05/23/2021
How do we begin and end each day? Do we open our eyes with praise and thanksgiving on our lips? Do we do this in the hard to times as well as the good? Relationships are built from constant attention, but they are made strong in times of hardship, sorrow, and suffering. In times like this we see what is true about our love as we lean on a friend, or share in a disappointment. Praising God is not meant to be a “Happy Time Only” event, and requires discipline as we come to Him EVERY day, and in ALL things.
“Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever.”
Psalm 145:2 ESV
When things are going great in our worldly life it is easy for us to approach God, and praise Him. In times of plenty our spiritual life is easy and full, and our faith flows like honey. In these times our lips are sweet with accolades for God and Jesus Christ, but when we are in a season of pain and suffering, or life is hard for us in some way, we can be tempted to doubt… perhaps we hear only the silence of God. In challenging times such as these we can find ourselves slipping quickly into blaming Him for what is only natural in this world, and we find our faith can be shaken. God doesn’t always conquer our foes, or calm the waters, but He is always with us. He doesn’t always go before us to defeat our enemies, but is always with us as we confront them. Solving problems as we do things like walk through the valley of death builds us in our faith. So we shouldn’t forsake the relationship we have with God in those times, but look to Him as we would look to a friend for both help, and sometimes comfort.
So God is with us…
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”
Isaiah 43:2 ESV
And He will give us comfort in our valleys…
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”
Psalm 23:4 ESV
So how did we wake up this morning; did we begin our day seeking fellowship with God? Listen to these words that Andrew Murray wrote in a devotional message in the late 1800s…
“It is a big step forward in the life of believers when they decide to seek fellowship with God through His Word every day, without fail… When they wake up in the morning, God will be the first thing on their mind. They will allocate time for prayer and will give God time to reveal Himself to them. Then they may voice all their desires to God and expect an answer.” - Andrew Murray
Our steps of faith do come when we discipline ourselves to joyfully seek God each day, and begin by praising and thanking Him with our first breath, but our giant leaps of faith come when we open our eyes to tears, sorrow, and suffering, yet can continue to praise Him in the midst of them… when we hurt, but know He is there with us, and placing our head on His shoulder, take comfort in that. I have shared a truth with others about my own personal suffering by saying this… “my greatest moments of faith have come during my worst times in the world.”
So rejoice, and hold tight to your first morning prayers when all is good, but grasp even tighter to your faith and relationship with God, and Jesus, when you are suffering, or your heart is broken by the world. Praise and give thanks for your times of great joy, and for those in which you need His comfort too.
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for my first breath today, and all the blessings you have bestowed upon me. Thank you Lord for your provision, whether it has been manifest in the easy times, or made evident to me as you comforted me during the hard times. I thank you for being with me always, not just in the “Happy Times”, but in all of life’s circumstances and in every dreaded place. This is the day that you have made, and I WILL be glad and rejoice in it. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God who has given me life, and then shown me it’s frailty as I have learned to know you better. We praise you for the scent of a newborn’s breath, just as we do for that last glimpse of them during our final breath. Great are you who teaches us of faith, and who sent your Son Jesus to redeem us. Merciful are you who, through Jesus, and your grace, makes eternity ours to share with you.
So, hear my prayers each morning Father, and reveal your will for me as I come to you all the day long. Help me to pray in your will, and to do so as Jesus would. In this way, hear my pleas as I call out to you in His wonderful name. Forgive me my sins Lord, and wash me in the blood of Jesus. Make me perfect in Him, and welcome me to your table forevermore.
“But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress. O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love.”
Psalm 59:16-17 ESV
Rich Forbes