December 22, 2024

Loving Kindness

September 24, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

I will give thanks unto You, Lord
For You are good, Your loving kindness never ends
I raise my hands, You heal my soul
Here in the presence of the Lord my heart’s restored
And You guide me in the paths of righteousness
And You hide me in the shadow of Your hand
I rest in You

Blessed be the name of the Lord
I’m my Father’s child forevermore
You heard every prayer
You broke every chain
You alone delivered me

My Prince of Peace, You lifted me
Where everything that’s named is placed under your feet
And may my praises be as incense to you, Lord
And may my worship be a sweet fragrance
To You alone, my King

The Son of God He reigns on the throne
King of Kings let all the nations know
That the Lord is good and His mercy endures forever

For the Lord is good and His mercy endures forever and ever
For the Lord is good and His mercy endures forever and ever
For the Lord is good and His mercy endures forever and ever

Miriam Webster/Darlene Zschech
 *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever!
Psalm 118:1

You are my God, and I will confess, praise, and give thanks to You;
You are my God, I will extol You.
O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever.
Verses 28 and 29

Don’t you just love that the psalmist begins and ends this beautiful psalm with the very same words?  And such wonderful words!  Are they not similar to words that you and I use when we are praising our Great God?  In just a cursory overview with a concordance, I found over fifteen Scriptures with identical wording.  In fact, Psalm 107 uses this phrasing of praise in five separate verses.

The Almighty God is so deserving of every single praise that has ever been uttered since time began…and He will be praised by men and angels (and you & me, too!) throughout eternity.

Way back, Melchizedek the high priest blessed Abram and  praised God saying,

Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.
And praise be to God Most High, Who delivered your enemies into your hand.
Genesis 14:19 and 20

And in the endtimes, The Almighty God, The Great I AM along with the spotless Lamb of God will be praised and worshipped continually and throughout eternity.

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth
and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:
“To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”
Revelation 5:13

Think about your own prayers and praises—particularly those that spontaneously come pouring out of a  thankful heart.  What do you find you praise God for over…and over…and over again?  Perhaps you might share it in the comments section below.  I look forward to praising our Great God along with you!

 *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

Dear Lord, my heart echoes the words of the psalmist…and I give thanks and praise to You for You are SO good; Your mercy and loving-kindness will endure forever and ever and ever!  Amen.

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The Steadfast Love Of The Lord

August 27, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases
His mercies never come to an end
They are new every morning, new every morning
Great is Thy faithfulness, O Lord
Great is Thy faithfulness

Kathy Troccoli
written by Edith McNeill

  *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
His mercies never come to an end;
They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:21-23

During my quiet time the other morning, I was reading along in a devotional focused on chapter 3 of the Book of Lamentations (here’s a link so you can read it yourself).  The devotional writer was relating how she ‘missed’ the first part of verse 21—‘but this I call to mind.’  And I realized that I, too, sometimes just hurry by those six little words as I focus on the promises given in the rest of this passage. (How about you?)

As I went about my day I kept hearing this passage over and over in my mind as I sang and hummed this tune.  So simple and yet such a beautiful and complex melody!  I love the solemn, somber tone of the cello and the sweetness of the violin (in this recording) as the musicians play along with the pianist.  And, of course, Kathy Troccoli’s beautiful voice.  But what I love the most is that by hearing it over and over, the words—the Scripture—has sunk into my memory and now I can truly ‘…call to mind, and therefore I have hope…’.  Memorizing verses from God’s Word is such an important thing to do.  Here’s why I say that….

Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You.
Psalm 119:11 NASB

Those two phrases ‘but this I call to mind’ and ‘Your Word I have treasured in my heart’ are each relating to really knowing and treasuring the Scriptures.

But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
His mercies never come to an end;
They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in Him.”
The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.
It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
Lamentations 3:21-26

Almighty God even described Himself as having ‘steadfast love.’  When God met with Moses, and gave him the Ten Commandments, the first thing He did was make Himself known to Moses.

