“Praise The Lord”

“Praise The Lord”

Praise the Lord! Within those three words is the powerful beginning and foundation of a blessed life. It starts with knowing who God is and praising Him.

Praise is always a starting point.  It means thankfulness — that is why we give thanks before  a meal and start church with songs of praise.  Jesus began to thank God before Lazarus was raised from the dead, and Moses praised God before He parted the Red Sea. Human nature likes to wait until after an answer is received, but blessing begins with praise.

The Word of God tells us to “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise” (Psalm 100:4). Yet praising the Lord is not limited to singing a few songs once a week in a church service. Worship is a lifestyle that embraces the entire spectrum of life.

You can praise God at any hour of the day, seven days a week — in the car, the shower or the middle of night. It isn’t about singing a particular hymn or reciting a prayer — it’s about a relationship with your Heavenly Father who loves and cares for you.

People have different ideas of what God is like, and they communicate with Him according to their perception. Those who think He is rigid and austere keep their distance. Others, who see Him as formal and stiff, usually approach Him in the same way. Yet those who know Him as Father and Friend enjoy the blessing of a close, intimate relationship with Him — where you can call on Him anytime. No matter what situation you may be in, you are never alone.

Circumstances can begin to turn around when you start praising God. Not only does praise put Him in focus, but it also causes you to see things from a whole new perspective.

Praising God is more than a ritual or one-time event. It’s a lifestyle of worship — it enables you to place your focus on God, and it changes your perspective of the circumstances around you. So go forth today in your God-given calling with this declaration as your foundation:

“Praise the Lord!”

Psalms 112:1  Praise the Lord!Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,who greatly delights in his commandments!

Psalms 100:4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,and his courts with praise!Give thanks to him; bless his name!

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Your Influence: Your Personal Calling is an Opportunity to Influence Others

Remember the story: God asked Moses to lay it his shepherd staff on ground. It became a snake! God asked Moses to pick up again by the tail. And as he did, it became a staff again. Moses staff not only symbolizes his identity (as a shepherd) and his income (source of livelihood), but it also represents his influence. As a shepherd, he uses his staff to pull and push sheeps from point A to point B. God is using Moses’ sheperding skills from moving herds of sheep to influnecing and moving God’s people out of Egypt onto the Promise Land.

God is doing the same thing with you my friend. He wants you to surrender to Him your identity, income and influence. And when you do, see what He can do with it. From staff to snake! He can bring it to life! But it if you try to take control of it again, it will be back the way it was, lifeless and insignificant.

As leaders, others entrust you with providing direction and empowering them to use their gifts and talents to serve God in a particular place and for a particular time.

• How has your role as a leader blessed and empowered others to serve God more fully?

• In Revelation 3: 8, God says, “I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.” Where have you experienced opportunities to serve match the very talents and gifts you have?

God bless you in your journey as a person who is called to serve and called to lead…OnPurpose!!

Evidence of Personal Calling

What evidence do you have that you are responding to God’s call on your life? Many people who work for a church or Christian organization, we may be convinced that we are called to be in this place “for such a time as this.”

Jesus here said “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” This is good news — we can hear His voice. The Bible, God’s love letter to mankind, makes it clear that we were created to have two-way communication with Him.

As children of God, we have the confidence that we will hear His voice. We hear from Him because we have a personal relationship with Him. The Apostle Paul writes “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” This scripture also implies that if we are God’s children, His Spirit will lead us. He could speak to us through His Word, the Holy Spirit illuminates God’s truth in our lives. And as live in His Spirit, He can also speak to us through prayers, through the church – as we seek counsel from godly people and even our circumtsances.

The life of faith opens our eyes to see ourselves and the world around us in new ways. The closer we walk with God, the more we understand our part in His plan for the world. We trust that He is calling us toward something that is best for us, so we respond in faith to the provisions He has made for us to serve.

Personal Reflection: Read the following passages and respond to the following questions.

1. What are you most passionate about doing? Where or in doing what do you experience “deep gladness” ?

2. What gifts and talents has God given you to equip you for what you are doing? How do they allow you to meet the needs of others?

My Vine…

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you…John 15:7, NIV.

In life, we all have ups and downs. None of us are confused about that right? But there are seasons that we will go through that are more difficult than others, seasons of testing, trials and temptation where our character is being developed and our faith in God is being strengthened. Sometimes it can feel like you are taking two steps forward and then three steps backward. But if we’re not careful, we’ll start thinking that life is always going to be this way. Even in the strong seasons, you’ll start looking for things to go wrong. But surely this is not the time to start (trippin) or as our young folk would say (tweakin).

God doesn’t want us to be living life like a roller coaster. He wants to bring us to a place of stability where we remain strong in Him.
Our Lord Jesus said, “I am the vine. You are the branches. If you abide in me, you will bear much fruit and your fruit will remain.” The word “remain” means “to be fixed, stable, not affected by circumstances.” If you will just keep abiding in Him, just keep meditating on His Word, He’ll bring you through. He’ll make you strong, He’ll keep you mentally stable, and you’ll keep moving forward into the abundant life He has already prepared for you!

Come and embrace me Lord
Hold me secure
Hold me strong
Hold me forever
In Your everlasting arms
Amen

Staying connected to the VINE…OnPurpose!!