Victory

We have started a New Year and there are probably many New Year’s resolutions being made.  As many of us reflect back on the last year and the many things that took place, either good or bad, I would encourage you, if you are a believer, to take a long hard look at your spiritual growth and to examine yourself to see how you can improve it this year.  

Since I have become a committed believer, I have put a lot of time into praising the Lord, trying to praise Him some every morning and at other times through the day, regardless of whether I felt like it or not.  Sometimes you might say I have given the Lord a sacrifice of praise.  If we really believe that the Lord is who the Word says He is, then regardless of how we feel, we will praise the Lord just because He is who He is.

The Word says this in Psalms 98:1-9, “Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory. The Lord has made known His salvation; His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations. He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises. Sing to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of a psalm, with trumpets and the sound of a horn; shout joyfully before the Lord, the King. Let the sea roar, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell in it; let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills be joyful together before the Lord, for He is coming to judge the earth. With righteousness He shall judge the world and the peoples with equity.”

We don’t know who the author was, but he knew the importance of thanking and praising the Lord.  I have, for the most part, always tried to encourage people to thank and praise the Lord because I think it is so important and not just with songs and instruments but also by the way we live our lives and also what we do with our resources.  You can tell a lot about a person by how they handle their resources.  Giving is also a part of praise, depending on the attitude you have when you give; the Lord seeks a cheerful giver.

Read what 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, “But this I say: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Our attitude is more important than what we give.  

Read what David said in Psalms 108:1-3, “O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory. Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples, and I will sing praises to You among the nations.”

If you are not thanking and praising the Lord on a regular basis maybe you could work on that this year.  When you really get a hold of the fact that God saved you and set you free because of his love and grace and it wasn’t anything you could do or anything you did, then you may appreciate what He has done more than you do and you will start thanking and praising Him more and more.  Don’t make the mistake of thinking God owes you a place in heaven because you have been a pretty good person, in your eyes, or what you have done and how long you have served Him, that is called self-righteousness and good works.  God owes us nothing, we owe Him everything.  We are not going to heaven by our performance; it is only because of God’s free gift, His unmerited favor, and His loving grace that we will be in heaven!!

Check out Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”

Enough said!  I hope this will encourage you.  Have a super day and may the good Lord bless you and yours!!