Simply Praise
1 Ch. 29:13 “Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.
(A monthly meditation considering our God)
Openness Before God
Lord, I have writer’s block. What do You want said? You have been faithful in every issue, and I trust You will be in this one also. I don’t want to ask why, only trust the who. You Jesus are the Who. You give and take away, You build and tare down. There are so many things I don’t understand that You do or allow. But I am learning to trust You, and worship You in the midst of all my doubts, and trials, and tears. You are so much more than I can ever imagine. My heart feels almost as though it would break for wanting to be near Your side. Yet I feel so unworthy to even mention Your name. Your Holiness overwhelms me, Your beauty is indescribable, Your Majesty can not be matched. What is man, that You would be mindful of him? Lord, my views of You are too small, my faithfulness faulty. When I really take the time to meditate on You, Just You! I am undone. I feel ashamed that I have not given You the love and communion and fellowship You are so deserving of. Woe is me! For I am undone; because I am a man (woman) of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts. (Isaiah 6:5) Who is worthy of praise? You are Jesus! Who deserves all glory and honor? You do Jesus. I pray I never loose the wonder of that reality. When my tears fall from the pain of trials, when my heart aches from aloneness, when my nights are troubled by dreams and fears, I will call out to You Jesus! My comfort. You give and take away! Blessed be Your name! There is a day coming when all things will be made new. Where every wrong will be made right, and every tear will be wiped away. Oh Lord, I long for that day. Come quickly! D. E. M.
In Everything I Praise You (When I’m on My Knees; Anita Corrine Donihue)
Your decisions for my life are right, O Lord, for You are my Father. You care for me. You are the Potter. Shape me as You would. Teach me Your lessons, that I may be worthy of being Your child. Help me to be pliable clay so You can form me the way You please. I have no fear of Your plan, Lord. Instead, I put my trust completely in You. I may not understand why things happen the way they do. I may even cry out in difficult times, when I don’t see the reasoning of it all. Yet I will let You purify me in Your loving way. Make me like silver and gold as You refine me and skim away the dross and impurities. At times this is difficult, but I must trust You and obey, because You know what is best for me. When the trials come, help me draw closer to You. I know You, Lord Jesus, suffered too. Through each struggle, I will strive to remain true. Afterward, as You have promised, I will share again the wonderful joy You have waiting for me. I praise You in everything, Lord, that the will of God will be accomplished through me.
Thanksgiving Message
Read Psalm 73:1-28; Asaph begins by standing true in what he believes about God, but he slips because he starts to look at neighbors and becomes envious. He wonders why the wicked prosper. When he loses his praise, he starts stumbling and suffering. He should have sought answers by looking up, not looking around or within. Asaph understands the end of the evil ones. The key question is not “Where are you?” but “Where are you going?” Are you taking the broad road that leads to destruction or the narrow road that leads to life (v.20)? The psalmist looks to God and makes several discoveries. First, he discovers that we can be thankful for the guarantee of His presence. His name is Immanuel, which means “God with us” (Matt.1:23; Isa. 41:10; 43:2; Ps. 23:4). Second, we have the grasp of His hand. We see God’s powerful hand in creation. We see His gentle hand lead us beside the still waters. And we see His pierced hands on the cross as He dies for us. Third, we have the guidance of His counsel. God’s commands and commissions are for everyone, but He knows each of us personally. He knew us in the womb and has arranged for us the lives He wants us to live. Live one day at a time and walk one step at a time (Prov. 4:18). That counsel comes from the Word of God and through prayer. Finally, we will have the glory of His heaven. As Christians, we know we are going to heaven because of price Jesus paid on the cross (1 Thess. 5:10), the promise He made (John 14:2-3) and the prayer He prayed (John 17 :24). We may not understand completely today, but we have a future glory (1Pet.1:3; 2 Pet. 1:11; Phil. 4:4). As a Christian, you have much for which to be thankful. God is with you. When you find yourself becoming frustrated by the world’s inequalities, stop, look up and give thanks to God for His blessings. (Warren Wiersbe)
The Baffling Call Of God (My utmost for His Highest; Oswald Chambers)
“And all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man shall be accomplished...And they understood none of these things.” Luke 18:31, 34. God called Jesus Christ to what seemed unmitigated disaster. Jesus Christ called His disciples to see Him put to death; He led every one of them to the place where their hearts were broken. Jesus Christ’s life was an absolute failure from every standpoint but God’s. But what seemed failure from man’s standpoint was a tremendous triumph from God’s, because God’s purpose is never man’s purpose. There comes the baffling call of God in our lives also. The call of God can never be stated explicitly; it is implicit. The call of God is like the call of the sea, no one hears it but the one who has the nature of the sea in him. It cannot be stated definitely what the call of God is to, because His call it to be in comradeship with Himself for His own purposes, and the test is to believe that God knows what He is after. The things that happen do not happen by chance, they happen entirely in the decree of God. God is working out His purposes. If we are in communion with God and recognize that He is taking us into His purposes, we shall no longer try to find out what His purposes are. As we go on in the new Christian life it gets simpler, because we are less inclined to say—Now why did God allow this and that? Behind the whole thing lies the compelling of God. “There’s a divinity that shapes our ends.” A Christian is one who trusts the wits and the wisdom of God, and not his own wits. If we have a purpose of our own, it destroys the simplicity and the leisureliness which ought to characterize the children of God.
