Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies.
Psalm 103:1-4
I was sitting alone in my car one day as I read this set of scriptures. Suddenly, I began to understand its meaning in an entirely different light than I had before. David was speaking these very words to himself. It wasn't that he was voluntarily praising God, he was giving a command to his flesh; his humanness; his mind, will, and emotions. He was speaking to his own soul saying, "Whether you feel like it or not, whether things are going well or not--YOU bless the Lord with everything that is in you! Don't forget the things that God has done for you; how he forgave your sins, healed you when you were sick, and protected you in dangerous situations. He continues to show you kindness and mercy, even until this day!"
Often, we get caught up in the routine of life and we begin to focus on what's not happening for us and what's not going our way. When our focus is not on God, it's easier to become self-centered and inward focused. I believe David, when writing this, may have been tempted to fall into this same trap, but decided to turn the tables by commanding his soul to praise God and to remember what the Lord had done for Him.
As I read these scriptures that day in my car, I took on the same mindset and made the devil out of a liar by giving God the honor and recognition He is due for what He has done, and continues to do in my life! You can decide to do the same today. And in turn, your spirit will be encouraged, you will have peace of mind, and know what it feels like to walk in victory!
Monday, August 30, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
Praise....The Latest Fad in Fashion!
"To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified." Isaiah 61:3
I can recall a time in my life when I felt as if I was beginning to be depressed--for no apparent reason! It seemed as if a cloud of gloom and hopelessness all of a sudden came over me. This went on for a couple of days. I thought it was nothing more than a lingering mood swing. Then, it would not leave. It felt so heavy. I began feeling like I wanted to stay home in bed and not be around anyone. It was as if I was locked in a personal prison and as much as I wanted to break free, I didn't know how. In the midst of this frightening experience, God so graciously brought these words to mind, found in the scripture listed above, "the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness." God wanted me to praise Him!? As ridiculous as it seemed in my finite mind, I knew I had nothing to lose -- plus I was desperate! I wanted to shake loose this feeling of doom and gloom. I started with shallow "hallelujah's" until they evolved into into hearty "hallelujah's" and "glory to God!" It was not long after this solo "praise party" began that I felt the entire atmosphere of where I stood began to shift. I felt light, free, lifted, and liberated! Woo hoo! I was back!!!
Psalm 22:3 teaches us that God inhabits the praises of His people. To put it simply, where God's praises are, there He is. You put on the garment of praise by verbally acknowledging the goodness of God. When we put on the garment of praise, we put on the presence of God. In the presence of the Lord, there is fullness of joy! (Psalm 16:11) Are you in need of joy? Then, whip out that garment of praise and get busy bringing God on the scene! You now have the key.
If you know anyone experiencing depression, please share this devotion with them. With God, all things are possible. Stay blessed.
I can recall a time in my life when I felt as if I was beginning to be depressed--for no apparent reason! It seemed as if a cloud of gloom and hopelessness all of a sudden came over me. This went on for a couple of days. I thought it was nothing more than a lingering mood swing. Then, it would not leave. It felt so heavy. I began feeling like I wanted to stay home in bed and not be around anyone. It was as if I was locked in a personal prison and as much as I wanted to break free, I didn't know how. In the midst of this frightening experience, God so graciously brought these words to mind, found in the scripture listed above, "the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness." God wanted me to praise Him!? As ridiculous as it seemed in my finite mind, I knew I had nothing to lose -- plus I was desperate! I wanted to shake loose this feeling of doom and gloom. I started with shallow "hallelujah's" until they evolved into into hearty "hallelujah's" and "glory to God!" It was not long after this solo "praise party" began that I felt the entire atmosphere of where I stood began to shift. I felt light, free, lifted, and liberated! Woo hoo! I was back!!!
Psalm 22:3 teaches us that God inhabits the praises of His people. To put it simply, where God's praises are, there He is. You put on the garment of praise by verbally acknowledging the goodness of God. When we put on the garment of praise, we put on the presence of God. In the presence of the Lord, there is fullness of joy! (Psalm 16:11) Are you in need of joy? Then, whip out that garment of praise and get busy bringing God on the scene! You now have the key.
