Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. (2 Chronicles 16: 8)
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There are people who would have loved the opportunity to be here today but they are not. We have so much to be thankful for here in America. In the country I was born there’s a limited supply of clean water, and not everyone has access to it, and sometimes people have to travel by foot many miles to get to it. I woke up this morning feeling victorious because I have clean water running in three different areas and I live in a reasonably small but comfortable place.
There are people in many parts of the world where I have lived who have never seen a doctor their entire lives, but you and I run to the doctor at first sign of a common cold. In many places of the world people have to travel twenty to thirty miles by foot to get to a place of worship that has no ventilation systems but they make it there on time. Here, it is a matter of getting into our cars and yet we hardly ever get there on time. God forbid it should get cold or barely raining, we may not make to church at all. I can see the ocean from all corners of my place. Friends There is beauty all around us, and make the choice to notice it and enjoy it. There is always a reason to praise the Lord. God is a good Father. He only wants the best for His children.
God is looking for men and women who are going to be consistent and persistent in their faith-walk. He is looking for men and women who will praise Him, regardless of their situations; can He count on you?
Will you have the courage to praise him when your spouse of twenty years walked out on you for no apparent reasons?
Are you going to praise Him when everyone around you is getting blessed financially while you are facing bankruptcy?
Can God count on you when you’re starting to go grey and all of your friends are married and having children and you have yet to meet your soul mate?
Will you have the courage to praise the Lord when both natural and church families whisper loudly about your situation behind your back?
Will God be able to count on you when the world seems to be against you and all doors seem to be closing at once?
Should He count on your praise when the doctor looks at your loves ones and shake his head while telling you there is nothing else possible that can be done?
Friend, you have to keep trusting God through everything. He is your maker and He loves you. I do understand that there are times in our lives that are so difficult that we’ll be tempted to believe that our efforts are vain, and we may be tempted to get discouraged, but those would be the time to trust God, and take Him at His word. Spend quiet time and meditate on his words, and give Him praise; but, you have to know what the word is. Let’s look at a few passages:
“If we endure with Him, we will also reign with Him” 2 Timothy 2:12
“Being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience and joyfully giving thanks to the father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.” Colossians 1:11’12
For more on the subject of perseverance read: Romans 8:25; Galatians 6:9; Hebrews 3:14 Psalm 37:7-9; Hebrews 10:36; James 1:2-4 and 12; Romans 5:3-4 ; Revelation 21:7; 2 Timothy 2 12-13.
Friend, nothing should get in the way of your praise. Praise God always and in all situations and you will see His glory.
Be fortified, be courageous and please be patient, in Jesus name!
Praise the Lord!!!
