penned this (inspired by the Holy Spirit…2 Peter 1:21), he wrote all and all was the directive.  And we CAN do this!  Here’s how….

And whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus and in [dependence upon] His Person, giving praise to God the Father through Him.
Colossians 3:17 AMP

(Thank You, Lord!)  It is not in our own strength but in dependance on Christ Who dwells in us.  Just as our Lord truly did all in love, so can we!  We have the mind of Christ, remember?

But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts of His heart.
1 Corinthians 2:16

And so, we determine and choose to live as Jesus did. As Laura reminded us the other day, “WWJD—What Would Jesus Do?”  We are His hands and feet in this world.  No longer does the Savior walk this earth reaching out to and ministering to all those around Him.  Just as Jesus was the physical, living proof of His Father…we can, too!  Remember, Jesus encouraged His disciples that they would be known as His by their love (John 13:35)!  Us, too!!!

No one has ever seen God;
but if we love one another,
God lives in us and His love is made complete in us.
1 John 4:12

And so we should be living our lives with acts of love as the standard, the norm, the given…truly, our hearts’ desire. We have been enabled…we can do this!

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved,
compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,
bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other;
as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
Colossians 3:12-14 ESV

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue
but with actions and in truth.
1 John 3:16-18

An act of love can look like oh-so-many different things…

  • to a relative living cross-country, it could be a photo montage of your kiddos latest antics…
  • to the elderly widower who around the corner, it could an invitation to have supper with your family…
  • to the crossing guard who is there every morning and every afternoon to guide the kids across the busy city street, it could be a cup of hot coffee…
  • to another mom sitting watching tee-ball practice, it could be a listening ear…
  • to your super-tired hubby who has worked extra late for the third-night-in-a-row, it could be some freshly baked cookies and a shoulder rub…
  • to the friend anticipating another round of chemo, it could be the promise of going and sitting with them during that time….

You get the picture. It is not in the bigness nor the smallness of the act…it is being Jesus’ hands and feet.  It is loving with His love!

“God put a million doors in the world
For His love to walk through
One of those doors is you”

Jesus our Messiah was THE Door (John 10)…the Way, the only Way, to the Father.

May we, as He was, be a door for others to walk through to reach God’s love.

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Shackles (Praise You)

May 3, 2014 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

Whoo!
It sure is hot out here, Ya know
I don’t mind though
Just glad to be free
Know what I’m saying, uh!

Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance
I just wanna praise You
(What’cha wanna do?)
I just wanna praise You
(Yeah, yeah)

You broke the chains now I can lift my hands
(Uh feel me?)
And I’m gonna praise You
(What’cha gon do?)
I’m gonna praise You

In the corners of mind
I just can’t seem to find a reason to believe
That I can break free
‘Cause You see I have been down for so long
Feel like the hope is gone
But as I lift my hands, I understand
That I should praise You through my circumstance

Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance
I just wanna praise You
I just wanna praise You
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands
And I’m gonna praise You
I’m gonna praise You

Everything that could go wrong
All went wrong at one time
So much pressure fell on me
I thought I was gon lose my mind
But I know You wanna see If I will hold on through these trials
But I need You to lift this load
‘Cause I can’t take it anymore

Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance
I just wanna praise You
I just wanna praise You
You broke the chains now I can lift my hands
And I’m gonna praise You
I’m gonna praise You

Been through the fire and the rain
Bound in every kind of way
But God has broken every chain
So let me go right now

~  Sing this song with me as our prayer and worship today.  ~

Be joyful always;
pray continually;
give thanks in all circumstances,
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Be joyful always?  Give thanks in all circumstances?  Seems like a tough one, doesn’t it?  When things are going really well for us, I hear folks saying “God is good!”, but are we saying that when things AREN’T going our way??  We should! God is good, friends, ALL THE TIME!

I have a playlist on my computer simply called “Praise.”  This song (Shackles) leads the group.  Whenever things seem to be a bit overwhelming or I’m having a particularly rough day, I crank that playlist and sing with all I’ve got.

Psalm 100 tells us:

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.  Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations.

You see, it’s not about MY circumstance, it’s about HIM.  I know who I belong to, and the One who made me is good, He loves me and will be faithful to me!  So I praise him through ALL circumstances.  I don’t have to like the circumstance, but I do love God, and I trust that when He tells me that He works all things for my good (Romans 8:28), that He is able to turn anything around!  As an added bonus, when I focus on praising God, I take my attention off myself which then allows God to lift my spirits!

Why not try it today?  Crank up this song and sing and dance unto the Lord!

  • Praise Him for His greatness and love for you!
  • Praise Him for having all things under control!
  • Praise Him for loving you unconditionally and caring about the circumstance in which you find yourself – no matter how challenging!

Then feel how those waves of praise come back to you in the peace and love of Jesus.  Praise the Lord!!  😀  Have a wonderful day filled with the love of God!

Filed Under: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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