365 Days of Praise
If You’re Tired of Sinning
I wish I wouldn’t sin. I long for for the day when I’m perfected in Christ’s image. How about you? The fact is, as long as we’re in our earthly bodies, we’ll contend with our the sin nature. As a matter of fact, not only will we contend with it, Galatians 5:17 says our flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Sprit against the flesh; that they’re in opposition to one another…” So we have this little, ummm, big war going on inside of us. Here’s the wonderful news as recorded in 1 Thessalonians 5:23. God, in His grace, has chosen to SANCTIFY us, to set us apart for Himself as holy, without blame. Think about it! What we can’t do for ourselves, God does for us. We who call upon the name of the Lord will one day live in heaven completely holy because of Christ. Does knowing that cause you to want to kneel in awe, stand with arms lifted in praise, or sing His praises? Whichever, give Him praise now.
God, we praise You, our SANCTIFIER. Thank You for setting us apart for Yourself and for taking it upon Yourself to sanctify us complete and without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are so ready!
“Now may the God of peace Himself SANCTIFY you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
I Think… I Think… Hmmm, What Do I Think?
Do you ever feel that things change so fast you can hardly keep up? Does it seem that people change what they say from one day to the next? Here’s some good news. God doesn’t change. Hebrews 13:8 reminds us that Jesus Christ is the SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY, and FOREVER. Society may change standards and morals, but our Heavenly Father will always be the same holy, loving, grace-filled God that He’s always been. If we ever wonder whose opinion we need to align ourselves with, it would be His.
Lord God, thank You that You do not change. You are the SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY, and FOREVER.
When You’re Concerned About Shifting Views
UPDATE: Thank you for your prayers for the Indianapolis P.R.A.Y. with Passion Conference! It was a blessing and YOU are a blessing to partner with me with your prayers and support.
Are you concerned about shifting views about the Bible and Jesus Christ? If so, take comfort. Jesus is who He says He is – the solid Rock truth and Savior. We can build our lives on Him and His Word. As a matter of fact, in Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus says we’re wise if we do. Listen to His counsel. “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.” Yes, friend, we are wise to build our lives on Jesus, the solid Rock.
“O come, let us sing for joy to the Lord,
Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation.”
Has Anyone Ever Sacrificed Something for You
Has anyone ever sacrificed something for you? Have they sacrificed sleep so you could sleep? Have they sacrificed advancing so you could? Have they sacrificed their plans so you could do yours? Sacrifice. Sometimes we sacrifice, but do so begrudgingly. But Ephesians 5:2 tells us Jesus willingly SACRIFICED His life for us. He thought of us, not Himself. Hill Country Ministries is dedicated to telling others of Jesus’s great love and sacrifice. One way we do this is by taking our P.R.A.Y. with Passion Conference to every state. Christians are inspired and equipped to pray more purposefully and live more passionately for Christ. Seekers are given the opportunity to respond in faith to Christ. Thank you for your prayers as I teach this morning in Indiana.
Lord Jesus, thank You for willingly giving up Your glory, Your comfort, Your life for us; for being a SACRIFICE to God on our behalf so that we can live in heaven.
“…walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a SACRIFICE to God as a fragrant aroma .” Ephesians 5:2
Soul Rest
“I’m tired! I’m tired of work. I’m tired of the tension in my life. I’m tired of struggling. I’m tired of taking care of….” How would you finish that sentence? God understands. The Bible says God rested on the seventh day after He completed the creation. One of His Ten Commandments is to keep the Sabbath Day and to not work on it. Jesus’s work of obtaining our salvation on the cross results in our NOT WORKING for salvation. God has provided a future day of eternal SABBATH REST. Hebrews 4:9-10. Until then, what do we do if our soul is anything but at rest? We respond to Jesus’s invitation in Matthew 11:28-29 and learn how to walk in step with Him. Soul rest. Ahh – It’s nice. And it’s ours for the taking.
Lord, thank You for the eternal Sabbath Rest we have in You. Thank You that even though our days may be filled with family, work, and ministry commitments, we experience SOUL REST when we walk in step with You. You are our RESTING PLACE.
