Topic: Thank You Father! — Monday 1, January 2018
Memorise: Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: – Psalm 103:2
Read: Psalm 150:1-6 (KJV)
1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
2 Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.
Bible in One Year: Genesis 1-2, Revelation 1, Hymn: Sing Hymn 1: Now Thank We All Our God
MESSAGE:
King Hezekiah declared a profound truth when he testified that only the living can praise the Lord (Isaiah 38:19). Children of God, as living spirits, we have many reasons to be thankful for. Whenever I consider the lovingkindness of God and His tender mercies, demonstrated through protection, providence, love, forgiveness, healing, good health and, above all else, salvation of the soul, I always come to the conclusion that indeed the Lord has been very gracious to His children. No wonder the Holy Spirit, in Psalm 150:2, succinctly instructs us to
“Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.”
This is so important that in Psalm 103:1-5, David counsels his own soul to bless the Lord in thanksgiving, admonishing himself not to forget any one of God’s benefits. In other words, there is tendency for us to forget all that the Lord has done for us. Nevertheless, we have no reason to be ungrateful to God, because His goodness forever flows to us. Prophet Jeremiah testifies of this truth in Lamentations 3:22-23, saying:
“22 It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”
Moreover, what is our joy as children of God? It is the assurance of better tomorrow: the assurance of better year ahead of us. Only those who are saved by the grace that is in Christ Jesus have this assurance. Declaring this assurance, the Holy Spirit in Isaiah 3:10 says,
“Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings."
Who is the righteous? The righteous is the one who has accepted Jesus Christ as his or her personal Lord and Saviour. The righteousness of Christ is bestowed upon such person because they believe and have appropriated the ransom paid on their behalf by the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world (John 1:29). God is saying to you that you should be grateful to Him for all He has done for you in the past, particularly in the just concluded year. If you remain thankful, your tank of blessings shall be full as you go into the New Year. However, not giving your life to the One who paid the supreme price for your salvation is the greatest form of ingratitude. Therefore, repent and give your life to Christ today! He will be your Shepherd and you shall want nothing throughout the New Year and in the years to come. Hallelujah!
Action Point: Thank the Lord for all His goodness and mercies over your life in the past; give your life to Him afresh and renew your commitment to serve Him in holiness and perfect obedience in this New Year.
Hymn 1: Now Thank We All Our God
1. Now thank we all our God, With hearts, and hands and voices;
Who wondrous things hath done,
In whom His world rejoices;
Who, from our mothers’ arms,
Hath blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love
And still is ours to-day.
2. O may this bounteous God
Through all our life be near us,
With ever-joyful hearts
And blessed peace to cheer us.
And keep us in His grace
And guide us when perplexed.
And free us from all ills
In this world and the next.
3. All praise and thanks to God
The father now be given,
The Son. and Him who reigns
With Them in highest heaven
The One, Eternal God,
Whom earth and heaven adore;
For thus it was, is now,
And shall be evermore.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
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