God has to be continually testing our faith, sending us reminders that he is the Lord our God, and that in him only should we put our trust. Whatever you are dealing with this day, it is not meant to hurt you, but to test you. We are pushed to the limit to see whether we will continue to be faithful to God when our burdens grow greater, so he humbles us, he allows us to hunger, so that when we are fed we will not forget him, he carries us through deserts and stormy weather, so that when he brings us out we will not forget him. When I look back at all that the Lord has done for me, I have nothing but praise for God. My faith is strengthened, my praise is greater, and I have more testimonies to share. God is faithful to us, let us strive every day to be faithful to him, being careful to observe all that he has commanded us to do so that it may be well with us. Praise the Lord!

Have you not noticed how jealous our God is? Can’t you tell how much he wants our praise? When we do things for others we expect a thank you, when God does good things to us he expects our praise. I don’t care which house of bondage you were in, in which barren land you were held captive; just remember who brought you out – The Lord your God, who said, “You shall have no other Gods before me for I am jealous God who is willing and able to show mercy to those who love me and keep my commandments.” The Lord did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with all of us who are here today, all of us who are alive. Deuteronomy 5:3

Lord, each one of us knows our burdens, and our grief, and as we come into your presence this morning with penitent hearts, let your ear be attentive to our prayers, lift your holy hands from heaven, your dwelling place, and have mercy on us.

A good man out of the good treasures of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasures of his heart brings forth evil things. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness and blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man. For by your words you will be justified and by your words you will be condemned.” Those who are evil cannot speak good things or do good works pleasing to God, for a tree is known by its fruit. Praise the Lord!

My brothers and sisters in Christ, if you are a new creation, do no worry about what others may think about you, because they may know where you have been because you were once running with them, but they do not know where God is taking you, because you are now walking in the light of the Lord. So stand up, stand up for Jesus, for you are now in the army of the Lord, and no weapon formed against shall prosper. “Live according to the spirit, for the end of all things is at hand, therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. You should no longer live the rest of your time in the flesh or for the lust of men, but for the will of God.” Praise the Lord!

“The way of the Lord is strength for the upright.” The man who follows the ways of the Lord will be blessed with riches and the Lord will add no sorrow to it. Trust in the Lord, for he is a God who cannot lie. Whatever he says he will do, he will. Praise the Lord!

Merciful God, we adore you this morning, for assuring us, that no matter how angry you are with us, that you will still stretch your hand out to help us. Only you, dear God, could be so loving, for we continually hurt you in thought, word, and deed, we grieve your spirit daily, we fail to give you the honor and glory due your name, yet, in your mercy, you promised, that your hand will never be too short to save us, nor your ears too heavy to hear our cries, that you will not be angry with us forever, that you will remove our sins from us as far as the east is from the west. What could we give you in return for your goodness and mercy toward us? We will enter into your gates with thanksgiving, and into your courts with praise this and every morning. Oh, thank you Lord, that your banner over us is love.

Let us bless the Lord who daily loads us with benefits. Most times when we call on God is at times when we are in trouble, or in need, or sick; we forget God when things are good; yet, in his lovingkindness, and in the multitude of his tender mercies, he hears and answers our prayers. Learn to just thank God not only when things are bad, but especially when things are good, for our God is good, our God is an awesome God.

“But, he was wounded for our transgressions, and he was bruised for our iniquities, he was oppressed and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; he was led like a sheep to the slaughter, he bore the sins of many, yes, the Lord laid on him the iniquity of us all.” He could have called ten thousand angels to rescue him, but he bore the affliction for us, so that by his stripes we could be healed.

There is no God like our God, we could trust in him because he will never fail us, he knows what we need and when we need it, and he SATISFIES our desires, but FULFILLS the desire of all those who fear him, he is near to all those who call upon him in truth.