Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Worship: Celebration of Faith
“Let them praise the name of the Lord, for His name alone is exalted; His splendor is above the earth and the heavens.” (V 13)
The Psalmist has written about the creation giving praise and honor to the creator. All things celestial and terrestrial are called to offer praises to God thus acknowledging his supremeness. Our praises lead us to a greater awareness of the miraculous nature of God’s power, grace, wisdom and presence in our lives. A lifestyle of praises is an expression of mature faith, and a humble declaration of a victorious life.
Praise, naturally becomes an important component of the prayer life of a person with a grateful heart. In order to grasp the awesome manifestations of God’s blessings and grace in our lives, our adorations must come from the entire heart, mind and soul. We are to offer praises and sacrifices as joyful givers as the children do. We should ask ourselves, do we offer all that we are and all that we have to our Lord and Savior, as Abel did? Or do we give to God calculatingly and sparingly like Cain? After all, He is the absolute redeemer of our lives and the righteous owner of all of our efforts and possessions? When we see God’s unending love for us, which He demonstrates in the smallest drop of water and the farthest distant star, we should be sincerely humbled and then be able to offer true praises. In times of fortune and famine, or happiness and sorrow we can and should offer praises to the Almighty. It is during these times of trouble that we are stripped of all the trappings of life and our self-constructed securities. We find out that we can do nothing by our own cleverness, except give our heartfelt praises to glorify the name of God. In these circumstances we realize that our suffering is not at all a punishment but an opportunity, a privileged opportunity, to give unencumbered thankful praise to our Lord. In all that we do with our hands, in all that we speak with our words, in all that we allow to entice our thoughts, let us follow the example of the rest of the creation in praising the Lord, for He is mighty and His love endures forever.
Prayer: Lord our Heavenly Father thank you for this day. Father, teach us to start and end all the days of our lives with thanksgiving praises. Help us to praise you in good times and bad times of our life. Lord, strengthen our faith and transform us, so that we will be your faithful servants, always honoring and glorifying your Holy Name. Amen
Thought of the day: Have you ever had a difficult situation or a heartbreaking experience in your life? Did our loving Father strengthen you and preserve you in the midst of such trials? He will certainly continue to do so, if you trust him implicitly.

Daisy Thomas, Detroit Mar Thoma Church

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