The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there,
and proclaimed the name of the Lord.
The Lord passed before him and proclaimed,
“The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger,
and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,
keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin…..
Exodus 34:5–7

Isn’t it AWEsome that what Almighty God told Moses about Himself was that He is

  • merciful
  • gracious
  • slow to anger
  • abounding in steadfast love
  • faithful
  • keeps steadfast love
  • forgiving

…and twice (‘and this I call to mind’) He mentions that His love is steadfast!!!

Throughout the entire history of mankind—from Adam & Eve and all the way along through the Scriptures—we read of the myriad of ways that our Great God has manifested His steadfast love. So, in our pursuit of calling to mind the never-ceasing, steadfast love of the Lord, we would need to remember some examples of His steadfast love. The psalmist spoke of God’s steadfast love many, many, many times.  Undoubtedly, he had this truth ‘hidden in his heart’ and often would ‘call this to mind.’

Psalm 107 (ESV) is a great starting point (you can go here to read the whole psalm, if you like).  Here the psalmist relates quite a number of times (six times!) how God’s steadfast love has redeemed and saved and protected His children. And he reminds them (and us!) to ‘give thanks to the LORD’ for His steadfast love. The final verse wraps it up:

Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things;
let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord.
verse 43

Throughout the Bible, God’s people tell of their praise and thanks for His steadfast love. Here are just a few passages…

But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me.
Psalms 13:5 and 6

Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens,
Your faithfulness to the clouds.
How precious is Your steadfast love, O God!
The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.
They feast on the abundance of Your house,
and You give them drink from the river of Your delights.
For with You is the Fountain of life;
in Your Light do we see light.
Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know You,
and Your righteousness to the upright of heart!
Psalms 36:5, 7-9

I will recount the steadfast love of the Lord,
the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord has granted us,
and the great goodness to the house of Israel
that He has granted them according to His compassion,
according to the abundance of His steadfast love.
Isaiah 63:7

O Lord God, turn not away the face of [me] Your anointed one;
[earnestly] remember Your good deeds, mercy, and steadfast love for David Your servant…
2 Chronicles 6:42

Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.
Psalm 32:10

Do you have a favorite verse or two that tells of our great God’s steadfast love?  I would love it if you would please share it with us (in the comment section below)…thanks!

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The Steadfast Love Of The Lord

March 12, 2015 by

psalmshymnsspiritualsongskjv

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases
His mercies never come to an end
They are new every morning, new every morning
Great is Thy faithfulness, O Lord
Great is Thy faithfulness

Kathy Troccoli
written by Edith McNeill

  *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
His mercies never come to an end;
They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:21-23

During my quiet time the other morning, I was reading along in a Bible study lesson from the She Reads Truth community. (Here’s a link so you can read it yourself).  The devotional writer was relating how she ‘missed’ the first part of verse 21—‘but this I call to mind.’ And I realized that I, too, just hurry by those few words as I focus on the promises given in the rest of this passage. (How about you?)

As I went about my day I kept hearing this over and over in my mind as I sang and hummed it. So simple and such a beautiful melody! I love, in this recording, the solemn, somber tone of the cello as the musician plays along with the piano. And, of course, Kathy Troccoli’s beautiful voice.  But what I love the most is that by hearing it over and over, the words—the Scripture—has sunk into my memory and now I can truly ‘…call to mind, and therefore I have hope…’. Memorizing verses from God’s Word is such an important thing to do. Here’s why I say that….

Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You.
Psalm 119:11 NASB

Those two phrases ‘but this I call to mind’ and ‘Your Word I have treasured in my heart’ are each relating to really knowing the Scriptures.

But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope:
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end;
They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.
“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in Him.”
The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.
It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
Lamentations 3:21-26

Almighty God even described Himself as having ‘steadfast love.’  When God met with Moses, and gave him the Ten Commandments, the first thing He did was make Himself known to Moses.

