365 Days of Praise
Thank you, Lord, for being COMPASSIONATE toward us
“Then the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, COMPASSIONATE and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth.”
Do you know someone who is harsh and not compassionate?
Could use a little compassion from a family member or friend; yet they’re anything but compassionate?
The Hebrew word from which “compassion” is derived means “to love deeply, have mercy, be compassionate, have tender affection.” It describes God’s COMPASSION for us. Be assured, God deeply loves you. Thank Him for His COMPASSION, then turn and show compassion toward someone.
LORD, thank You for deeply loving us. We praise You, COMPASSIONATE LORD!
Commander of the Army of the Lord, we worship you
When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the Lord. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” And the commander of the Lord‘s army said to Joshua, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.
You don’t know the person who is standing before you with a sword in their hand. So, of course, the first thing you want to know is whose side they’re on. Joshua asks. Then, he’s blown away by the answer. The commander of the army of the Lord is the one standing before him. Joshua fell on his face and worshipped Him. Note the Commander’s response. He didn’t tell Joshua to stand up or not to worship Him; that he was a man like him; or even an angel. Rather, He permitted Joshua to worship and even told him to take off his sandals; for the place was holy because of His presence.
How many times do we forget we’re in the Lord’s presence? How many times do we forget the Lord, the Commander of our life, is within us?
I’m guilty of forgetting. I’m guilty of not honoring the Lord as I should. If you feel the same, it’s never too late for us to start honoring our Lord more reverently. How?
- Recognize that His Holy Spirit is in us.
- Set sin away from us.
- Worship Him.
How did the Commander of the army of the Lord respond to Joshua’s question, “What does my lord say to his servant?” He answered, “Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” I believe He would say that to us today.
Lord Jesus, Commander of the army of the Lord, forgive us our sin. Forgive us for treating You with contempt. Help us be more mindful each day of Your holy presence in our lives. May our lives reflect our worship of You.
Praise to the COMING KING
“Behold, HE IS COMING with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.”
Did you know that just as Christ’s first coming to earth was prophesied, so is His second? And, just as God fulfilled Christ’s first coming, so He will fulfill Christ’s second coming. Jesus is COMING to earth again. However, He will not come as a baby. Rather, He will come from heaven through the clouds. Every eye will see Jesus, the COMING KING!
LORD JESUS, COMING KING, we worship and praise You! Come quickly!
Praise to the COMFORTER
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,”
On a cold winter evening, nothing feels as cozy as snuggling in bed under the warmth of a soft comforter. However, no blanket compares to the God of all Comfort when a person’s crisp tongue chills us to the core, or the howling wind of despair blows through our heart. The Greek word for comfort is parakaleo, which means “to call to one’s side, speak to, in the way of exhortation, console, teach.”1 How awesome it is that God gives every believer the gift of His presence through the Holy Spirit. This Comforter is an abiding presence who will never wear out, never become threadbare, and never leave us. The more we cover our lives with prayer and God’s teachings, the more closely we’ll know the warmth of His abiding presence. (adapted from Pray with Purpose, Live with Passion, pg 67)
LORD, You are the God of all COMFORT! We praise You for the blessing of Your presence!
Thank you, Lord, for being CLOSE TO Us when we’re BROKENHEARTED
“The Lord is CLOSE to the BROKENHEARTED and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
Today is Valentine’s Day; a day marked by exchanges of tokens of love. But what if you wake up alone? What if your loved one is deceased? What if your loved one cheated on you? What if you’ve never had someone love you? What if you’re not only alone, but you’re crushed in spirit? I find it amazing that the Bible is the most honest book we”ll ever read. Our Heavenly Father “gets it” that there will be times in our life like that; which is precisely why He wants us to know that even if we’re alone, He’s close. Even if there is no one to save or lift our crushed spirit, HE CAN. Our Heavenly Father is sending a loud and clear Valentine message that He loves us. There is nothing we have done or will do; there is no place we can go that He isn’t present. “I LOVE YOU. I’M HERE,” our Heavenly Father calls; with Jesus echoing, “Me, too!”
Heavenly Father and Lord Jesus Christ, thank You for loving us and being close to us.
Praise to the Lord, our CLOTHIER
“But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you?
A clothier is a person that makes, sells, or deals in clothes or cloth. Perhaps you’ve never thought of God as your clothier, but He is. God’s provision for mankind’s clothing extends from Genesis when He provided garments for Adam and Eve, to Revelation where our heavenly clothing is described as “fine linen, white and clean.” Galatians 3:27 says of believers, you have “clothed yourselves with Christ.” Think about that! God could provide no finer covering for us than Christ’s righteousness. So, the next time you say, “I don’t have anything to wear,” remember…you do!
Lord God, we praise You for being our CLOTHIER, for covering us with Christ’s righteousness so that we are not ashamed before You!
Praise to God’s CHOSEN ONE
“’Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My CHOSEN ONE in whom My soul delights.’”
How would you answer the question, “In what does your soul delight?” If someone asked me, I’d have to think for a minute. What about you? Would you say you’re “into” music? Or, would it be sports? Or your family? Or work? Or cooking? Fill in the blank. My soul delights in _________________. God the Father said HIS soul delights in Jesus, His chosen One. Sounds like a proud parent watching His child, doesn’t it? I wonder if our souls would more often find delight if we kept our eyes on God’s CHOSEN ONE.
JESUS, GOD’S CHOSEN ONE, we worship and praise You. We delight in who You are!
Praise to the CHOICE and PRECIOUS JESUS
“And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God.”
Isn’t it amazing that often we reject what is good for us and do what is bad? Although it’s sad, it’s true. Peter, Jesus’s follower who ate fish with the resurrected Jesus, calls to us to, “Wake up!” Some reject Jesus, but let’s not be among those. Why? Jesus is choice. He’s precious to God. The Greek words “choice and precious” mean that God appointed Jesus to the most exalted office conceivable.* He is held in honor and prized by His Father.** If we’re in trouble. If we’re doubting. If we’re drifting or apathetic, turn. Go to Jesus. Cling to Him.
CHOICE AND PRECIOUS Savior, we love You and praise You! Help us set our eyes on no one but You.
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Thank you, CHIEF SHEPHERD, for caring for us
“When the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”
We see a theme as we look at the ways God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are portrayed in the Bible: Chief, Champion, Captain. They set God above all. There are many who “shepherd” the “flock” of Christians in the church. But there is one Chief Shepherd, and that is the Lord Jesus Christ, who lovingly shepherds us.
Thank You, JESUS, CHIEF SHEPHERD, for shepherding us to still waters and green pastures.
Praise to the CHIEF CORNER STONE
“He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNERSTONE.”
Do you ever feel like your life is caving in? Does it seem the world, our nation, homes, and morality are toppling around you? The only way we will find stability is when we build our lives on the level and righteous foundation of Christ. He is the CHIEF CORNERSTONE.
JESUS, You are the CHIEF CORNERSTONE on whom we can build our days and lives. We praise You!