Some years ago, our pastor at the time did a lengthy sermon series on the subject of praising God.  I remember thinking that I hadn’t realized how much there was in the Bible on that subject!

These days, I often find myself considering the time I spend listing my blessings in my gratitude journal as a time of praise. And while I should be grateful to God for what He’s doing in my life at the moment, I believe praise goes a step beyond that.

Luke 1:46-55 is a record of what Mary prays after learning she’s been chosen to be the mother of the Messiah.  As I was looking at it recently, I noticed several lessons I can learn from Mary about praising God.

 
I praise God by celebrating His glory.  In verse 46, Mary says, “My soul doth magnify the Lord…”  Magnify means to praise highly, to celebrate in praise, to render or esteem glorious.  Praise is all about God.  As I’ve mentioned before, Psalm 145 is one of my favorite praise passages because it talks all about God’s awesome attributes as well as His mighty works.

God alone can give me joy.  I can’t get true joy from my husband or my children or my church family.  The joy that seeps deep down into my spirit only comes from a relationship with my Savior.  Mary says in verse 47, “And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.”

Humility precedes my praise.  Mary had no thoughts of her own importance or worthiness for the role she’d been called to fulfill.  She says in verse 48, “For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden…”  Her focus was on the power of the one who had chosen her.  “For He that is mighty hath done to me great things…”  If I want to truly praise God, I have to recognize my human weaknesses and acknowledge His greatness and power.

I praise God both for who He is and for what He does.  Mary mentions God’s might, holiness, mercy, and strength in this passage.  She also praises Him for what He’s done – scattered the proud, put down the mighty, exalted those of low degree, and filled the hungry with good things. Thinking about those characteristics that are only God’s (He is perfect, unchangeable, all knowing, etc.) can keep us busy for awhile! Add to that the ways He’s cared for and guided us in the past, and we have much for which to praise Him.

Focus praise on God’s faithfulness to His promises.  Mary remembered the promises of God to Israel, and rejoiced in that He kept them.  Verses 54 and 55 say, “He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.”  In the same way, we have seen God keep the promises in His Word to us.  A wonderful Bible study is to find verses that detail a promise of God and think about how He’s proven true in that way in your own life.

I love the following quote related to Mary’s prayer that I read in a commentary.

“The intended effect of all His dealings is that we should think more nobly – that is, more worthily – of Him.”  ~MacLaren

We serve a God who is worthy of our praise, both for who He is and for what He’s done.  Let’s praise Him today!

Related posts:
Praise Ye the Lord
Praying and Praising with Scripture
Praise Changes My Attitude

Do you desire to walk in faith?

I do.  I want to trust God through every trial He allows, and bring Him glory by my response to His working in my life.

Yet I often fail.  The enemy of doubt creeps in and taints my thoughts and shifts my focus from my God to my problem.

When I check out Satan’s first appearance in Genesis three, I see him causing Eve to doubt God’s Word.  As I was studying this passage the other night, I saw several lessons I can learn from Eve’s experience.

 
I often make decisions based on what I can see.  Verse six says, “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat…”  Instead of basing her actions on what God had told her about eating from that tree, she sized up the situation for herself and took action.  2 Corinthians 5:7 fits so perfectly here.  “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”  We obey God’s Word because we know it’s true and eternal, rather than making the decision that seems to benefit us most in the moment.

I question God’s goodness and His plan for me.  Verse six also says that she saw that the tree was “to be desired to make one wise.”  She didn’t trust that God was good and that if He told her not to eat from that tree, it was His best plan for her.  Eve believed Satan when He said in verse five that she would “be as gods, knowing good and evil.”  She assumed that knowledge would be a good thing, not understanding that God’s command was there to protect her – it wasn’t a good thing to “know…evil!”

I listen to other influences rather than staying true to God’s Word.  Eve chose to listen to Satan.   Eve had no written word of God, but she had God’s spoken words to obey.  Her statements about God’s command regarding the tree in verses two and three show that she knew what God had said.  This reminds me that in the midst of a temptation or struggle, the best place to run for help is to my Bible.

My doubt affects others, especially my family.  As verse six tells us, Eve “…gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.”  When my faith goes missing, my family will be affected in some way.  I can’t be the wife or mom I need to be when I’m not walking in faith.  Worry and fear are so quick to take over when I’m doubting God’s promises.

When I live in doubt, I try to control the outcome of my situation.  Verse seven says, “And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.”  Once Eve’s doubt led to sin, she and Adam tried to fix their nakedness.  If I’m not trusting God, I will wear myself out trying to control the people and situations around me.

I know there’ve been times when I (consciously or not) thought, “God, I know I should trust you here, but I think I know a better way.”  How thankful I am that God is merciful and, even when we doubt, He remains faithful!  We can grow in our own faith and overcome doubt as we believe God and obey His Word.

Related posts:
Having Faith in the Promises of God
4 Lessons for My Trials from a Man Who Knows
Where Is Your Faith?

I recently read Nancy Leigh Demoss’ book Choosing Gratitude.