The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there,
and proclaimed the name of the Lord.
The Lord passed before him and proclaimed,
“The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger,
and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,
keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin…..
Exodus 34:5–7

Isn’t it AWEsome that what Almighty God told Moses about Himself was that He is

  • merciful
  • gracious
  • slow to anger
  • abounding in steadfast love
  • faithful
  • keeps steadfast love
  • forgiving

…and twice (‘and this I call to mind’) He mentions that His love is steadfast!!!

Throughout the entire history of mankind—from Adam & Eve and all the way along through the Scriptures—we read of the myriad of ways that our Great God has manifested His steadfast love. So, in our pursuit of calling to mind the never-ceasing, steadfast love of the Lord, we would need to remember some examples of His steadfast love. The psalmist spoke of God’s steadfast love many, many, many times. Undoubtedly, he had this truth ‘hid in his heart’ and often would ‘call this to mind.’

Psalm 107 (ESV) is a great starting point (you can go here to read it, if you like). Here the psalmist relates quite a number of times how God’s steadfast love has redeemed and saved and protected His children. And he reminds them (and us!) to ‘give thanks to the LORD’ for His steadfast love. The final verse wraps it up:

Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things;
let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord.
verse 43

Throughout the Bible, God’s people tell of their praise and thanks for His steadfast love. Here is a list of just a few passages.

But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me.
Psalms 13:5 and 6

Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens,
Your faithfulness to the clouds.
How precious is Your steadfast love, O God!
The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.
They feast on the abundance of Your house,
and You give them drink from the river of Your delights.
For with You is the Fountain of life;
in Your Light do we see light.
Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who know You,
and Your righteousness to the upright of heart!
Psalms 36:5, 7-9

I will recount the steadfast love of the Lord,
the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord has granted us,
and the great goodness to the house of Israel
that He has granted them according to His compassion,
according to the abundance of His steadfast love.
Isaiah 63:7

O Lord God, turn not away the face of [me] Your anointed one;
[earnestly] remember Your good deeds, mercy, and steadfast love for David Your servant…
2 Chronicles 6:42

Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.
Psalm 32:10

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Let Them Praise

May 25, 2014 by

SeekingHimLogo

Let them thank the Lord for His steadfast love,
    for His wondrous works to the children of man!
For He shatters the doors of bronze
    and cuts in two the bars of iron.

Psalms 107:15-16

The hundred and seventh Psalm begins with an exhortation to us.

Give thanks unto the LORD…
Psalm 107:1

And the basis for this thanksgiving is His goodness and His mercy. Two things that we really should be thankful for: the goodness of God to us, and then God’s mercy unto us. How thankful am I for the mercy of God! Were it not for the mercy of God, where would I be today? Surely not here. But, for his mercy that endures for ever (Psalm 107:1).

Now, as we go through this psalm, the first verse exhorts us to praise. But then the psalm goes on and begins to talk about certain people and their condition. And then we find the ‘oft-repeated phrase’ (in fact, it’s repeated about three times, or four times through the psalm):

Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness,
and His wonderful works to the children of men!

verses 8, 15, 21, and 31

Oh that men would really learn to just praise God for His goodness to us. I think that we reflect too little upon God, because I really don’t think that you can seriously reflect upon God without praising and without thanksgiving. When you really start to reflect on His goodness—on His blessings, on all that He’s done—the praises just sort of come.

I think this verse, the very last verse in the Book of Psalms, encapsulates the message of Psalms 147-150.

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
Psalm 150:6

It is both an exhortation and a command for every living creature—everything that draws breath—to praise the Lord. Why is the Lord worthy of the praise of all creation? This is spelled out quite clearly in the preceding psalms (147-150).