Psalms
(119:75) I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me. (119:71) It is good for me that I have been afflicted: that I might learn thy statutes. (119:66-67) Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments. Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. (119:50) This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me. Amen.
Learning To Let Go
Dear Father, I have done all I can to help. Yet I see my loved one’s unwise decisions. I know I need to let go, but my love makes it impossible. Are You teaching me that by letting go I can show even greater love? I realize my helplessness in solving another’s problems. So, Lord, I place this one of mine in Your hands. I know You love each of us more than we can imagine. My dear one is no exception. Grant me strength to stand up for what is right but to keep on loving. When unkind remarks hurt, let me not turn away, but merely step aside and give some space. Help me not to take the problems back by manipulating, fixing, or condemning, but to lend words of encouragement. Teach me to be a comforter, not a crutch; to care, not to control; to listen, not demand my own way; and to cherish the good moments of each day. I will not grieve for the past, but look to the future in hopeful anticipation. Father, thank You for taking my fear and replacing it with Your pure love. Protect us with Your angels and guide with Your Spirit, that we will not fall to evil and harm.
Burned Out
Lord, I let myself get caught up in doing too many things. I’m burned out, so burned out I don’t want to go anywhere or do anything. Bitterness and resentment are creeping in. Forgive me, Lord, and heal me. During this time of weakness, let me wait on You. Renew my strength, Lord, that I, too, can mount like the eagle. Please clip my wings just a little to keep me nearer You, to learn my limitations. Let me put Your will first in my life, not the will of others. Give me the strength to say, “No thank you,” in a loving but firm way. Help me not to feel guilty. Perhaps I’m cheating others from the chance to serve. Grant me wisdom in setting the right priorities: You first, family second, and others next. Somewhere in there show me how to take time for me. You are the Holy One of my life. I wonder, as You run an entire universe, how can You be concerned with the likes of me? I praise You, O Lord, that You consider me a treasure and that You love me with Your unconditional and everlasting love. Give me time to mend. In Your own time, send me forth to work again for You. But for now, help me to lie back and absorb Your healing strength.
(When I’m On My Knees pg.95)
Healing
Give ear, O Lord, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications. In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee; for thou wilt answer me… Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name. I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore…. O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant….Father, I am broken. I seem to be filled with absolute emptiness. I have nothing to offer You but pieces of my life. Pick them up, I pray, and use them. Help me submit, while You arrange these pieces in a new way. I understand Your way is best. You are the Master Craftsman and know my very being. Thank You for the miracle You create from my shattered life. Thank You for how You are making me into a beautiful new vessel to be used for You. In Jesus’ name, I pray.
(When I’m On My Knees pg.93)
Grace Alone
Not saved are we by trying, from self can come no aid;
‘Tis on the blood relying,
Once for our ransom paid
‘Tis looking unto Jesus,
The holy one and just;
‘Tis His grace that saves—
It is not “try” but “trust!”
Anonymous
The Potter
Lord, it makes no difference what comes my way. What really matters is for me to be within Your will. Help me become soft and pliable so You can mold me the way You know I should be.
The potter’s wheel spins ‘round and round’. Gentle fingers form the soft clay into the master’s desired creation. To the potter, there is purpose in each turn.
At times my life seems to be spinning. Slow me down, Lord. You are the Potter of my life. Let me heed to Your molding so I can be a product of Your perfect plan.
Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use? Romans 9:21 NIV
Have Thine own way Lord!
Have Thine own way!
Thou are the potter;I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after Thy will, While I am waiting Yielded and still
Adelaide Addison Pollard
Be joyful always;
Pray continually;
Give thanks in all circumstances,
For this is God’s will
For you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared. Proverbs 3:24-26 NIV
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:4-7NIV
