April 2017 - Page 14 of 15 - Daily Thoughts about God

“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise — the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.” Hebrews 13:15

When is praise to God a sacrifice?

It is a sacrifice when I feel like complaining about my circumstances, but I choose to accept them. If I want to truly praise God, I must be content where He has placed me, trusting that He has a reason for my challenging circumstances.

“Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be” (James 3:10).

It is a sacrifice when I feel justified in holding on to a hurt, but still choose to forgive. A heart that truly praises God must release past hurts to live in the freedom of God’s love.

“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:23-24).

It is a sacrifice when I want what I want, but choose to be happy with what He gives me. Accepting the resources God has given me makes me grateful for all that comes from His hand.

“When you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things” (Psalm 104:28b).

Praising God means we sacrifice our right to hold grudges and to choose our own paths. We lay down our wants, desires, and hurts on the altar to die. True praise comes from a grateful heart, which comes from someone who gratefully acknowledges the sovereignty of God in his or her life.

Lord, help me be grateful for what you have given me. I praise you, Lord, because you give me good things. Amen.

By Debbie West
Used by Permission
https://thelife.com/devotionals

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As I sit and pen my thoughts this morning, I am reminded of Jesus’s experience in the Garden of Gethsemane. It was at that place He had to make one of the toughest decisions in His life. Should He go forward to the cross, knowing that this was what He was destined to do? Or should He just walk away from it all because of the pain He knew was ahead.

Many of you find yourself right here today. You are at a place of transition. You are facing a crossroad and really finding it hard to hear clearly. There are decisions that must be made but everything seems out of place right now. You are frustrated and afraid of what is too come. I want to encourage you not to give up.

I challenge you to pause and listen to your life for a moment. Has God ever turned His back on you? Hasn’t He always provided the direction and the guidance you needed?

I had to come to a place of surrendering my will to God during times like these, just as Jesus did in the garden. I have found that what I want and what God wants are not always the same. During my walk with God, I have even encountered roadblocks and detours that took me totally in a different direction. It was a reminder to me that God knows what is best. He sees what I can’t see.

It is at times like these we must not forget that He is just waiting for us to come to Him for instructions. He longs to talk to us, if we would only pause and come to Him as it says here in

Jeremiah 33:3 (Amp) “Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, fenced in and hidden, which you do not know (do not distinguish and recognize, have knowledge of and understand).”

Be of good courage today knowing that God is not surprised by anything that you are facing right now. In fact, He is with You to strengthen, settle, and establish you in the direction that He has for you to go.

Let me pray for you right now,
Father I thank you for my brothers and sisters reading this post right now. I pray that they will not lose hope in this season of their lives. Teach them to recognize Your voice, Your direction, and most of all the guidance and the instructions. You give to us daily. I pray that You will open the eyes of their understanding. Help them to see what You see Lord. Your Word tells us in Psalm 32:8 that You instruct us with Your eyes upon us. May we learn to trust Your direction and Your plans for our very lives. In Jesus name, Amen

Thought: Take a moment and journal your disappointments to God and ask Him to share His perspective on your situation.

Grace and Peace to you.

By Mary Pinckney
Used by Permission

If you don’t have a relationship with Jesus, you can learn how to start one at this link:
http://www.thoughts-about-god.com/4laws/law0.html

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True Praise

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Month: <span>April 2017</span>

True Praise

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