September 4th Thanksgiving; Praise & Worship II
Bible Reading: Rev. 4:8-11; Lk. 6:35; 2 Tim. 3:2
Ps. 3:3 ‘but you, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head’
Confront devils, disease, debacles, depression, debt and even death with thanksgiving, praise and worship. These practices create an atmosphere for God to manifest Himself. Heaven is full of praise and worship. To be ungrateful, unthankful and stingy about praising God is a notable sin.
Let’s talk about praise, which presents in different ways. Firstly, wear a ‘countenance’ of praise. Fix your appearance and let it say ‘God is good’. The thing is you will not be able to do this until you ‘think’ praise. God reads and needs a heart of gratitude and not complaints, dissatisfaction and displeasure.
Phil. 4:8 ‘finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy — meditate on these things’
Joy and gladness are also expressions of praise. You cannot praise God and be heavy, sorrowful or depressed. Shake them off and be joy-full. Sing melodies of Zion and refuse to be silent before God. Isaiah said ‘the ransomed of the Lord shall return to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy… and sorrow shall flee away’ Is. 35:10
Prayer:
i. Pray for grace to serve God faithfully, willingly and joyfully at all times. Deut. 28:47
ii. Pray for spiritual understanding of the times and seasons for the body of Christ. Eph. 1:17-19
Thought for the day:
When you start praising you stop sorrowing.