If you know anyone experiencing depression, please share this devotion with them. With God, all things are possible. Stay blessed.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Create & Renew!
"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. " Psalm 51:10
Looking at this scripture more closely, you realize that the word create is a verb. It means to develop mentally or spiritually. This denotes that there's a process to obtaining a clean heart. To renew means to start over; to refurbish. This word is also a verb. When something is renewed, the old is done away with so that there may be a fresh start or new beginning. Learn to have patience with yourself while God is working on you. You are a miracle in progress, therefore, the process is important. The good news is when you pray this scripture, the process begins for you! As the days roll by, you'll be able to say, "I may not be where I wanna be, but thank God I'm not where I used to be!" You'll realize that your heart is beginning to change and a right spirit is being renewed or developed within you. In other words, you'll find yourself saying no to some things that you used to say yes to. It's apart of the development process. I encourage you to pray this scripture for yourself, expect God to do it for you, and watch the effect it has on your life. Let God develop a new you today! Be blessed.
Looking at this scripture more closely, you realize that the word create is a verb. It means to develop mentally or spiritually. This denotes that there's a process to obtaining a clean heart. To renew means to start over; to refurbish. This word is also a verb. When something is renewed, the old is done away with so that there may be a fresh start or new beginning. Learn to have patience with yourself while God is working on you. You are a miracle in progress, therefore, the process is important. The good news is when you pray this scripture, the process begins for you! As the days roll by, you'll be able to say, "I may not be where I wanna be, but thank God I'm not where I used to be!" You'll realize that your heart is beginning to change and a right spirit is being renewed or developed within you. In other words, you'll find yourself saying no to some things that you used to say yes to. It's apart of the development process. I encourage you to pray this scripture for yourself, expect God to do it for you, and watch the effect it has on your life. Let God develop a new you today! Be blessed.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Forgetting About the Past.....
"Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14
Tough situations, hurtful relationships, and scarring experiences can cause to you to become stagnant in life. These can affect our perspective on life and the way we treat people. If we're not careful, these things can cause us to build a prison around ourselves. Some build prisons of hatred, unforgiveness, and vengeance. The bible tells us to leave these things behind. It is impossible to move ahead and hold on to the past at the same time. You cannot reach for what's in front of you while the past pulls you backward. Progress happens when you move forward. The story ends when you choose to close the book. Don't revisit your pain. Instead, head toward the healing! Choose to get better and pursue God's purpose for your life. Trust Him. He won't let you down. He wants to help you, heal you, and make you whole. God wants to carry your burdens, take care of your cares, and give you rest for your weariness. Will you allow Him? The bible calls God a present help in time of need. Could you use His help at this moment in life? Then, what better time than now?! With your cooperation, Let God be the true God that He wants to be in your life!
Tough situations, hurtful relationships, and scarring experiences can cause to you to become stagnant in life. These can affect our perspective on life and the way we treat people. If we're not careful, these things can cause us to build a prison around ourselves. Some build prisons of hatred, unforgiveness, and vengeance. The bible tells us to leave these things behind. It is impossible to move ahead and hold on to the past at the same time. You cannot reach for what's in front of you while the past pulls you backward. Progress happens when you move forward. The story ends when you choose to close the book. Don't revisit your pain. Instead, head toward the healing! Choose to get better and pursue God's purpose for your life. Trust Him. He won't let you down. He wants to help you, heal you, and make you whole. God wants to carry your burdens, take care of your cares, and give you rest for your weariness. Will you allow Him? The bible calls God a present help in time of need. Could you use His help at this moment in life? Then, what better time than now?! With your cooperation, Let God be the true God that He wants to be in your life!
The Role of God's Word
God's word reveals His will. It is up to us to place ourselves in agreement with it. As we begin to renew our minds daily with the word of God, we become intimately acquainted with God and begin to know His ways. His word becomes established in our heart and we become rooted and grounded in the truth. -Kenneth Copeland
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