365 Days of Praise

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Do you feel drained or spiritually empty? You know you’re saved, but you’re tired and discouraged.  What do we do when we want to serve the Lord and live for Him, energetically, but we’re weary of the world? Or, perhaps we’re weary of ourself. God addresses our feeling and His solution. In Jeremiah 31:25 the Lord says, “I satisfy the weary ones and refresh everyone who languishes.” The LORD is our REFRESHER. Jesus echoes this in Matthew 5:3-6. Are we poor in spirit? Are we mourning? Are we hungry and thirsty for righteousness? If so, we can go to the rich, flowing river of Life that we have in the LORD. We can drink. We can be satisfied. We can languish no more.

Heavenly Father and Jesus, the world and self leave us languishing and longing. You fill us with Your presence and satisfy our thirst. We praise You and give You thanks. 

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Have you noticed that people in our nation are at odds with one another? Maybe it’s the name calling and accusations.  Maybe it’s because certain factions look on others as enemies. Did you know that Romans 5:10 says that at one time we were enemies of God? Not a good position to be in!  How did we get on the right side of God so we’re not God’s enemy? The verse explains, “we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son.” It took Jesus’s death to reconcile us to God. As the verse continues, “we shall be saved by His life.” No one wants to be on the wrong side of an issue. No one wants to be on the wrong side of God. We have Jesus to thank for reconciling us to His Heavenly Father.

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I’m the richest woman in the world. I know. You’re questioning me. You’ve noticed I’m not driving a new car and yes, my shoes have a lot of wear and tear on them. Still, I’m the richest woman on earth. Why do I say I’m the richest woman on earth? Because God says it. Ephesians 2:4 says, “But God, being RICH IN MERCY, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ.” I was poor and pitiful, up to my eyeballs in sticky sin, going down. Then, Jesus saved me. He poured His rich grace all over me and washed away my sticky sin. Jesus has rich mercy to pour on you, too. Ask Him. He’ll wash away your sticky sin and then you’ll be rich in His mercy.

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Do you ever think about pleasing God? Did you know that it’s possible to please God? Hebrews 11:5-6 states that Enoch was “pleasing to God” and that God is a REWARDER of THOSE WHO SEEK HIM.” I can’t think of a more admirable thing that could be said of a person than that they please God. I long for it to be said that I pleased God and I know certainly you must, too. How can we please God? We can believe Him. We can take to Him that which is overwhelming us, causing us to fear, or doubt. We can ask Him to fill and equip us to handle whatever He permits in our life. We can know that, by faith, we’ll experience His glorious equipping and empowerment to walk through our day.  We can serve His purposes. Today, in the little things and big things, we can please God; knowing that He is a REWARDER of THOSE WHO SEEK HIM.

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SEE YOU TOMORROW NIGHT on FACEBOOK LIVE. Set your TIMER: 8 pm cst Click HERE.

I know, I know, I know. We sing about Jesus’s resurrection from the dead. But is it ever hard for you to get your mind around the fact He was raised from the dead?  Do you ever stop and ponder if you believe what you do because you were raised that way or if it’s own conviction?  When Jesus said the words in John 11:25, “‘I am the RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,’” He was talking to a woman who was saying with her mouth she believed but who wasn’t anticipating that Jesus would raise her deceased brother. Jesus is patient with us just as He was with Martha. If you’re struggling to believe and have questions, that means you’re seeking to understand, which is good. Jesus will help you find Him. Keep seeking. He’s a prayer away.

Lord, You are the RESURRECTION and the LIFE. We profess our faith with thanksgiving.

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Do you think God expects you to be superman or super woman? Here’s some good news. God doesn’t expect us to keep going and going and going without rest. God doesn’t expect us to be like an energizer bunny. He knows that we will become depleted and that we need restoration. Psalm 23:3 says, “He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” Sure,  Red bull drinks and other highly caffeinated drinks may give a temporary kick or a burst of energy. But, it’s the daily refreshment in God’s presence that provides ongoing restoration to our souls. When your battery is running low, find your Bible, not your cape. It’s in God’s presence you’ll experience the restoration you for which you long.

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When we ask someone, “How are you doing,” a typical reply is, “Good.” But sometimes, when we’re sitting across the kitchen table with a family member or friend, they’ll confide, “I’m exhausted.” Or, “I’m worried.” What causes us to be exhausted or worried? Lots of things. Lack of sleep. Caring for little ones, family, or aging parents. Work deadlines. Stress. Physical or financial problems. Deep within, we long for not only physical rest, but also soul rest. Without it, our minds wander to the worst case scenarios. Without soul rest, our spirits are agitated. Without soul rest, our emotions are on a roller coaster of highs and lows. What encouragement can we offer as we sip our coffee and chat? The reminder that the place to go for soul rest is Christ. Reading the news can tie us in knots. Reading the Bible quiets us. Complaining to one another can further agitate us. Pouring our worries to our Heavenly Father brings peace. In Jeremiah 50:6 God describes Himself as a RESTING PLACE. When we feel like we’re “losing it,” we can go to our RESTING PLACE and find rest for our souls.

Lord, we praise You, our RESTING PLACE!

“My people have become lost sheep;
Their shepherds have led them astray.
They have made them turn aside on the mountains;
They have gone along from mountain to hill
And have forgotten their RESTING PLACE.”

Jeremiah 50:6

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Lord Jesus, You are our RESCUER! We love You! We thank You! We praise You! 

“He RESCUED US from the DOMAIN of DARKNESS, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son.” Colossians 1:13

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Are the storms in your life overwhelming you…perhaps literally? Whether the storms are literal or metaphorical, fear can flood our emotions. Pains of regret can beat like rain on our heart. Worry can flood our mind.  But God doesn’t want us to stay overwhelmed, drowning in fear, worry, and guilt. That’s why He’s present. That’s why He offers Himself. Just as rescue helicopters offer a way of escape to flooded victims, God offers His help and strength. He’s our REFUGE. The Hebrew word, “REFUGE,” means shelter from danger or falsehood.  The more closely we stay under God’s arm of Biblical truth, the more protected we are from the enemies’ lies. Psalm 46:1 reminds us that God is our REFUGE, a very present help in trouble.