What was that? I don’t know but here comes another one!!
It was a year. It was 2018! Now here comes 2019!
2018 is coming to a close! Can you believe it? We all seem to be thinking the same thing, “This year has flown by!” I think I may have discovered a way to slow time….at least a little bit.
How has this year been for you? Maybe you have had a wonderful year, maybe you are happy to see 2018 go, or perhaps 2018 has ranked somewhere in between. One thing for certain is that no matter what kind of year you had, God has always been with you through it all. He never lost control.
As 2019 rolls in, it may be time for setting some personal and family goals. May I suggest adding The Practice of Praise to your list? Don’t worry. I am not asking for a long time, but I am asking for at least a few minutes sometime in your day or evening to slow down and think.
God has designed us with needs. We often talk about the relational needs in our 52 Week Plans. People in our lives help to meet our relational needs, and we help meet needs in others. We were built to be interdependent; but without the One Who supplies our needs, we couldn’t enjoy meeting the needs of others with whom we have relationships. To even notice how God works so that we know how to praise Him, we must set aside time to slow down and think about Him, His ways, and His blessings on our lives.
When God pours His incredible Grace into our life, giving us “every good and perfect gift”, it allows us to meet the needs of others. His Grace is worth our praise! Don’t you think?
Our Father invites us into a relationship with Himself. As He pours His Grace into us, we then have His heart to meet the needs of others. (Eph 2:8)
His Grace sets us free! (Gal. 5:1) In Jesus Christ we are free from the eternal penalty of sin! We are set free as He heals our hurts and uses us to help others.
His Grace motivates us! (1 Peter 4:10) When we take time to remember and praise God for all He has done within us, we are motivated to share this Good News with others!
Praise leads to worship! Worship leads to a deeper relationship with our Lord, which enlarges our heart towards others. But, again, without setting aside some time, we’ll miss the opportunity to praise.
Let’s begin 2019 by keeping a praise journal! Call it what you wish: praise journal, gratitude book, “thankful for” list, etc
Everyday write down 3-5 things for which you can praise God. I tell you, even on your hardest day – by forcing your heart and mind to search the day for praise – recalling the goodness of God will change your relationship with Him and others in a profound way!
I kept a praise journal years ago, and I can share from my own experience that there were days that I thought I couldn’t possibly find anything for which to give praise! Have you experienced days like that? But then, as I took time to search my memories of the day, I could often come up with more than 5 things! That turns your day of emptiness into an evening of praise!!
In addition, if you hadn’t already included them in one of your praises, will you write down a praise for a way that you were blessed and helped by your spouse, children, friends, etc.? Just as you shared the praises back to God, would you be willing to tell that special someone what he/she did to make a difference in your life that day?
I tell you….this will be life changing!!! Want to slow down the express train of life? Take time to praise God and others for the blessings in your life.
I think it’s about time get myself a shiny new journal and begin 2019 with praise!
Want to join me???