There are days that I would rather hide under my covers than to do anything else. On those days, such as today, I have to press through and press in to God. I made a choice today that while my kids were at school, I would turn up my worship music as loud as I could and fill the house with worship to my loving Father. It's not always easy to do this, but that's why it is the "sacrifice of praise" that pleases God.
Hebrews 13:15 "Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name."
If you are feeling down or lonely or moody or whatever, let me invite you to open God's word, have a seat for a while and enter into His presence. Set the mood in your home, in your heart to welcome Him in like you would a good friend. Let His presence take over whatever may be on your mind bringing you down, let His great love for you flood your heart as you sit with Him for a moment. I can attest that it will change the direction of your day.
Be encouraged, friend. God sees, He knows, and He understands whatever you are going through. He loves you with an everlasting love and longs to show you His great love for you. Press in. Here is some encouragement to do just that:
Philippians 3:12-16 "Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained."
Praise God! He wants to reveal to us things about our future. Let's press in to Him, toward the goal set before us, to lead people to Him. Let's take our eyes off ourselves and look to Him, who gives us all hope.
Father, we look to you today. You are our future, our hope, our everything. We love you and honor you today. Thank you for loving us through our weaknesses, for giving us the tools we need to live fully for you. Father, we make a choice to press in today, to seek you with our whole hearts. We invite you in to our living room, our bedroom, our workplace, wherever we are, you are welcome. Open our eyes, God, to know you more, to come to a deeper understanding of your love for us. Help us to take our eyes off ourselves and put them squarely on you, God. Thank you for setting us free from the things that easily get us off track! We bring the sacrifice of praise to you, today, Lord! Praise you, Father God! In Jesus Name, Amen!