There appears, then, to be a progression from all creation to the sanctuary as we go through these psalms. One thing is resoundingly clear, however: the praise of God is a necessary requirement upon every living thing: everything that has breath. Men in their sinful ignorance may mock God, and may deny that He is worthy of any worship. These psalms make it abundantly clear that we are so dependent on Him for all that we have, that even those who refuse to acknowledge Him owe Him everything. These psalms help us see our own position before God. We who consider ourselves self-made, independent, creators of our own destiny, crafters of our own world, are nothing more than helpless children before our Maker. We need Him…and the psalms, the Scripture, the gospel demand that we confess this fact.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

Father, we give You praise and honor for what You are, who You are, and who You shall be as You are great today and forever more. We give You praise for the goodness and mercies that follows us all the days of our lives. Thank You for Your love that is unconditional. We give You praise always. In Jesus’ name we pray, AMEN!

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CHRISTLife — An Intentional Quiet Time (Part 2)

February 15, 2014 by

IMG_1391

Each Saturday for the next few weeks, we will look in-depth at a few of the most important aspects of having a quiet time—or as some folks call it—a devotional time.  Last week we talked about one aspect of a quiet time—reading the Bible. This week we will focus on recognizing how vital it is to include singing praises to God as part of our quiet time.

If you are like me, you have found that singing and praising through song is so uplifting; don’t you think?  Almighty God is the point…He is the focus…keeping my mind and heart set toward Him is my aim.  He is the reason why I sing praises to Him!

Psalms 147:1, 7
Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God,
for He is gracious and lovely; praise is becoming and appropriate.
Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
sing praises with the harp or the lyre to our God!

There are more reasons to praise our God than we have words enough to do so!  Here are just a few of His attributes:
• He is full of glory (Psalm 138:5)
• He is great (Psalm 145:3)
• He is wise and powerful (Daniel 2:20)
• He is good (Psalm 107:8)
• He is merciful (Psalm 89:1)
• He is faithful (Deuteronomy 7:9)

And just some of His wonderful works:
• He is the One who saves us (Psalm 18:46)
• He keeps His promises (1 Kings 8:56)
• He pardons sin (Psalm 103:1-3)
• He gives us our daily food (Psalm 136:25)

There is a day coming when all will praise God by bowing to Jesus the King!

Philippians 2:10-11
That in (at) the name of Jesus every knee should (must) bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
And every tongue [frankly and openly] confess and acknowledge
that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Almighty God is oh-so-worthy to be praised!  Psalm 107 would be a great place to look to be encouraged with reminders of what God has done for His children! Throughout this particular psalm are listed proof after proof of God’s goodness.

Psalms 107:8, 15, 21, 31
Oh, that men would praise [and confess to] the Lord for His goodness
and loving-kindness and His wonderful works to the children of men!

The Book of Psalms has been called the ‘Praise Book’ of the Bible.  In it are literally hundreds of examples of praises and reasons why praise is oh-so-very important. Did you know that every single one of the 150 psalms included in the Book of Psalms is an actual song?  Steve Pearson, a wonderful singer and songwriter, has written and recorded many songs using the words of the Psalms and his own inspired musical accompaniment. To my knowledge, he has now written and recorded a melody to each of the 150 psalms!  Here is a link to his website  www.psalmistry.com  Check it out!  Click on a song you have chosen to listen to…this will give you the particular songs words.  then click on “mp3 or midi” (I usually choose midi and listen to a piano rendition of the song). Also you can choose to view (and print!) the sheet music for the song.  I would love to hear how these wonderful songs and website have been a blessing to you!

As I read the Scriptures, one thing is clear: singing our praises is a good thing!

Join Miss Amy Grant as she sings Sing Your Praise to the Lord!

Psalm 92:1
It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High…

Psalm 138:1-5
I will confess and praise You [O God] with my whole heart;
before the gods will I sing praises to You.
I will worship toward Your holy temple and praise Your name
for Your loving-kindness and for Your truth and faithfulness;
for You have exalted above all else Your name and Your word
and You have magnified Your word above all Your name!
In the day when I called, You answered me;
and You strengthened me with strength
(might and inflexibility to temptation) in my inner self.
All the kings of the land shall give You credit and praise You, O Lord,
for they have heard of the promises of Your mouth [which were fulfilled].
Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the Lord
and joyfully celebrate His mighty acts, for great is the glory of the Lord.

