365 Days of Praise

“And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the MESSENGER OF THE COVENANT, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the Lord of hosts.”

Malachi 3:1

Throughout the Bible, God covenants to bring salvation to man. The prophet, Malachi, affirms that the MESSENGER OF THE COVENANT is coming. Indeed, we celebrate and praise the Lord Jesus Christ! His covenant is eternal and based on His fulfillment of it. His covenant liberates us. Even as we are mindful of the freedoms we have in our nation, we should be mindful of the freedoms we have in Christ:  freedom from sin, freedom from death, freedom from bondages, freedom from eternal damnation. Christ, the Messenger of the Covenant, is Lord of all and brings a message of salvation!

Lord Jesus Christ, we praise You, MESSENGER OF THE COVENANT. 

“Be merciful, just as your Father is MERCIFUL.”

Lord, we praise You for being MERCIFUL. Help us reflect Your mercy to others.

 “I, Paul, myself urge you by the MEEKNESS and gentleness of Christ—”

“There is one God, and ONE MEDIATOR also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

1 Timothy 2:5

Baskin Robbins wowed ice cream lovers with its 31 flavors when it opened. Instead of offering only a few flavors, it offered multiple combinations of flavors and cones.  Unfortunately, our world has adopted a “31” viewpoint about God. We’ve decided we can become reconciled to Him through self-improvement programs, buying our way, doing enough good things, or the world religion of our choice. But God is God. He is Holy. He is high and lifted up. If we think we can choose how we’re reconciled to God, we’re wrong. God has chosen how we can be reconciled to Him, and it is through His Son.  Christ Jesus is the ONE MEDIATOR who can reconcile us to God. 

Christ Jesus, We praise You, our MEDIATOR, for making peace between Your Father and us.   

  “Masters, grant to your slaves justice and fairness, knowing that you too have a MASTER in heaven.”

We like our freedom, right? We often hear someone say, “Nobody’s going to tell me what to do!” Maybe we’ve said those exact words. But, here’s some news that may shock you. God owns us, and He is our MASTER. Does that send chills down your spine? Does it not set well with you? Or, do you breathe more easily knowing God owns you?

“Master”in Colossians 4:1 means “the owner; one who has control of the person.” Maybe we’ve never thought about God in the sense of “owning” us. But, certainly we’re familiar with verses that address how God bought us off the slave market with Christ’s precious blood. So if we’re bought, we’re owned. And who would we rather be our master? Satan or God?

Let’s think further. If God is our Master, then what should be our posture before Him? I wonder if sometimes we’re too flippant? I wonder if we’ll “about die” (if it were possible) when we’re in heaven and see His glory? I wonder if we’ll wish we had bowed face down before Him every morning and asked how we might serve Him each day.

We have a MASTER in heaven. He’s a glorious, giving, loving Master.

Heavenly Master, we worship and adore You and cannot wait to worship You in heaven. Let us serve You well on earth while we await our service in heaven to You.                                                                                 

  “’Great and MARVELOUS are Your works, O Lord God, the Almighty; Righteous and true are Your ways, King of the nations!’”

MARVELOUS LOVINGKINDNESS.  The psalmist writes, “Blessed be the LORD, for He has made marvelous His lovingkindness to me in a besieged city.” Psalm 31:21.  In these verses, marvelous means “wonderful, surpassing, extraordinary, separate by distinguishing action. Doesn’t that fit our Lord’s lovingkindness? It’s surpassing, extraordinary, and His death for our sins is distinguishable.

MARVELOUS SALVATION.  In Matthew 21:42, Jesus asks, “‘Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone; THIS CAME ABOUT FROM THE LORD, AND IT IS MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES‘?”  Jesus used the word “marvelous” in relation to God’s plan for saving mankind. It means “worthy of pious admiration, admirable, excellent, passing human comprehension, causing amazement joined with terror, extraordinary, striking, surprising.” Each of those words define how marvelous God’s plan of salvation is.

