365 Days of Praise
Are Your Feet Dancing?
Lord, You are our INHERITANCE. What more could we want? We love You, praise You, and rejoice in YOU!
Better than Bootstraps
Do you feel hopeless? Perhaps the last bit of hope to which you’ve clung just went out the window. Your future may appear bleak. Dark clouds may seem to hover over you no matter where you go or how hard you try. But the good news is, if you’re a Christian, you have every reason to hope. Why? Because Romans 15:13 explains that the GOD OF HOPE is in you through the Holy Spirit. “Now may the GOD OF HOPE fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” It’s not a question of if you have hope. You do. The question is, are you allowing the GOD OF HOPE to fill you with His joy and peace? You can experience hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. It’s a matter of switching from pulling yourself up by your bootstraps to believing God is on the throne, He sees you, and loves you. He has your best interest at heart. In faith, pray, “GOD OF HOPE, fill me with joy and peace through the Holy Spirit.”
GOD OF HOPE, thank You for giving us the Holy Spirit so we can abound in hope by His power.
Overwhelm Us
Prior to Jesus’s crucifixion, He prepared His disciples for His departure; comforting them that the HOLY SPIRIT would come to them. Can you imagine their confusion? Their frame of reference for the HOLY SPIRIT was God anointing only a few Old Testament people to accomplish divine work on earth. The names Elijah and Elisha certainly came to mind. But them? “Dazed and confused” might have described the disciples as they listened to Jesus tell them about the HOLY SPIRIT. The HOLY SPIRIT would be their Helper. God the Father would send Him in Christ’s name. The HOLY SPIRIT would teach them all things and bring to their remembrance all that Jesus said to them. The HOLY SPIRIT would empower them to live in a way that bore witness to Christ. (Acts 1:8) HOLY. SPIRIT. Isn’t that what God knows we need? So He sent Him – The Who, not “it,” to live in us. Are we treating His heavenly presence as a welcomed, Holy guest? Are we asking Him to reign over our lives and yielding to His wishes? “But the Helper, the HOLY SPIRIT, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.” John 14:26
Heavenly Father, forgive us for discounting the gift of Your Holy Spirit in us. Forgive our insolence for living without being mindful of Your divine presence. Fill us. Overwhelm us so Christ pours forth from us to serve others and glorify You.
No Better Time Than Now
Do you worry about where our nation and world are headed? Although evil may temporarily prevail, the Bible tells us the end of the story. And it’s a good ending! God will prevail. Colossians 2:10 tells us Christ is the HEAD OVER ALL RULE AND AUTHORITY. One day every knee will bow before Him. In the meantime, believers have the opportunity to live under Christ’s rule in our personal lives and to share our faith and hope with others. Are we? There’s no better time then now.
LORD JESUS, thank You for the comfort that You are HEAD OVER ALL RULE AND AUTHORITY! Open our eyes to the fact that we can live under Your rule despite what others do. Help us witness to others our hope and faith.
In Favor of the Saints
Do you ever wonder what the future holds? If so, the book of Daniel answers your question. There will be a war and God’s saints will be overpowered UNTIL the One who is more powerful than any other, the Highest One, steps in. I wonder if you feel as I do – overwhelmed with gratefulness to be on God’s side, to be designated as His saint? “I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints and overpowering them until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was passed in favor of the saints of the highest One, and the time arrived when the saints took possession of the kingdom.” Daniel 7:21-22
Heavenly Father, to be referred to as “Your saint” and to know that You, the Ancient of Days, are going to judge in favor of us, Your saints, is overwhelming. Thank You, merciful Ancient of Days.
Unclean Lips and Lives
I don’t think there’s any way we can get our minds around what the holiness of the LORD is like. I don’t think we have the slightest idea of the magnitude of heaven’s glory. Isaiah attempted to describe heaven. (Isaiah 6:1-4a) “In the year of King Uzziah’s death I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, lofty and exalted, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Seraphim stood above Him, …. And one called out to another and said ‘HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is the LORD of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.’ And the foundations of the thresholds trembled…” What was Isaiah’s response? “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips – And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts.” Isaiah 6:5. Isaiah’s response to seeing the LORD was a profound awareness that he was unclean. Were it NOT for JESUS bearing our sins on the cross, it would not be possible for us to live in the HOLY, HOLY, HOLY LORD’S presence; which is why we praise HIM today and every day.
We praise You, HOLY, HOLY, HOLY Lord!
A New Normal
The ushering in of Covid-19 in January 2020 ushered in what is called by many “a new normal.” What is meant by “new normal”? People not greeting one another with a handshake or hug. Social distancing. Wearing face masks. Gloved hands. Not gathering to worship. There is speculation about if and when we will return to life the way it was pre-Covid-19. We are told to trust the medical experts and follow their advice. People are trying to adapt, to trust. We don’t know what the future holds, but as the saying goes, we know who holds the future – a faithful creator. First Peter 4:19 encourages believers, “Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a FAITHFUL CREATOR in doing what is right.” Will there be a day when the mandate is to denounce the One we worship? Yes. That day is already here in many countries. Christian persecution has always existed. When that day comes, what are we to do? We are to entrust our souls to our Faithful Creator even as we entrust our souls to Him today.
FAITHFUL CREATOR, we praise You that we can trust You and entrust our souls to You.
Unwrap It!
Gifts! Who doesn’t like to receive a gift? Presents wrapped with brightly colored paper and bows. A gift tag with OUR name on it. And most importantly, someone holding the gift and offering, “Take it! I bought it for you!” Beaming, our Lord God waits for us to take the gift described in Romans 6:23. That in spite of our sin, He offers the “free gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Our Heavenly Father gives us a gift that cost His Son’s life. Forgiveness is the first thing we see in the gift. Then the gifts of His Holy Spirit, heaven, friendship, eternity, and so much more! With each day, we realize there’s more of God’s love to unwrap. The Gift Giver smiles as our eyes light up in joyful praise.
Lord God, thank You for GIVING us the GIFT of eternal life in Christ Jesus and for all that is encompassed in the gift of His life! We praise You.
Where Can I Go from God
I was in high school when Psalm 139:7-10 first caught my attention. The words were so beautiful that I picked up my guitar and wrote music to accompany them. “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there. If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, if I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, even there Your hand will lead me, and Your right hand will lay hold of me.” What comfort it is to know that wherever we go, God’s Spirit will be there and His hand will lead us. Which of the verses is your favorite? Which provides you the most comfort? What does it mean to you that God is everywhere and His hand will lead you?
Lord God, we praise You that You are EVERYWHERE, and never apart from Your presence. Thank You.
Good News for People with a Bad Taste In Their Mouth
Have you ever had a “bad taste in your mouth” after experiencing something unpleasant? Many today would say, “yes.” Many are going through life with a “bad taste” in their mouth. They’re “fed up” with the news. They can’t “stomach” another …..whatever. That’s where followers of Christ come in. Second Timothy 2:21 describes believers as vessels. As Christ’s vessel, we have the opportunity to “serve” the Lord’s love and Word to those who are spiritually hungry. Psalm 34:8 says, “O taste and see that the Lord is GOOD; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!” Many are starving for some good in their lives. Will you serve Christ’s goodness, mercy, and love to them? If you’re not sure how, Discovering His Passion will show you how Christ engaged people in spiritual conversations and how you can, too. Believe – Know Jesus as Savior is a link you can share in an email or text. God is GOOD. Let’s share the good news of His GOODNESS with others.
LORD, You are GOOD! Help us be ready vessels to share Your WORD and LOVE with others.