Text: Nehemiah 12:27-47, Psalm 16:1-11
After months of toil and years of living in and around a broken city, Jerusalem is done. Complete in record time. People are in, the temple is ready.
What happens next? A giant celebration of the Lord’s faithfulness to provide and protect them during this time! But this was not just a party. This was a dedication.
You see, Jerusalem wasn’t simply a city. It was the holiest city on earth. It was God’s chosen city for His chosen people. It deserved to be treated as such. We read in the verses about rituals that were followed, special people who were invited, traditions that were kept. The Israelites, though known for their grumbling in most of their stories before, knew this dedication was of the utmost importance to get right. Not to show off. Not to follow rules set by man. But to show their God they truly loved and appreciated what He had done for them.
I wonder in our lives how often we stop to give the Lord our very best in thankfulness. When we avoid a car accident, when our child gets well, when that house we wanted becomes ours. There isn’t anything wrong with a quick, “Thank you, Jesus” in a stressful situation. Yet, do we follow up? Do we take time to reflect on the blessing given to us, to come before God with the very best?
In this age where things move at the speed of light, it’s so easy to pass over any kind of preparation as we come before God. But when we thank Him, it’s important to slow down, to take time to fully comprehend just what we’ve been blessed with and did not deserve. It’s important to take time to see the miracles in our lives that we miss when we just rush past.
Let us still our hearts before the Lord and pray with the Psalmist, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.” (Psalm 16:2) Amen.
APPRECIATION! The recognition and enjoyment of the good qualities of someone or something. -Oxford Dictionary
Just one of the many definition of this word; it struck me. Am I giving God his due recognition? Am I basking in delight over his good qaulities?
My word for the day is APPRECIATION–and theses are just some of the characteristics of my God that I am grateful for:
A ttentive
P owerful
P erfect
R ighteous
E xcellent
C aring
I ncorruptible
A ble
T rustworthy
I ncredible
O mnipotent
N uturing
Wow. This has inspired me to reflect on the Lord's attributes and to praise Him for them. Praise the Lord for you, Valanne. This is a wonderful way to remember His goodness. Be blessed today.
Valanne, I just love that you did this. I am totally stealing this idea. Thank you so so much for sharing this. I desperately need a task like this to cause me to focus on who God is instead of focusing on how I feel right now. God is God regardless of how I feel. He doesn't change, though my feelings are fleeting. He is good even when I am not.
Blessings to you this day – and thanking God for this bit of inspiration.
Janee you so so welcome. I kind of feel like an acrostic geek. I enjoy making them for things that are important to me, even read one at a memorial service once–did I say geek? I did 'appreciation' once for my pastor, but at the time (some 15 years ago) I never thought about doing one for God. The fun thing was, there were so many attributes I could have reflected on with this one word! Steal away :)
Amen, amen!
Currently. My family is going through some hard junk, but since I am seperated from it a bit, I can see how it is good. God is growing them, molding them and doing a good word. Essentially, He is making something beautiful with the ashes. I long to be able to look through the trials and hard stuff in my life and see how God is at work. May we all have a heavenly mindset and focus today and everyday. Let us be thankful for the trials,because that reveals a deeply embedded faith in our God.
Amen. Id often say give thanks at all times in all things. Im blessed by this this morning for it confirmed my post yesterday. Visit WordUp ministry on facebook https://m.facebook.com/greenkimone thats my page where I share the word of God each day and yesterday's topic was giving thanks.
We should be able to give thanks to the Lord for everything in every situation. The Word says in all things give thanks for it is the will of God concerning you. In our storms is the best time to give thanks for it proves our faithfulness to God who is a rewarder of such. David says I will bless the Lord at ALL TIMES, His praise shall continually be in my mouth. Its not a if and when I want to or feel like. Worship and giving thanks is a lifestyle. Show gratitude at all times. To be breathing is enough to give thanks for.
If we are complaining like those of the world, what examples are we setting, what light are we shining? They wont want to come and glorify God, for even though we are saved, we seem to be living the same old lives and make God seem unfaithful. Let us put aside the complaining and repkace it with thanksgiving and praising. It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord.
