Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways. Psalm 128:1
“Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people, from this time forth and forever. Teach us Your ways O Lord, and we will walk in Your Truth.”
The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want. Psalm 23:1
How many of us this morning are saying the 23rd Psalm yet are worried and afraid? My brothers and sisters in Christ, the Lord has appointed himself as our shepherd who has promised to provide for us, so stop worrying, stop being afraid. When we say the Lord is our shepherd, we must believe that all that we have need of that God will provide, we must believe that God will lead us to greener pastures, we must believe that God will anoint our heads with fresh oil, and that God will restore our souls, so that we may be able to dwell in his house forevermore. Amen!
I will praise the name of God with a song and will magnify him with thanksgiving. Psalm 69:30
“Praise to the Holiest in the height, and in the depth be praised, in all his words most wonderful, most sure in all his ways. And that a higher gift than grace, should flesh and blood refine, God’s presence and his very self, and essence all-divine.” He is worthy of our praise!
Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer. Amen! Psalm 19:14
“Lord, open my lips, so that my mouth may declare Your praise. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. I will exalt You, my God and King; I will bless Your name forever and ever. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.”
The body is a unit, though it is composed of many parts, and although its parts are many, they all form one body. So, it is with Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:12
“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. Now you and I are the body of Christ, and each of us is a member of it.” Therefore, we ought to love one another.
“Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of his Spirit, washed in His blood. This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long. This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.”
What is your story? My brothers and sisters in Christ, all of us who have been saved have a story. Never be afraid or ashame to tell your story, if no one will listen let it be your theme song to carry through the day. I don’t know about you, but my testimony is my story, and I can’t help but give God praise, all the day long, because I am an heir of salvation, purchased by God, born of his spirit, and washed in his blood. Amen! Glory be to God!
“His love has no limits, His grace has no measure, His power no boundary known unto men; for out of His infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.” Oh, what a wonderful Savior! He giveth to us out of the abundance of His storehouse and we are thankful.
“He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater, He sendeth more strength as our labors increase; to added afflictions, He addeth His mercy, to multiplied trials, He multiplies peace. When we have exhausted our store of endurance, when our strength has failed ere the day is half done, when we reach the end of our hoarded resources, our Father’s full giving is only begun. Oh yes, he giveth and He giveth, and He giveth again. Thank You, Lord!
“Does Jesus care when my heart is pained, too deeply for mirth and song? When the burdens press, and the cares distress, and the way grows weary and long? Oh, yes, He cares, I know He cares, His heart is touched with my grief, when the days are weary and the long night dreary, I know my Savior cares.”
“Does Jesus care when my way is dark, with nameless dread and fear? And as the daylight fades, into deep dark shades. Does He care enough to be near? Does Jesus care when I’ve said, “Goodbye” to the dearest on earth to me, and my sad heart aches ‘till it nearly breaks? Is it aught to Him? Does He see? Oh, yes, He cares, I know He cares, His heart is touched with my grief, when the days are weary and the long night dreary, I know my Savior cares.”
“What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear, what a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.”
My brothers and sisters in Christ, I believe in the power of prayer, for prayer changes everything! When we are faced with situations that overwhelm us, prayer is not the first thing we embrace, but fear. But today, I am fully aware that God is in the midst of everything that we face, and he knows the beginning and the end, but when we cannot see the end, we jump to all kinds of conclusions, instead of trusting and relying on that friend we have in Jesus, who is ready, willing and able to bear whatever load we are carrying; it’s a privilege afforded to us, that we can take any and everything to God in prayer. Will you?
“Let us with a gladsome mind, praise the Lord for he is kind, for his mercy still endure, every faithful, ever sure.”
This morning Lord, we have so much to be thankful for; your love, your kindness, your mercy towards us, you give us so much more that we deserve, but how thankful are we? You are a constant reminder of what is good, teach us to be more like you, spreading kindness, goodness, mercy, and love, wherever we go; and let us with a gladsome mind, praise you, O Lord for you are kind, and for your mercy which endures forever. Amen!