Because while I write in my gratitude journal almost daily and tend to think of myself as a mostly thankful person, it’s so easy to slip into complaining and negative thinking while ignoring all the blessings around me.

Since reading Demoss’ book, Bible verses related to gratefulness and praise have been jumping out at me everywhere.  From Psalms (I try to read at least a portion of a psalm each day) to Colossians (the epistle I’m studying this month), I keep encountering verses that command or remind me to praise the Lord and be thankful to Him.

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Many times we have these big questions about God’s will.  What is God’s will for my life?  How can I find out exactly what He wants me to do?

Well, with this verse before us, we’re not left to guess.  We’re specifically told God’s will in this area.

Sounds simple enough – It’s God’s will for me to be thankful in every thing in life.

But sometimes that’s a tall order.

It’s easier when life seems good; not so much when times are hard.  When the car’s running smoothly and the kids aren’t fighting and we got an unexpected refund from the insurance company, blessings may just roll off our tongues.  Though sometimes I might be tempted to think I’m just living right and deserve these gifts, rather than recognize that every good and perfect gift comes from God. [James 1:17]

Then there are the trying times when the car’s in the shop for the second time this month and a child is in trouble at school and the bill for car repairs is higher than expected.  Then the search for blessings to list takes a little bit longer and I have to dig a bit more deeply to find those words of praise.

I think one sign of spiritual maturity is to look around in the midst of the hard and recognize a sign of God’s grace or a blessing here or a kindness there, and to thank God for those little rays of light in the midst of our darkness.

Beyond that is thanking God for what we’re facing in the midst of it, when we can’t even see a way out.  To sit, as Job did, surrounded by the ashes of our losses, and look to God and bless His name. [Job 1:20-21]

After all, the verse above says “in” every thing, which indicates to me that it’s while we’re going through the trial that we give thanks for it.  And while the giving thanks in the moment won’t magically make things better, it can thoroughly change our perspective and allow us to accept the peace and grace God has to offer.

How can I teach this principle of gratitude to my children? Modeling it is certainly the first step.  Actually naming my blessings for them, sharing what I’m grateful for, perhaps even gently pointing out an answer to prayer or a victory in their own life for which they can be thankful can get them thinking about their own blessings. Songs of praise and Bible verses that focus on God’s gifts to us can encourage them to have a more grateful spirit.

So do you want to do the will of God for you today?  Easy day or difficult one, sunshine or rain, health or sickness, smiles or frowns from those around you – we can choose to give thanks.

Related posts:
Giving Thanks in Every Thing
Giving Thanks on the Normal Days
10 Simple Ways to Show Thanks

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Do you ever start your day full of joy and ready to take on the world, only to find that, as the day goes on, your joy has slowly slipped away?

Source

Several years ago, I read the book Be Joyful by Warren Wiersbe. In the first chapter, he details four things that steal our joy.

1. Circumstances. Last weekend, I had several activities planned. When my older daughter got sick on Friday night, those plans went out the window. This happens often in our daily lives; we face an unpleasant situation and allow our joy to be snuffed out by the undesirable circumstances that surround us. If we can remember to trust God and submit to His ultimate control of every situation, we can hold on to our joy.

2. People. Hopefully, few – if any- people would intentionally steal our joy, but perhaps a thoughtless comment or even a bad attitude from a family member, friend, or neighbor drains the joy from our hearts. There are times when we are forced to deal with someone who’s unpleasant or who reacts negatively to us.  Often our response in the moment determines whether or not they can take away our joy.  In these situations, we need the fruit of the Spirit to help us respond sweetly and patiently.

3. Things. Plain-old covetousness can be a reason for our lack of joy. Whether it’s other people’s possessions, families, position, (or even their blog!), desiring what someone else has makes us unhappy and joyless. Learning to be content, no matter our state, can cause our joy to remain.

4. Worry. This one came into play over the weekend as well. Monitoring my daughter’s high temperature throughout Friday night caused me to worry. When she didn’t bounce back from her illness as quickly as I thought she should, more worry began to push away my joy. Even though I attempt to “cast all my care upon Him,” I still seem to think worry is part of my duty. Often, if I will live in today instead of in the future, I can focus on maintaining joy.

It would be lovely to say that since I recognize these joy-stealers, I am able to stand against them and continually live in joy. I’m afraid that’s not the case. Yet as I continue to grow in Christ, I trust that through His strength and by meditating on His Word, I can recognize and battle these joy-stealers when they attempt to enter my life.

Do you sometimes struggle with one of these joy-stealers?

The original version of this post was published on 2/24/10.

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Pieces of defeat litter the trail behind me.

In the past couple of weeks, I’ve felt failure after failure.  I’ve been too neglectful in my marriage, too hasty in my parenting, too self-focused, done too much in my own strength, too little in His.

The couple of victories I’ve recognized seem so small in comparison to all my downfalls.

I see my lack, His abundance, and realize anew that in mountain-top celebration or valley frustration, it always comes back to His grace.

