365 Days of Praise
Praise to the Omega
“‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty'” (Revelation 1:8).
Do you ever wonder what is going to happen in our world? If you know your Bible, it’s both comforting and sobering to realize that the end of the world, as we know it, is approaching. What comfort can we have as wars and rumors of war continue; as terrorism strikes far and near? Our comfort is that at the end, our Lord God, the Omega, will be there.
Lord, You are the Alpha and OMEGA, who is and who was and who is to come. Knowing that You will always be present with us is comforting.
If you have Prayers of My Heart prayer journal, take time today to go through it and highlight or record ways God has answered your prayers. It’ll encourage your heart to think on His faithfulness in the past and in the future.
Praise to Christ, Anointed with the Oil of Gladness
“But of the Son He says,
‘…Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness above Your companions'” (Hebrews 1:8-9).
When you think about Jesus, what do you picture in your mind? A body hanging on a cross? I hope not. Although we need to begin our relationship with Jesus by acknowledging His death on our behalf, there’s more to our relationship with Him. We also need to see Him resurrected, sitting at the right hand of the Father. And, by the way, He’s glad. He’s overjoyed! Why? The kingdom is His. He’s rendered the devil and death powerless (Hebrews 2:14). We’re saved. We’re safe in His presence, where we find fullness of joy.
If we realize that we’re dragging through our day and are discouraged, we can do something about it. We can look toward heaven and remember that the oil of gladness is flowing over Christ because salvation has come to us. We can ask Him to fill us with the oil of gladness so it pours through us to others.
Lord Jesus, we praise You for our salvation. Fill us with the OIL OF GLADNESS so others see and believe in You.
Praise to Christ, an OFFERING to GOD
“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.”
Me. Me. Me. I. I. I. We probably won’t admit it, but in our innermost being we may be more self-centered than sacrificial. Our day may not begin with, “God, what do You want?” Rather, our first thought may be on what we want. Have you ever considered doing a 180: a turnaround based on Christ’s example? We’re told to “be imitators of God” and to walk in love, just as Christ….who gave Himself up as an OFFERING and sacrifice to God. The result? His life was a fragrant aroma to God. Why not follow His example? Offer our lives to God. Change from “Me Me Me” to “You, You, You, God.”
Christ Jesus, You are the ultimate example of being an OFFERING and sacrifice to God. Help me think and act like You.
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Praise to Christ, the NOBLEMAN
“While they were listening to these things, Jesus went on to tell a parable, because He was near Jerusalem, and they supposed that the kingdom of God was going to appear immediately. So He said, ‘A nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then return;“
Jesus told a parable portraying Himself as a NOBLEMAN who went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for Himself and then return. Before He departed, the NOBLEMAN gave talents to His slaves; by which they were to carry on His business in His absence. Two of the slaves took seriously what the NOBLEMAN entrusted to them to use. When He returned, He honored them and entrusted more to them. But the NOBLEMAN said to the lazy servant who didn’t do anything with what He’d entrusted to him, “By your own words I will judge you, you worthless slave.” (Luke 19:22)
Let’s break this down. Jesus is heaven’s NOBLEMAN who came to earth. He’s entrusted spiritual gifts to us (believers); by which we’re to do His work while He’s in heaven. We’re either faithfully working on His behalf; doing the good works He’s prepared for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). Or, we’re being lazy like the unfaithful, wicked slave. Christ is heaven’s Nobleman. How faithfully are we serving His interests on earth?
Jesus Christ, NOBLEMAN of heaven, we pray we faithfully serve You with the gifts You’ve entrusted to us.
Praise to the Lord, Who is NEAR
“The LORD is NEAR to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.”
Jesus told His disciples He was going to die and ascend to His Father in heaven; but that He would NOT leave them as orphans. Jesus explained that He would send a Helper to them; and the Helper would not only be with them, He would be IN them. You can’t get more NEAR to someone than to be IN them. And, that is what we have. God’s Spirit is IN believers. NEAR. Not far away. NEAR. Not inaccessible. Call on God in sincerity and truth. He’s NEAR.
