Sacrifice of Praise
It’s one of those hard to focus mornings, Father. My mind is going every whichaway – thunder is booming, the rain is pouring. I can’t seem to get comfortable. Help me to reel it all in. Help me to give You the attention You deserve.
Hebrews 13:15-16 (<<click here to read the passage)
“… through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God…” v15 NLT
Lord, trying to wrap my brain around this passage is a bit of a challenge this morning. One thing I need to be reminded of is that the term sacrifice in the Old Testament didn’t always have connections to sin and forgiveness. Burnt offerings, grain offerings, and peace offerings were all voluntary acts of worship. They could express devotion and surrender to God. They could be intended to recognize Your goodness and provision.
Throughout every day, Lord, I should become more and more aware of the importance of giving You praise. Time and time again You are there for me. Your Holy Spirit within me helps me to pause before I speak, to quickly turn the other way the moment temptations present themselves, to be slow to judge and quick to love, to be diligent in my labors and not frivolous with my time. These things and many, many others should bring praise to You from my lips.
Even when the going gets tough and trials come upon me I am still compelled to praise. You are with me all the way, even though the storms may howl about me. When I do so those around me can see who I am in You and I can testify all that You do for me.
Lord, help me this day to keep my focus on You. Help me to offer “a continual sacrifice of praise to” You throughout each and every day. Amen!
July 18th, 2016, Mon, 6:26 am
In a Pickle
Father, even before I found my seat this morning, my journaling from yesterday has been weighing on my mind. We definitely must be ready to stand for You regardless of what the future may bring but it’s not just a tomorrow thing. It is a today thing, as well.
Hebrews 13:13-14 (<<click here to read the passage)
So let us go out to him, outside the camp, and bear the disgrace he bore. For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come. NLT
Lord, in regards to this passage, my study Bible* stated, “The time [has] come for [us] to declare [our] loyalty to Christ above any loyalty, to choose to follow the Messiah whatever suffering that might entail. [We need] to move outside the safe confinement of [our] part, [our] traditions, and [our] ceremonies to live for Christ.”
I am perfectly content to stay where I am comfortable Lord, in my home, and for that matter in the church. I have no problem saying, “Sure I’ll tell you about Jesus…just come in here where I am comfortable and safe. Uh…you can’t get here? You’re scared to come in? You’ve heard so many negative things about the “church” that you’d rather just not even bother?…oh…well, we are in a pickle aren’t we?”
I realize that not everyone is going to come where I am most comfortable. But am I willing to “go out to him”? Am I willing to “bear the disgrace” that You bore, Jesus? Of course, being willing and actually going are two totally separate things. But as I’ve been made aware – “The time has come” to take action. Lord, enable me to do what needs to be done, for You want me to not come alone to that “home yet to come.”
*Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation
July 15th, 2016, Fri, 6:20 am
Same Old, Same Old
I’ve been up for a bit but finally settled down for some time together, Father. I pray that I will hear what You would have to share with me this day. May I give You my undivided attention. Amen.
Revelation 3:12-13 (<<click here to read the passage)
Sometimes life here on earth gets old. As King Solomon is credited with writing in Ecclesiastes 1:8-9,
Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content.
History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new.
Now I don’t want to be ungrateful for what You have given us, Lord. And truly the only redeeming factors in everyday life are the blessings which You so generously pour upon us. But the routines of life can become wearying.
The craving for something new, something different, can wreak havoc in our lives. We grow tired of our jobs, our homes, our vehicles, our friends, our spouses…much to our shame. We cast them aside and move on to the next thing. Much like children, we grow tired of toys we have and desire new ones, different ones.
Lord, help us to be content with the things we have. Help us to grow up. May we love and cherish the blessings You have given us. The new will come if we are faithful. And if we are faithful, we will be victorious!
This passage in Revelation speaks clearly of some of the “new” we will experience. We will have citizenship in the “new Jerusalem…” And something that I’ve never realized before, Lord, You will write Your “new name” on us!
In reading the study helps on Biblegateway.com, specifically, the MacArthur Study Bible notes, I read, “At the moment we see Christ, whatever we may have called Him and understood by that name will pale in the reality of what we see. And He will give us a new, eternal name by which we will know Him.”
Lord, I yearn for the day when the routines of life will be something left behind. What a glorious day it will be when we live with You in Your re-created world and when we will have your “new name”! May I be faithful! Amen.
July 27th, 2017, Thurs, 7:00 am
One Author
What a nice, relaxing day Karen and I had together yesterday, Father. Thank You for Your blessings on our services, our bite of lunch together, and the rest of the day that we quietly spent at home. I am truly blessed!
Revelation 3:7-8 (<<click the green)
When we look at the Bible so many people see different things. Many see different writings by different people during different times of history. The only continuity some see is that a great portion of the Old Testament pertains to the nation of Israel and the New Testament deals with the life of You, Lord Jesus, an Israelite, and how Your followers continued to spread his message – the Good News, that is, the Gospel – the salvation You have extended to the world, throughout the world.
But in reality, it is all interconnected…it is intertwined. The books in the Book were written by a variety of people but there was one Author. The Bible, Lord, is Your story, communicating Your creation of us, Your love for us, and Your pursuit of us, from the beginning of time until its end.
I love Your interjection of Isaiah 22:22 in the midst of Your message to the churches here in Revelation. Something written so long ago – 800 years before Your coming to live amongst us – found its fulfillment in a church that came into being after Your return to the Father.
Sovereign Lord, You hold the key of David and what You have opened – salvation – “no one can close” and what You have closed “no one can open” – the judgment of all the world is certain. (Concepts communicated in my study Bible*.)
Lord, Your Word clearly tells us that no matter how independent we may find ourselves, no matter how much free will we assert – we find our salvation in You and You alone, not in and of ourselves, and when all is said and done, we will have to answer to You…no ifs, ands or buts.
July 24th, 2017, Mon, 6:33 am
*Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation
Consistency
Father, as we meet this morning I am so grateful for Your rock-solid consistency. As I think back over the last several months, I have been all over the place. I feel like a teenager in love. It sounds odd but at times I’ve been firmly committed, I wavered some here and there, too. I’ve felt closer to You than ever before and I’ve felt distant. You’ve been right here and I’ve been here, too, but I’ve bounced around a lot, too. Thank You for not giving up on me (not that You would) and for Your never-failing love. Help me to love You deeper every day!
Hebrews 13:8-9 (<<click here)
Lord, there You go again! Reading vs. 8 made me chuckle. You continue to work in me (for which I am grateful) even when I’m clueless. My opening thoughts tie in so well! I am wishy-washy but Your word once again reminds me that You are “the same yesterday, today, and forever.” What assurance there is in that statement!
As human beings, we have a bent toward inconsistency. We’re hot, and then we’re cold. We are just all over the place. And this permeates every relationship in which we find ourselves – in families, our workplaces, churches, you name it and we experience a multitude of ups and downs. It makes it hard to navigate. It’s smooth sailing when out of nowhere there’s an iceberg – we’re “king of the world” and then we’re thrust into the icy cold waters of rejection.
Not so with You! You are never changing. Scripture is replete with statements of Your never-ending love (Psalm 136, Psalm 100:5, 1 Chronicles 16:34 to name a few). You’re always there when we need You – You will never leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6).
Lord, this day may I be more like You. Help me win the battle against inconsistency. You are the example worth striving for!
July 12th, 2016, Tue, 6:42 am