6 Minute Read
Be Still
To the best of your ability, get rid of all distractions. Take a couple of minutes to breathe deeply, to quiet yourself in the Lord’s presence. Then, prayerfully ask the Lord to speak to you in this time and let Him know that you will be listening and will make whatever adjustments He will reveal to you.
Today’s Bible Reading:
Ezekiel 14:12–16:41
Hebrews 7:18-28
Psalm 106:1-12
Proverbs 27:4-6
Listen to the Lord
Slowly and reflectively read the following verses and listen to what God will say to you through them. Then, consider writing down any insights He reveals to you.
Psalm 106:1 (NLT): “Praise the LORD! Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.”
Reflections from Scripture:
How long has it been since you have praised and thanked the Lord?
Praise celebrates who God is, and thanksgiving celebrates what God has done.
So, how long has it been?
If it’s been a while, let me help you prime the pump to get this wonderful habit started. Take out two sheets of paper. (No, I’m not kidding. Go ahead and get two sheets of paper right now.)
Then, label the first page:
“REASONS TO PRAISE JESUS FOR WHO HE IS”
Then, label the second page:
“REASONS TO THANK JESUS FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE”
Then, start writing down the things that come to mind.
Think about who God is. He is loving – so write that down. He is powerful – so write that done. He is sinless and holy – so write that down. You may even want to elaborate on some of these attributes and clarify what they mean to you.
Then, think about what God has done. He loves you so much that He sent Jesus to pay your sin debt – so write that down. He gave you a job that helps you to provide for your needs – so write that down. Again, you may want to elaborate on some of these details. How did God express His goodness to you, and what was your experience of it?
When you have created two lists (praise and thanksgiving) of at least 3-5 separate items, begin your time in prayer. Look at your lists and begin to praise and thank Him for the specific things you wrote down. As you do this, you might realize how spiritually and emotionally rewarding it can be to simply sit in God’s presence and enjoy Him.
Psalm 106:1 (NLT): “Praise the LORD! Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.”
Spend Time in Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You so much for inviting me into a relationship with You. When I truly begin to understand just how incredible You are and what You have done, and when I begin to reflect on that in prayer, I find that it is so emotionally rewarding. My mind becomes much more positive and hopeful as I focus on You. So, help me to do this today. You are more than worthy of my praise and gratitude. I pray this in Your Name, Amen.
Matt Ellis is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Polk City, Florida (fbcpolkcity.com). His latest book is God’s Grace in the Real World. Connect with him on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
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