Wake Up

Everyday we should rise with gratefulness in our hearts and appreciation of God’s provision and care. This is hard to do when facing difficult circumstances but keep in mind being grateful and appreciative is not based on any particular set of conditions. Knowing that God is able to deliver you from whatever hardship you face or has allowed challenges in your life to increase your faith should be reassuring. That all sounds nice on the surface especially if you are not the one in the struggle but the key is to know before the struggle comes that God is there and that you need not be downcast or suffer from feelings of defeat.God assures He is always there (Matthew 28:20), He never sleeps (Psalm 121:4), and has promised us that everything will be okay (Romans 8:28).So the next time you suffer misfortune, experience defeat, or disappointment, rise up in confident hope that God will deliver you and put a song in your heart. In Christ we are more than conquerors to Him who loved us (Romans 8:37). The expression of praise is an act of humility taking our mind off of ourselves and rightly on God as He renews our strength (Isaiah 40:31) .“Praise the LORD, my soul;all my inmost being, praise his holy name.Praise the LORD, my soul,and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sinsand heals all your diseases,who redeems your life from the pitand crowns you with love and compassion,who satisfies your desires with good thingsso that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.The LORD works righteousnessand justice for all the oppressed.”Psalm 103:1-6