Devotional Song: … GO TO THIS LINK … Please take the time to take in a YouTube of song and lyrics from Kirk Franklin leading in worship with choir singing … My Life Is In Your Hands … powerfully singing of how we, as surrendered Christians, are completely in our Lord’s hands; and for this we should begin each day with a thankful heart.
Highlight Verse[s]: Psalm 50:15 [NLT] … 15 Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.”
… The Psalmist knows, in His heart, that his life is in God’s hands.
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Highlight Passage [context]: Psalm 50:8-15 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… The Psalmist calls on God with a grateful heart, knowing that his life is in God’s hands.
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Reference Passage : … Psalm 100:4-5 [NLT] … 4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving; go into His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name. 5 For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and His faithfulness continues to each generation.
… No matter what we face, this should be our heart of thankfulness.
Reference Passage : … Proverbs 3:5-6 [NLT] … USE THIS LINK …
… We should trust God … with a thankful heart … no matter what!
Reference Passage : … Romans 8:28 [NLT] … 28 And we know that God causes EVERYTHING to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.
… And knowing this truth, our hearts should be filled with thanks as Christians.
My Devotional Journal: Today's ODB author, Patricia Rayborn, relates a personal story to illustrate how God is honored when we carry a grateful heart no matter the circumstances of life. The ODB author writes … The doctor wasn’t frowning, despite talking to my husband about his recent cancer diagnosis. Smiling, she offered a suggestion: start each day by giving thanks. “For at least three things,” the doctor said. Dan agreed, knowing that gratitude opens our hearts to find encouragement in God’s goodness. Thus, Dan starts each day with words of praise [see photo]. “Thank You, God, for a good night’s sleep. For my clean bed. For sunshine. For breakfast on the table. For a smile on my lips.” Each word is heartfelt. But could it sound trivial? Does our praise in life’s small details matter to Almighty God?
Yesterday, my journal entry began with a reality: … stuff happens!! And it does, doesn’t it?! And sometimes that stuff is confusing or painful! For sure, it’s all part of the battles we call life; and my wife and I lead a ministry called BattlePlan Ministries (see www.battleplanministries.org ) where we learn to develop and live by a personalized, biblically-based, written battle plan to deal with each day’s battles.
And if you, as a Christian, were to decide which of these two battle plan prayers would be more powerful in beginning each day, … which would you think?
Prayer #1: ”Lord, why have these trials come my way?!” … OR …
Prayer #2: ”Lord, thank You for giving me Your empowering grace?!”
And if you’ve taken in Kirk Franklin’s choir and their praise song today, along with God’s word above, I think the answer to that choice is obvious, isn’t it? … So, … let’s all praise God for today and open up our hearts to be grateful for another day to do battle in God’s honor and for His glory, … knowing that, as Kirk Franklin sings, … our life is in HIS hands.
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My THANKFULNESS: … Oh Abba Father, … thank You, Lord, … for giving me Your empowering grace to deal with the trials of life.
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My Prayer Today: Oh Abba Father, … King Jesus, … I pray, Lord, that all reading here are beginning today with a thankful … not a fearful … heart. … Amen
Blogger Note: Everyday during this year, my daily devotional blogs are influenced by the reading and study of the online devotional blog entitled “Our Daily Bread,” distributed online via email by RBC Ministries. If you GO TO THIS LINK on the date of my blog, you can read/study the ODB blogs; or you can subscribe to the blog via email at that site.
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