My lack of ability to walk this spiritual journey on my own shows me my great need for it.  Those successes I recognize remind me that it’s only through Him I succeed.

I remind myself that His grace, it’s sufficient; that His strength, it’s made perfect in my weakness.  It’s even grace to see my weakness, to know I need His strength.  Let me see that more in the moment, less after the fact.

The grace that saved me is the grace that keeps me, that walks me through this day of packing lunches and cleaning bathrooms and correcting children’s attitudes and praying for friends and smiling at strangers.

My emptiness and unworthiness, filled by His wholeness and holiness, brings me back to His grace, the ever-ready fountain for my need.

At times, I can worry with the best of them.  I can imagine all the bad things that might happen to my family members, from car wrecks to plane crashes, serious illnesses to permanent disabilities, a random violent attack to emotional heartaches.

Every phsycial pain I experience myself is likely cancer or some other terminal disease, in my mind.

 
And while God promises His children that His grace is sufficient, He doesn’t grant it for what might be, only for what is.

So where does that leave me, with my hands and my heart full of worry and “what if’s?”

With 2 Corinthians 10:5.

“Casting down imaginations….and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” 

From there, I take it all to God in prayer, and trust Him – and not my own understanding – for what will be, for me and for those I love, in His perfect plan, today and in the days to come.

Source

It all collides in December….various parties, piano recital, school Christmas concert, church cantata, get-togethers with friends, both daughters’ birthdays, basketball practice and games, decorating, Christmas card sending, present wrapping, cookie baking.

These are all good things, occasions for gathering together and enjoying relationships and celebrating giving.  But sometimes the good can take the place of the best.  Rather than feeling like this month is chewing me up and spitting me out, I want to be drawn into the important moments with family and embrace the true significance of the season.

On my list this week is taking my girls shopping for presents for friends, getting teacher gifts, buying Nacho Cheese Doritos for a children’s Christmas party on Wednesday night, helping my younger daughter plan her birthday scavenger hunt, finishing mailing Christmas cards.  I’m sure you have a list of your own.

I’ve been caught up in it all, but I know that if I don’t make the time to slow down and think about why Christmas is here, December will simply be one unending round of busyness.  The Christ of Christmas isn’t going to intrude on my calendar unless I purposely put Him there.  Even the giving that happens in these days can end up being about me, and not about Him, the ultimate giver.

It’s an age-old story.  In the midst of a busy season of Roman taxation and crowded inns, Jesus came.  I doubt it was all that quiet in the stable for a brand new mom away from home, with few material comforts, soon to be descended upon by shepherds.  Yet I have to think she kept her mind’s eye turned to the true meaning of it all, as best she could understand it, since, upon the shepherds’ leaving, Mary “kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.”  [Luke 2:19]

So what will Christmas be this year?  Just the trimmings and the presents and the parties or an appreciation for the relationship that matters most of all, the One we can truly celebrate this year?  And how will I show Christmas to others?  Am I giving grace to harried shoppers and drivers and fellow moms?  Am I loving my family and serving them?

Let me ponder, along with Mary, what Christ’s coming meant for me and for the world.

Related posts:  Keeping Perspective in the Christmas Season and Do We See Jesus?

If there’s such a thing as getting up on the wrong side of the bed, that’s what I did yesterday.  I pretty much felt negative about everything that came up during the morning….and this was on a Sunday!!  How thankful I am for a God who is faithful, longsuffering, and merciful!

Thankfully, I did take time to have my quiet time first thing in the morning.  I struggled with my attitude even after those moments of prayer and Bible reading, but God was able to convict my heart about my sin.

Some mornings I might think my time could be better spent getting a head
start on my tasks for the day, but never could I find a better use for
my moments than praying and getting into God’s Word.

Here are five ways that my quiet time with God changes me.

1.  It gives me a spiritual focus.  Writing in my gratitude journal, reading a hymn story, praying for my family, and reading a portion of Scripture gives me, at least momentarily, an eternal perspective.

2.  It plants God’s Word in my mind.  I’ve been studying the life of Moses lately.  Yesterday I read in Numbers 14:18 Moses’ plea for the children of Israel in which he reminds God, “The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression....”  Even though I didn’t apply that verse to my particular situation right away, it came back to my mind later in the day and encouraged me.

3.  It puts proper priorities into my day.  While having devotions early in the morning may not work for everyone, I find that I’m most likely to keep my “appointment” with God if I put it first in my day.

4.  It allows me to turn my day over to the Lord and leave my burdens with Him.  True, I may try to pick those same burdens up later in the day, but at least I start by seeking His guidance and trusting Him to undertake in my behalf.

5.  It gives me a truth to reflect on throughout the day.  Meditating on a verse – or even just a phrase – that I read can benefit me throughout the day You never know what God is preparing you for in the day ahead with the Scripture passage you read in the morning.

The fundamental disciplines of Bible reading and prayer are what help us grow daily in our walk with Christ.  How blessed we are to have His Holy Spirit to reveal truths from the Bible and to intercede for us as we pray!

In what way does quiet time with God change you?