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find REST for YOUR SOULS.” Matthew 11:28-29
Let’s Talk About Your Ancestors
Do you know who your ancestors are? How far back can you trace your family tree? Being able to trace one’s lineage is important to many and is definitely important in the Jewish culture. Jesus’s human lineage can be traced to Israel’s King David. But, Jesus has an even more illustrious lineage as He states in Revelation 22:16. He says, “I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” In other words, His roots go further back than David; all the way to creation. He is the bright morning star, the heavenly light we’re to follow. If you don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus, learn how you can HERE.
ROOT and DESCENDANT of DAVID, bright morning star, we praise, worship, and love You.
“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” Revelation 22:16
When There’s Nothing Left to Squeeze Out of You
Do you ever feel like not another thing can be squeezed out of you? Do you feel you’ve given all you can give? We all know that you can’t get water out of a dry rock, and perhaps that describes us at times – dry. If so, we can look to Christ, whom Isaiah 30:29 describes as the ROCK OF ISRAEL. Jesus provided water and life for the Israelites in the wilderness. Jesus provides Himself as living water for believers. (John 7:37-38) Drink deeply from Him. He loves you so!
ROCK of ISRAEL, You were there for the Jews as they traveled to the Promised Land. You are here for us.We love You and praise You – the One from whom we can drink deeply and be saved; the One from whom we can drink daily and be replenished.
“You will have songs as in the night when you keep the festival,
And gladness of heart as when one marches to the sound of the flute,
To go to the mountain of the Lord, to the ROCK of ISRAEL.” Isaiah 30:29
When Your Title and Circumstances Don’t Match
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When you think of blessings, what comes to mind? Most likely good, positive things: family, supportive friends, peace, financial security. Does Jesus’s title in Mark 14:61, ”Son of the Blessed One,” seem an apt description for Jesus as He stood before the high priest: beaten, abandoned by friends, no earthly possessions, and betrayed? I think we’d agree that Jesus’s title and His circumstances at that time didn’t appear to match. Could it be a message to us that things aren’t always as they appear? Perhaps we should take a look beyond today’s difficult circumstances to the title God has given us – bride of Christ; knowing we’ll experience the full blessings of our God given title in heaven.
Heavenly Father, we praise You for Christ, SON of the BLESSED ONE, and for the blessing of being His bride.
“Again the high priest was questioning Him, and saying to Him, ‘Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?’” Mark 14:61
Are You Ready to be Scrutinized
On July 9, 2018 President Trump nominated Judge Brett Kavanaugh to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy. Since then, the nominee has been scrutinized for his professional work and personal life including his high school years. The scrutiny Kavanaugh has undergone has caused many of us to cringe as we’ve acknowledged that we would not want to be scrutinized before the world for our every word, action, and even emotion. It also makes those of us who are Christians more in love with and appreciative for Jesus. Why? As 2 Corinthians 5:21 explains, “He made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Christ.” On our day of scrutiny, God will see Christ’s righteousness, not our sins. There could not be better news!
Lord Jesus, thank You for taking our sin on Yourself and giving Your RIGHTEOUSNESS to us so we can stand blameless before the Father. We love and praise You!
In Case You’re Not Perfect
Is there anything about you that isn’t perfect? If you are perfect, congratulations. I seem to be more aware of my sin now than when I became a Christian at the age of 12. What about you? If you’re like me in the sense of being mindful that you’re not perfect, here are some encouraging words. Malachi 3:3 says that “He (the Lord) will purify the sons of Levi (and 1 Peter 2:9 distinguishes believers as priests) and (He will) refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the Lord offerings in righteousness.” That’s good news. We look in praise to our Heavenly Father, our REFINER; which means He “strains, extracts, clarifies” sin from our lives. Won’t it be wonderful one day to be in heaven and be all shiny and clear of sin?
Thank You, Lord, for being our Refiner. We can’t imagine the day, but we look forward to when we are sinlessly pure in Your holy presence.