365 Days of Praise

“He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.”

Colossians 1:18

Today I went to a funeral. We celebrated the life of a dear woman who went to be with the Lord. She follows Christ, who is the firstborn from the dead. “Born from the dead.” Have you ever thought about what that means? Christians have a “new birth.” Before our salvation we are “dead in our trespasses and sins.” However, after we repent of our sins and confess Jesus as our Lord, we receive the Holy Spirit and are “born” from our dead state and made alive in Christ. What we experience internally in our spirit at the moment of salvation will be fully realized eternally at our bodily resurrection. Christ has led the way as the firstborn from the dead with a resurrection body. We can be sure that as He rose, we will follow Him and rise!

Lord God, I praise You, the FIRSTBORN FROM THE DEAD! 

“…in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”

Romans 3:25b-26.

Some people wrongly accuse God of not being tolerant. However, our faith is based on the tolerance* or forbearance of God.  It’s not that God is tolerant of sin.  Rather, sin is so “intolerable” to God that He sent Jesus to die for our sins so that we would be free of it.  However, in God’s forbearing love, He “passed over” or “paid for” sins even committed before Jesus died. The forebearing Lord is just. The forebearing Lord is the justifier (just as if I’d never sinned) of the one who has faith in Jesus. Do you have faith in Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins? Then you have reason to praise Him!

Lord God, I praise You for Your FORBEARANCE! You are great and merciful! 

TODAY IS CATCH UP DAY!  

 BE SURE TO RECORD GOD’S ATTRIBUTES IN YOUR PRAYERS OF MY HEART PRAYER JOURNAL. RECORDING IT HELPS PLANT GOD’S ATTRIBUTE IN YOUR MIND. PLUS, YOU’LL HAVE A TREASURE KEEPSAKE OF GOD’S 365 ATTRIBUTES AT THE END OF THE YEAR.  HERE’S MINE:

*”Forebearance,” http://www.blueletterbible.org  

“We had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.”

Hebrews 12:9-10

Jesus. Friend. God. Father of Spirits. The ways in which God the Father, Son, and Spirit reveal themselves is incredible, isn’t it?* In Hebrews 12:9-10 we’re tiold that God is the Father of spirits. Not only did He birth our existence, He also assumes responsibility for our discipline so that we share in His holiness. The next time we feel a sense of conviction for something we did that we know went against the expressed will of God, let’s pay attention rather than ignore His voice. It’s the Father of our spirit calling to us. 

Father of Spirits, thank You for loving me and calling me to holiness. I praise You!

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“Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what what I command you.”

John 15:13-14

On Valentine’s Day each year, couples express their love for one another; while many who are not in a relationship long to be loved. However, Jesus pointed out that there is a love greater than romantic love. It is the love of one who will lay down their life for another; which is exactly what Jesus did for you. If your spouse isn’t expressing that lovin’ feeling and a significant other isn’t showing up at your door with candy and flowers, be assured there is One who profoundly loves you. The Son of God calls Himself your FRIEND and showed off His love for you in the most profound of ways. Red is the color of His love, and His heart beats for you. Listen. 

Jesus Christ, lover of my soul, I praise You! Thank You for calling me FRIEND and laying down Your life for me! 

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“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”

James 1:17

Are you going through a dark time physically, emotionally, or spiritually? It can happen to even the most dedicated follower of Christ.  What are we to do during the darkness of trials, temptations, and despair? Remember the truth:  God is the Father of lights. Regarding this verse, Charles Ryrie writes, “God is the source of all light – physical, intellectual, moral, and spiritual – and He does not change.”* If we need a change, then we do well to look to God and follow His advice on any moral, physical, intellectual, or spiritual issue. That’s where we’ll regain the light for which we desperately long.   

Lord, I praise You – the Father of Lights! Fill me with the gift of the Light of Your Presence.  

*Charles Ryrie, the Ryrie Study Bible Expanded Edition, New American Standard Bible 1995 Update, The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, page 1969.

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all…”

Romans 8:31

“Which team are you for?” “What candidate are you for?“

Have you ever thought about who might be for you? The answer is GOD. Although life may throw us a curve ball, and at times we may not feel like anyone is for us, remember, God is; proved by the fact that He did not spare Jesus, but delivered Him over for us. The next time you feel like nobody is for you, look UP! God is. 

Father, I praise You that you are for me. What a blessing and comfort!

“I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True…”

Revelation 19:11

Have you been in a relationship with someone who was NOT faithful and true? If so, you know the deep hurt of that kind of a relationship. God knows that hurt. He gave everything to Adam and Eve, but they were NOT faithful and true to Him. Could that be why it’s so important to Him for believers to know that CHRIST IS FAITHFUL and TRUE? We can count on Him.  We can depend on Him. He won’t abandon us or let us down. 

Lord Jesus, You are FAITHFUL and TRUE. I thank You and praise You!

“Now the God of peace, wo brought up from the dead the great Sheperd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.” 

Hebrews 13:20-21

That may seem like a mouthful to read. But if we go back and slowly meditate on the verses, we see that the author is pointing out to us that the One to whom we look to equip us to do every good thing and His will is God. We look to God; who raised Jesus (the great Shepherd) from the dead.  Now if God can raise Jesus from the dead, He can certainly equip us to do His will. And, that, my friend, is praiseworthy! 

Lord God, who EQUIPs me to do every good thing and Your will, I praise You!

“Who is like the LORD our GOD, who is enthroned on high,”

Psalm 113:5

Where is God?  People often ask that question. Where is He?  He is enthroned on high. Yet, He has lowered Himself to come to earth and teach us how to live. He has humbled Himself and come down from heaven to die on the cross for our sins. Where is the LORD our God?  He is risen from the dead and ascended to the right hand of God where He lives to make intercession for us. Looking for God? Look UP.    

Lord, You are ENTHRONED ON HIGH! I praise You!

“you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. But the word of the Lord endures forever.”

1 Peter 1: 23, 25

Did you know that the word “evolve” can’t be found in the Bible?  I searched the KJV, NAS, and NIV translations. Not once is “evolve” used.  “Endureth,” “endures,” and “enduring” can be found 60 times. In this day and age where people say their moral beliefs are “evolving,” I’m thankful for God who remains unchanged. He and His word “endure.” The Greek word “endure” means “remains, is kept, continues to be.” Aren’t you glad that what God has said will not evolve into something different? He and His word endure.    

Lord God, I praise You that I don’t have to wonder if You or Your Word will change. I can trust You for who You are and what You say. You and Your word ENDURE forever!