Word of the Day
Beloved, come into My presence and use the words of your mouth. Thanksgiving and praise are not silent exercises. As the Israelites brought two goats, one for sacrifice and one as a scapegoat, you must bring two things: thanksgiving and praise (Hosea 2:12). Speak words of thanksgiving and sing songs of praise. Let the fruit of your lips be a constant stream of praise regardless of what you are experiencing (Hebrews 13:15).
A sacrifice of thanksgiving is something you give when there seems to be no reason to do so. Even if your circumstances seem to garner no reason to praise, I am still good and worthy of adoration—worthy because My kindness and steadfast love endure forever—worthy because of what you received at the Cross. I am worthy.
Many times your trials test your faith in hard and difficult ways. I know about these things. If I had not known the goodness of the Father and focused on the prize He set before Me I would not have been able to endure the Cross. Beloved, you were the joy set before Me and still are (Hebrews 12:2). I beheld you in My heart and now you must behold Me to overcome. There is no other way. Be thankful. I am…Read Complete Love Letter…
Take with you words and return to the Lord. Say to Him, Take away all our iniquity; accept what is good and receive us graciously; so will we render [our thanks] as bullocks [to be sacrificed] and pay the confession of our lips. Hosea 2:12 Amplified)
[There shall be heard again] the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voices of those who sing as they bring sacrifices of thanksgiving into the house of the Lord, Give praise and thanks to the Lord of hosts, for the Lord is good; for His mercy and kindness and steadfast love endure forever! For I will cause the captivity of the land to be reversed and return to be as it was at first, says the Lord. (Jeremiah 33:11 Amplified)
Prayer
Lord, praise and thanksgiving are not silent activities or just mental assent. They are vibrant expressions of a heart responding to Your goodness. Open the floodgates of my heart. Open the eyes of my heart. Let me see all the things You have done. I choose to praise You for even the smallest things and refuse to grumble and complain. I have so very much in this life compared to most in this world and I cannot afford to be ungrateful.
Many trials have tested me and some have even mocked me but I will not give in to the schemes of the enemy. Instead, I will joyfully praise Your name. Help me to behold You in my heart the way You beheld me as the Cross was set before You. I worship You with a heart of adoration for being who You are and nothing else. It isn’t about what You will do for me. It is about who You are to me. I will behold You and I will overcome. Truly, there is no other way. Amen
Reflect and Journal
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- Reflect on how much time you have spent giving Him oratory praise verses being critical, murmuring or complaining.
- Reflect on why it is so easy to be vocal about complaints and not about thanksgiving and praise. Change any habits of speaking negative by cultivating praise. It will take time but if you are persistent your whole outlook will change.
- He endured the Cross because of the joy set before Him. You were and are that joy. Take some time to reflect on this and let your thankful heart speak. Let your attentive ears listen and write down what He says.