God should not only be thanked for what He has done but for who He is. O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good. We serve an awesome and an amazing God who is worthy of all glory, praise, honour and adoration.
Have a wonderful wednesday ladies. God bless you.
Bless you, Kimone. The Lord is doing great things through you! Lord, change my heart and mind to see the fullness of your blessings, so that I may praise you in ALL times, never letting your praise leave my mouth. Praise you.
Its true. We have no good apart from you. Preserve us. Show us the path that brings life. ..not death. Let us offer you not just a thank you…but a humble thanks for keeping us safe. Keep us content through all circumstances. Let us not be shaken from the happiness we find in the lot and portion YOU have provided. Truly Lord no good can we have without you. Do not let us tumble backwards…where we would be like those who do not have you and are full of sorrows. For we have a promise in your presence… fullness of joy.
Beautiful, Megan. Father, continue to lead us in YOUR way everlasting, not our own. As Megan has said, "Let us not be shaken from the happiness we find in the lot and portion you have provided. Truly Lord no good can we have without you." Help us to stretch out, help us to see the fullness of your blessings towards us, father. Grant us peace and your steadfast spirit. I praise You for that, Oh Lord. Let us be yours. Have a blessed day today, Megan! May the Lord bless you abundantly in all things.
One of my favorite things about my church is that it's silent at the beginning. When you first come in, you can talk all you want in the foyer or hall-way, but once you enter the sanctuary, it's silent – no greeting of each other, or stories about our week.
It's not that we have any particular respect for that building or place that demands we be silent. It's simply a time set aside for us to still and prepare our hearts before the Lord before we hear His word and worship Him – to express our thankfulness and acknowledge the things we may have missed throughout the week.
That one little bit of consistent, familiar silence among my spiritual family has revolutionized the way I pray and praise Him.
That's beautiful, EssieJean. I pray the Lord would give us all the patience, peace and silence to be able to see all He's blessed us with and to praise Him as He deserves. Praise you, father God, for all of my sisters here. I praise you for being able to write to another on here, and I thank you for the concept of communication and community itself, that you'd want us as individual beings to be heard and known by You and others, that you'd have languages and words. It's incredible. Praise you, father God. I love you. Help me to worship out of a willing heart, and not out of feeling obligated. You are beautiful, Lord. Be blessed today, sister!
What a great reminder today in the devotional and all of your comments. May all of my online sisters have a blessed day!!
I have received several pieces of good news lately. And I've certainly been thankful for those prayers to come true and have given God the glory. But I also recognize that I spent a whole lot more time praying for them to happen than I've spent thanking the Lord that they have. May I have a renewed spirit where I glorify God in greater degree with my thankfulness than I spent praying for my heart's desires in the first place. Thank you, Lord, for your many blessings!
Amen sister, I join you in prayer this morning for we all fall short in thanking God for the great things he does for us.
As I read, what stood out to me was that their worship, thanksgiving, and tithing were the overflow of joyful hearts (v. 43). God so desires that from us, doesn't he, but how often have I found myself singing a praise song in a church service when my heart is hard, maybe even angry or bitter? How often have I written a check mindlessly just to cross my tithe off a checklist? God desires a heart of joy and thanksgiving, a cheerful giver. I love that worship is Romans 12:2 is defined as renewing our minds, in Isaiah 58 as doing justice, and in Malachi 3 as trusting and testing God with the entire tithe to see if he won't open the window of heaven to pour out blessing until it overflows. Renewing our minds, doing justice, trusting and testing God. . . . all of these things come from a new heart, a heart of joy given us by the Lord. Praising the Lord for that reminder this morning.
Thank you for sharing sister, this is exactly what I needed to hear this morning. Worshiping God for everything he gives us everyday. Worshiping him through the storm and the calm moments, and learning to do it with a cheerful heart.
Father, give me a cheerful heart to give and bless you in all things. Renew my mind! how it needs it! Help me to do justice in all things, no matter what that means for me! Help me to trust you and test you, knowing that you have always, are, and will always give me the desires of my heart as they align with your will! Praise you, father God. Thank you for all things. Thank you.
Thanks for your continued and sweet encouragement, AnnaLee. You are a blessing.