Keep worshipping Him and enjoying your quiet time with your Lord!  As you seek Him, He will be found…He promises!

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Roasted Beet and Goat Cheese Salad

November 25, 2013 by

The countdown has begun!  The lists are made…the shopping for groceries is happening…maybe the forks and knives, plates and napkins have been counted out, too! Just a few days now ‘til we will celebrate Thanksgiving with our loved ones recognizing the goodness of our great God (and eating some yummy food, too)!

For the past few weeks, we have been sharing some of the dishes that we will be preparing to serve and share; did you take a peek at that scrump-diddly-umptious Mocha Brownie Torte that Dana gave us her recipe for?  Today I am sharing my recipe for an equally delicious dish that is in a totally different category: Roasted Beet and Goat Cheese Salad. This recipe keeps within the parameters of our healthy but oh-so-yummy point of view.  A very light vinaigrette is served on this salad.

I hope you each have a wonderful, thanks-filled, counting your blessings kind of Thanksgiving Day!  May we each always remember how very, very much we have to be thankful for and give thanks to the One Who so mercifully and abundantly and graciously provides for our every need!

Oh, that men would praise the Lord for His goodness and lovingkindness and His wonderful works to the children of men!
Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving and rehearse His deeds with shouts of joy and singing!
Psalms 107:21 and 22

2013-11-24 18.55.52

Roasted Beet and Goat Cheese Salad

Ingredients:

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
3-4 medium beets, peeled and cut into bite-size pieces
6 cups fresh arugula (or your favorite lettuce blend)
1/2 cup pistachios
3 ounces soft fresh goat cheese, coarsely crumbled

Directions:
Line a baking sheet with foil. Preheat oven to 450.
Whisk the balsamic vinegar and honey together in a small bowl to blend.
Slowly whisk in the oil. Season the vinaigrette with salt and pepper.
In a different bowl, toss the beets with just enough of the vinaigrette to coat.
Place the beets on the foil-lined baking sheet and roast ‘til the beets are slightly caramelized, stirring once or twice, for about 30 minutes.  Set aside and cool.
Toss the arugula (and/or other lettuces) along with a small amount of the remaining vinaigrette in a large bowl ‘til lightly coated.
Season the salad, to taste, with additional salt and pepper. Place the dressed salad onto a large serving plate.
Arrange the beets around the salad.
Sprinkle with the nuts and small dollops of the goat cheese.
Serve the balance of the vinaigrette alongside in a small pitcher.

 ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

God loves you!  ♥  (Don’t ever forget that!)

♥  coleen

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Praise Looks Good on You

November 20, 2013 by

SeekingHimLogo

 

Oh that men would praise the Lord for His goodness,
and for His wonderful works to the children of men!
And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving,
and declare His works with rejoicing.
Psalms 107:21 and 22

This psalm is relevant today for all believers who in misery and affliction cry out to the Lord; it builds up our faith and encourages us during those times when we need God to intervene specifically in our lives.

However we are to praise God in good times and in bad times, for His goodness and for His wonderful works to the children of men. Let us go back to the children of Israel and see how God took care of them. He made sure they had food, their clothes did not tear, their shoes did not wear out—all were His wonderful works. The children of Israel did not grasp the concept of praising God at this point; rather, they felt Moses took them into the wilderness to perish.
We are to praise God in all circumstances for He alone knows what is best for us. He created us in His own image and likeness. That is a reason enough to thank Him endlessly, for it gives us an assurance that we will not lack anything! We are the apple of His eye; we will inherit and eat the fruit of the land all because we are His likeness. This means God cannot allow us to suffer it is like He is suffering with us for we are His very own.