LORD, You are NEAR, not far removed. Thank You that we can call on You in sincerity and truth.
Praise to Jesus, NAME ABOVE NAMES
“There is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”
“Why?” That was the question millennials asked me at a recent conference. Why this… Why that… “I guess that’s why we’re called the Y Generation,” a 29 year old explained. “We want to know why.”
Millennials, also known as the “Y Generation,” are those who were born during the 1980’s and early 1990’s. They’re the children of baby boomers. A characteristic of Generation Y is the desire to know why; rather than accept pat answers. In other words, just because a preacher, teacher, or parent says something, that doesn’t necessarily make it so; in their opinion. So, “Why believe in and follow Jesus?” Well, there’s a rather good reason, Peter says. Jesus proved to be more than man. People witnessed His crucifixion and death on the cross. People witnessed His burial. People witnessed His resurrection from the dead three days later. Jesus said He is the way, truth, and life. Peter spelled it out, “there is no other name under heaven that has been given by which we must be saved.” That’s why. It’s why we believe and respond in faith to Jesus. It’s why we repent of our sins. It’s why we gather to worship and praise Him. It’s why we daily think on who He is and commit to live for Him. There is no other name by which we are saved.
Jesus, name above all names, name by which we must be saved, we praise You. Your name is honey on our lips; sweet to our souls.
Praise to the Most High
Lord, MOST HIGH, give us eyes to see Your hand moving in our lives. Give us grateful hearts.
Praise to the MIRACLE WORKER
“So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and WORKS MIRACLES among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?”
Have you ever wished for a miracle? Jesus was and still is a MIRACLE WORKER. But consider the combination of the two words: miracle and work. Perhaps we think of a miracle as happening with the twitch of the nose as in the 1970’s show “I Dream of Jeannie.” However, Jesus’s life indicates that His miracles weren’t effortless. They took energy and power. (Luke 8:46) They sometimes required the other person taking part in faith. (John 5:8-9) They took place as the person was acting in obedience. (John 9:6-7) Rather than prayerfully demanding, “God, do it now,” perhaps we should pour forth thanks for the ways He has already worked in our lives. Perhaps, we should open our hearts to hear and obey what He tells us to do.
Praise to the MIGHTY ONE
“The MIGHTY ONE, God, the Lord, the MIGHTY ONE, God, the Lord!”
When I was young and watched “Mighty Mouse,” I believed he would “save the day.” Growing older doesn’t mean we no longer need someone to “save the day.” We do. We need someone to save us from our sins. We need someone to call on when we’re fearful. We need someone to call on when life overwhelms us. We need someone to call on when physical, financial, or spiritual darkness consumes us. But unlike an imaginary cartoon character, the One on whom we call is real. Our God has, can, and will save the day – our day today, our day tomorrow, and our day for eternity. How? Why? Because He is the MIGHTY ONE, God, the Lord!
MIGHTY ONE, Lord God, help us be increasingly mindful that YOU ARE THE MIGHTY ONE WHO HAS COME TO SAVE THE DAY. May it be said of us, “We’re not worrying at all; we’re just listening for Your call.”
Praise to the MESSIAH
“He found first his own brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the MESSIAH‘ (which translated means Christ).”
Jesus came to earth as a baby so He might grow into a man; but not just any man. He came from heaven to die for our sins. He came as our MESSIAH. Jesus’s cousin, John the Baptist, recognized that He was the Lamb of God who had come to sacrificially take away the sins of the world. Andrew, who heard John announce who Jesus was, followed Jesus and asked where He was staying. After spending time with Jesus, Andrew went and found his brother, Simon Peter, and told him, “We have found the MESSIAH.” Andrew was intentional about his search for the MESSIAH. He was intentional about telling others he had found the Savior of the World. Andrew had it right. He knew there was more than our temporary earthly lives. His focus was on the Savior and pointing others to Him. How much like Andrew are we?
Jesus Christ, MESSIAH, You are all good things: love, forgiveness, hope, peace, and joy! Help us be as Andrew; intentional about following You and about telling others about You.
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