Heavenly Father, give us lips to praise your name, and may we not only praise you with our lips, but by the way we live our lives.
“Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices, who wondrous things have done, in whom his world rejoices; who from our mothers’ arms, has blessed us on our way, with countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.”
For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. Psalm 86:5
If You, O Lord kept track of iniquities, then who O Lord, could stand. But with You, there is forgiveness, so that we may fear You. Psalm 130:3-4
The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea. Psalm 93
“The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty; the Lord is clothed with strength, wherewith He hath girded himself: the world also is established, that it cannot be moved. Thy throne is established of old, thou art from everlasting.” To God be the glory!
The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Psalm 126:3
How happy are we when the Lord does something good for us? We should always be thankful, for all that the Lord has done and continue to do for us. We should not only be thankful for the good things, but also when things are not so good. I know it may be hard to be joyful when we are experiencing hardships, but we must learn to trust God and be thankful, that he has promised to never leave us nor forsake us. Therefore, we must not allow the hardships that we may face to overwhelm us, to rob us of our joy, and realize, that what we go through did not come to stay, it came to pass, and believe, that weeping may endure for a night or two, but that joy will come in the morning.
Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble, therefore we will not fear.”
“Is my name written there on the page white and fair? In the book of Thy kingdom, is my name written there? Yes, my name’s written there, on the page white and fair; in the book of Thy Kingdom, yes, my name’s written there!”
“Lord, I care not for riches, neither silver nor gold; I would make sure of heaven, I would enter the fold. In the book of Thy kingdom with its pages so fair, Tell me, Jesus, my Savior, is my name written there? O that beautiful city with its mansions of light, with its glorified beings in pure garments of white; where no evil thing cometh to despoil what is fair, where the angels are watching, yes, my name’s written there.”
To love God with all your heart, with all your understanding, and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices. Mark 12:33
And Samuel said, “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. 1 Samuel 15:22
Heavenly Father, we give you thanks for bringing us safely to the beginning of this new day, and for the new mercies that you will bestow on us. Lord, we know not what this new day will bring forth, but you already know; so, whatever comes our way, give us grateful thankful hearts.
“New every morning is the love, our wakening and uprising prove, through sleep and darkness safely brought, restored to life and power and thought. New mercies each returning day, hover around us while we pray and help us this and every day to live more nearly as we pray.”
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28
“And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory. For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable.”
Hannah prayed earnestly to God for a son. So, in the course of time, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, ‘Because I have asked for him from the Lord.’ 1 Samuel 1:20
How many of us make our requests to God, and even go as far as to make pledges to God; but when God answers us favorably, we forget? We must be like Hannah, who asked God for a son, and promised to give him to the Lord if he answered her prayer, and Hannah kept her promise. May the God of hope so fill our hearts with all joy and peace as we believe in him, for all the requests we make to him, this day and forevermore.