MARVELOUS LIGHT.  1Peter 2:9 is one of my favorite Scriptures because it defines who we are and our purpose. “But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”  We have a message to tell of the excellencies of Christ. We are no longer in darkness, but rather in marvelous light; which means “excellent, extraordinary, striking, surprising light.”

Yes, today we’re again amazed at our Marvelous Lord and bow in reverence and praise. Add “MARVELOUS” in Prayers of My Heart in whichever place you’re recording His attributes and names. I use the first column of Week At A Glance. But you can also use the Month at a Glance section if you’re not recording your 3 daily gratitudes there.

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, You are marvelous in Your work, love, kindness, salvation, and light. We worship You.                                                                                

  “He was despised and forsaken of men, a MAN OF SORROWS and acquainted with grief…”

Somehow in our society, we think we’re supposed to always be happy. As a matter of fact, some pharmaceutical companies play on the fact that if we’re not, then something is wrong and the solution is a pill. However, God has given us a wide range of emotions, including SORROW. SORROW is not necessarily bad. As a matter of fact, you may find yourself in Christ’s company if you feel SORROW over those who reject Him; SORROW because of sin; SORROW over the death of a loved one; or SORROW over the state of our world. If you’re experiencing SORROW, Jesus understands. Look to Him. He will walk with you in your SORROW. He will help you find a deep seated joy in the realization that you have Him and that in heaven you’ll experience the full joy for which your soul longs.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Jesus, MAN OF SORROWS, who walks with us and gives us joy in His presence. We love and praise You!                                                                                                

“Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, and the one who formed you from the womb,

“I, the LORD, am the MAKER of all things, Stretching out the heavens by Myself

And spreading out the earth all alone…

  Isaiah 44:24

In case we ever question who made the heavens, earth, and us, the LORD explains: HE DID. The LORD formed us in the womb. The LORD, our MAKER, stretched out the heavens. The LORD, our Redeemer, spread out the earth. He shares the glory with no one. He is the MAKER of all things. What a spectacular reason to praise Him.

LORD, our MAKER, we praise You for the glorious heavens, earth, and us. You are spectacular and worthy of our praise!

“Who is like You among the gods, O Lord?
Who is like You, MAJESTIC in holiness,
Awesome in praises, working wonders?”

Exodus 15:11

Moses sang praises to God after witnessing Him miraculously dry up the Red Sea. “Your right hand, O LORD, is MAJESTIC in power, Your right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy,” Ex 15:6. Can you imagine if Moses had stood at the cross and watched Christ die. Then, if Moses had seen Jesus eating fish three days later. What praises would have flowed from his mouth? God defeated an enemy far greater than the Egyptians. He defeated Satan. He defeated the sting of sin: death. MAJESTIC in power. MAJESTIC in holiness. That is our God!

If you have Prayers of My Heart, turn to the Meditations, Notes, and Prayers section and let your words of praise flow onto the pages. We’re blessed reading Moses words of praise. You’ll be blessed weeks and months from now when you re-read the words of praise that flow from your heart. What is something for which you thank God? Write your love words to Him.

You, O LORD, are MAJESTIC in HOLINESS, MAJESTIC in POWER! We bow before You in praise!

Are you tired of life as it is? God understands. He never intended us to do “life” apart from Him. He created us to share life in Him and with Him; to live by His divine nature and experience His MAGNIFICENCE. We can get back on track. We can experience Christ in His fullness. How? Receive Jesus as Savior. Be filled with His divine nature through His Spirit. Renew your mind with His Word, the Bible. Saturate your heart with His ways and promises. Live and walk by God’s MAGNIFICENT divine nature, the Holy Spirit.

LORD, You are MAGNIFICENT and Your promises are MAGNIFICENT. Thank You for salvation, by which we become partakers of Your divine nature. Thank You for the Bible and Your Spirit by which we walk by Your magnificent, divine nature.

Record your praise to God that He is “Magnificent” in Prayers of My Heart.  Pray for yourself and intercede for your family to live by God’s magnificent promises.