Ephesians 1:13-14
In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
Redemption of the purchased possession. You, if you have accepted Christ Jesus as you savior, are the purchased possession. Redemption is when God takes you to His home. Think of a receipt for something that you bought. Jesus bought you. He paid with His life, purchasing you with His blood. Once you believe that, you are His possession.
The Holy Spirit He places in you at the time of purchase is the guarantee of your inheritance into God's kingdom. The Holy Spirit is the everlasting glue on us, it seals us. Jesus bought us as-is. He knew exactly what we were and bought us just as we were. This everlasting glue, the Holy Spirit, doesn't ever go away. It can't be taken off by anyone or anything. This guarantees our inheritance into the kingdom of God.
Why did God purchase us? He purchased us to the praise of His glory. We are to praise His glory. You want purpose for your life? Praise Him. That is your purpose. Find reason to praise Him in all you do and all that happens to you. God will use all things for your good. That's not to say that all things are good, but that He will turn even the bad into something to be used for your good, and for His glory. If something happens that the enemy intended for bad, God will use it for your good. Therein lies your reason for praise.
What are you doing when you give God glory? You're praising Him. You're boasting of His work in your life, and in the lives of others. You're giving all credit to Him for His goodness and glory.
Give God glory and all praise, for since the moment of your purchased life He has sealed and guaranteed your everlasting home with Him. This promise should embolden us to praise Him all the louder. For if God is for us, who can stand against us?! Yes! To GOD be all the glory!
19 November 2013
18 November 2013
The All-Day Praise
Once again I have found myself going through struggles in life. The past few months have been very challenging. I have done the best I can to cling to the Lord throughout all of the chaos. I praise God that things are finally starting to get better. It is through praise that I have found much of my relief.
The battles our family has faced recently has all been centered on family relationship, personal trust in God, giving in to temptations, medical concerns, and life situation concerns. No aspect of our family has been untouched by some sort of trial. All of it has taken a tremendous toll upon my mind, emotions, and spirit. I had to change medications just to help get my mind to attempt to focus on what desperately needed my attention.
Do you know what I learned throughout all of this? That no matter what, no matter what happens in life, I MUST praise the Lord God. 1 Chronicles 23:30 says: "And to stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord, and likewise at even". We are to praise God in the morning, EVERY morning. We are to praise Him in the evening, EVERY evening.
Psalm 27:6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord
Even when you find yourself completely surrounded by troubles, you are to praise God. You are to SING praises to the Lord. So, when I felt overwhelmed, when it seemed like my world was crashing around me, I started singing praises. I literally started singing the first praise songs that came to mind. And I kept singing. Do you know when you are focused on trying to remember the next verse in a song of praise to the Lord, you can't think of anything else? God is good. And He is unchanging...meaning He is good ALL of the time.
Psalm 28:7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heat greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise
Clinging to God is what will give us strength. In our weakness His strength is magnified. When it is impossible for us to make it, God is glorified when the impossible happens. Knowing our strength comes from Him alone should be enough to praise Him. My goodness, but if we would simply continue to be in awe that He gave everything for our salvation, we should be singing continuously our praises to Him! Our failing heart is helped because we entrust it to Him. How can we not sing Him praises when He unfailingly lifts us back up?!
Psalm 100:4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
Be thankful to God, through everything. Not just good and easy times should we be praising His goodness, but also in the trials and hardships. It is easy to praise how good God is when things are going well. But can you praise Him when you are suffering? Your situation has changed, not God. He is worthy of your praise all day, everyday.
Next time you find yourself struggling, I challenge you to start singing praises to His name. Keep singing until your heart has been lifted back up. God is ever faithful. Keep your faith in Him. Wait on the Lord. Your suffering is but for a time. No matter how long you suffer, He is to be praised. No matter how long you suffer, it is nothing compared to the eternity you can spend in His presence. Praise Him for He has chosen you to glorify His name.
Psalm 34:1 I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Psalm 104:33 I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being
The battles our family has faced recently has all been centered on family relationship, personal trust in God, giving in to temptations, medical concerns, and life situation concerns. No aspect of our family has been untouched by some sort of trial. All of it has taken a tremendous toll upon my mind, emotions, and spirit. I had to change medications just to help get my mind to attempt to focus on what desperately needed my attention.
Do you know what I learned throughout all of this? That no matter what, no matter what happens in life, I MUST praise the Lord God. 1 Chronicles 23:30 says: "And to stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord, and likewise at even". We are to praise God in the morning, EVERY morning. We are to praise Him in the evening, EVERY evening.
Psalm 27:6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord
Even when you find yourself completely surrounded by troubles, you are to praise God. You are to SING praises to the Lord. So, when I felt overwhelmed, when it seemed like my world was crashing around me, I started singing praises. I literally started singing the first praise songs that came to mind. And I kept singing. Do you know when you are focused on trying to remember the next verse in a song of praise to the Lord, you can't think of anything else? God is good. And He is unchanging...meaning He is good ALL of the time.
Psalm 28:7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heat greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise
Clinging to God is what will give us strength. In our weakness His strength is magnified. When it is impossible for us to make it, God is glorified when the impossible happens. Knowing our strength comes from Him alone should be enough to praise Him. My goodness, but if we would simply continue to be in awe that He gave everything for our salvation, we should be singing continuously our praises to Him! Our failing heart is helped because we entrust it to Him. How can we not sing Him praises when He unfailingly lifts us back up?!
Psalm 100:4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
Be thankful to God, through everything. Not just good and easy times should we be praising His goodness, but also in the trials and hardships. It is easy to praise how good God is when things are going well. But can you praise Him when you are suffering? Your situation has changed, not God. He is worthy of your praise all day, everyday.
Next time you find yourself struggling, I challenge you to start singing praises to His name. Keep singing until your heart has been lifted back up. God is ever faithful. Keep your faith in Him. Wait on the Lord. Your suffering is but for a time. No matter how long you suffer, He is to be praised. No matter how long you suffer, it is nothing compared to the eternity you can spend in His presence. Praise Him for He has chosen you to glorify His name.
Psalm 34:1 I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Psalm 104:33 I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)