Praising God (Psalm 145:5-7)

Today's scripture: Psalm 145:5-7

Each day during my prayer time, I focus on God's attributes. Sometimes I praise Him, listing as many as I can think of. Other times, I concentrate on two or three attributes that speak to my heart.

I praise Him because of His grace and mercy. His faithfulness. His love. His patience. His compassion.

I praise Him because He is personal, accessible, and constant. I praise Him because He is my refuge and strength. He is my stronghold.

I praise Him because He is my Redeemer, my Savior, my Teacher.

I praise Him because He heals. He gives comfort and peace. He soothes my troubled soul.

I praise Him because He provides for my needs. He carries me through the valleys. He rejoices with me on the mountaintops.

He is good, powerful, holy, and righteous.

He is gentle and kind.

He is majestic, great, and mysterious.

He is worthy of all glory, honor, praise, and worship.

Meditate on God's attributes every day. Remember His goodness to you. Recall His awesome acts and wonderful works.

And then give Him the praise He so rightly deserves.

A Legacy of Faith (Psalm 145:4)

Today's scripture: Psalm 145:4

One of the greatest things a Christian can do is leave a legacy of faith for the next generation.

I'm very blessed to have had godly grandparents who modeled Christ to me. I think especially of my maternal grandfather. Grandpa Hess loved Jesus and praised Him throughout his life. He had a gentleness of spirit and a genuine compassion for others.

For many years, he was a chaplain at the Los Angeles Rescue Mission, and he worked with countless "least of these." I remember the times my siblings and I would join him for services. We would sing. He would speak. And every time, I would see him offer love and compassion to men whom much of society would shun.

I also have a mom who loves God and who has also been a huge influence to my own faith. I know when I went through my lengthy rebellion against that faith, she prayed for me. Never did she point a finger or lecture me. She just loved me with a Christ-like, unconditional love.

I know beyond doubt that it was the quiet love I felt from my mom and grandparents and their examples of faith—and regular prayer—that brought me back to my own relationship with God.

And now, I pray I'm influencing the next generation to know and love God. To praise Him. To tell of His love and "mighty acts."

Whom in the next generation are you influencing for Christ? Your children? Your grandchildren? Other young people God is bringing into your life?

Leave a legacy of faith.

God's Unsearchable Greatness (Psalm 145:3)

Today's scripture: Psalm 145:3

Yesterday, we praised God because He is everything. And we're continuing to praise Him today. As today's verse proclaims, "Great is the Lord, and highly to be praised."

Indeed.

But then it goes on to state that "His greatness is unsearchable."

We're the created. We're flawed. We're sinful. We're weak.

He's the Creator. He's perfect. He's holy. He's strong.

He is so much more than we are. His ways are not ours. His thoughts are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). He is mysterious. Just as it should be.

I've probably written before that I love that God is unsearchable, that I can't know Him completely. I wouldn't want to serve a God I knew completely; if I did, then that would make me equal with Him. I want to serve a God who is so much greater than I. I want to serve a God who is infinite, all-knowing, all-powerful.

And so I can praise Him for His greatness. His unsearchable greatness.

Bless the Lord Every Day (Psalm 145:1-2)

Today's scripture: Psalm 145:1-2

Our God is great and greatly to be praised. He is the Creator of all things. He is all-powerful. All good. All loving. All knowing.

He is holy, righteous, and just. He provides and heals. He gives strength and shelter. He provides refuge and protection.

He brings joy in the good times and offers peace and comfort in the bad.

He is everything.

And yet, how often do we neglect offering praise and worship to Him? How many days go by when we don't bless His name?

The longer I walk with the Lord, the more I realize how crucial it is for me to spend time with Him every day. That time includes study and meditation of His word and time of prayer, interceding for those I love.

It also includes time of praising Him. Just praising Him. Blessing His name. Giving thanks for His blessings, yes. But also just giving thanks for Him.

Because He is everything.

The Family of God (Colossians 4:7-18)

Today's scripture: Colossians 4:7-18

We who follow Christ are part of a family—a very large family. And what an amazing blessing that truly is.

Have you ever stopped to think about how blessed you are to have brothers and sisters in Christ wherever you go? How many times have you travelled to an unknown place and met a fellow believer? Suddenly, being with that brother or sister overshadows whatever uncertainty you may have in that new place.

Or have you moved from the safe and familiar, and then have found a church home? Immediately, you're part of a family again.

I've mentioned before that I'm part of a small group of women who have become my sisters—my true sisters. We come from very different backgrounds, and our journeys are very diverse. But because of our love for Christ, we are sisters, and we genuinely love each other. We pray for each other. We rejoice in answered prayers. We support each other.

I have a wonderful biological family, and I love each and every one of them. However, they're all very far from me, geographically. And so I feel tremendously blessed that I have my family of sisters who love me and hug me and offer the support I can't always get from my own family.

If you're a follower of Christ and you don't have this kind of loving, supportive "family," I encourage you to find a church—a God-honoring, Bible-believing church—and experience the wonderful blessing of knowing your many brothers and sisters.

Boldness and Love (Colossians 4:5-6)

Today's scripture: Colossians 4:5-6

I love how God sometimes brings things together. During my quiet time this morning, I read today's Our Daily Bread devotional, and it quoted William Carey, a vibrant missionary for God to India in the 1800s: "Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God" (emphasis mine). He devoted his life to share the truth boldly, but with genuine love.

Then the Bible study I'm doing with my small group dealt with how bold Peter and John were in Acts 3-4. No matter what obstacles they faced, they couldn't "stop speaking about the things" they saw and heard (4:20). They were bold, yes, but they spoke to unbelievers with grace and truth.

During my prayer time, I remembered how Jesus spoke with unbelievers and seekers. He was always loving and gracious. The Samaritan woman. Nicodemus. Zaccheus. The throngs that would surround Him when He spoke.

The only time He showed righteous anger was when He was dealing with religious hypocrites. Then all bets were off. But as long as the person with whom He was speaking showed a genuine desire to know His truth, He answered questions with all the love He had for them.

I've been praying for boldness to share truth for quite a while now, and God answers this prayer bit by bit. I'm reminded, though, of how Peter, John, and William Carey were bold, yet loving. And how my Lord was exactly the same.

Be bold to tell truth, but temper it with love and grace.