One time I was listening to Dr. David Jeremiah, Senior Pastor of Shadow Mountain Church in San Diego, California. In his message he said, “Praise is not a choice but rather is a mandate and that is what we were created for.” He said, “Praise looks good on us and makes our faces shine in the eyes of our Lord. We come to the Lord with praises and His glory comes down.”

This is so true! When our praises go up…His glory comes down and takes care of our anxieties. Even if we cannot pray, but just give thanks and praises to the Father, He delights in the praises of His people.

As we are praising God it is like a sweet aroma going to heaven. It is as if He smells it, checks out where it is coming from, and He realizes that it is you and me…Wow!! And He asks the angels to rush with blessings that were in stock and an immediate supply to us.
When we are praising the Lord we have to do it with gratitude and rejoicing for what He has done and what He is yet to do. He is Omnipresent; hence His instant blessings.

* * * * *

God our Father, we thank You for Your goodness and Your wonderful works. We give You all the glory and honor for Your lovingkindness. We declare with our mouths that indeed You are our God and Your works are marvelous. In Jesus’ name I have prayed. AMEN!

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

Intentional Praise

November 18, 2013 by

SeekingHimLogo

Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving,
And declare His works with rejoicing.
Psalms 107:21-22

“Say please. Say thank you. Give honor and credit to those where it’s due— in sports; in life; at home; in school.”

These are some things I say to my children on a regular basis; these are things I need to remind myself of on a regular basis as well:  Give thanks… sacrifices of thanksgiving…declare His works with rejoicing.

I think that so often we as people, that I as a Christian, don’t give enough credit where it is due.

I was journalling last night, writing about some of the things that have happened in my life over the past few days and years.  During this process (and after reading over some of what I had written) I realized that I had not given credit where it was due.

It’s not as if I haven’t thanked God personally for what He has done for me, or even what He has done in me but have I “sacrificed with thanksgiving?” Have I “declared His works with rejoicing?”  Do other people, believers and non-believers alike, know Who I attribute my successes to?  It takes more than a quick “Thank God!”  It takes an intentional act of declaration—a sacrifice of praise.

Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifices of praise to God,
that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name.
Hebrews 13:15

I know that God knows my heart.  He knows that I truly thank Him and appreciate all that He has done for me, but I want others to know, too.  I want God to not only know my heart but to hear my words as well.  I want to make intentional declarations of thanks.

* * * * *

Dear Heavenly Father,
Bring these Scriptures to mind when we give thanks.  Remind us to make intentional declarations and not simply rely on the fact that You know our hearts.  Thank You, Lord, for the gentle reminder You give us through Your written Word.  In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

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Praise Then, Now and Forever

October 25, 2013 by

SeekingHimLogo

O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever!
Psalm 118:1

You are my God, and I will confess, praise, and give thanks to You;
You are my God, I will extol You.
O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever.
Verses 28 and 29

Don’t you just love that the psalmist begins and ends this beautiful psalm with the very same words?  And such wonderful words!  Are they not similar to words that you and I use when we are praising our Great God?  In just a cursory overview with a concordance, I found over fifteen Scriptures with identical wording.  In fact, Psalm 107 uses this phrasing of praise in five separate verses.

The Almighty God is so deserving of every single praise that has ever been uttered since time began…and He will be praised by men and angels throughout eternity.

Way back, Melchizedek the high priest blessed Abram and  praised God saying,

“Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth.
And praise be to God Most High, Who delivered your enemies into your hand.”
Genesis 14:19 and 20

And in the endtimes, The Almighty God, The Great I AM along with the spotless Lamb of God will be praised and worshipped continually and throughout eternity.

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth
and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:
“To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”
Revelation 5:13

Think about your own prayers and praises—particularly those that spontaneously come out of a  thankful heart.  What do you find you praise God for over…and over…and over again?  Perhaps you might share it in the comments section below.  I look forward to praising our Great God along with you!

* * * * *

Dear Lord, my heart echoes the words of the psalmist…and I give thanks and praise to You for You are SO good; Your mercy and loving-kindness will endure forever and ever and ever!  Amen.

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