"By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name." (Hebrews 13:15 KJV)
"So be careful how you live. Don't live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Ephesians 5:15-20 NLT)
Just to be clear, that message yesterday was meant primarily for me. It is not that I don't try to plan things out, because there are certain things that need structure and accountability; but when it comes to serving the Lord, each and every step is given to us one step at a time. Those who try to think they know what God has planned for them, as if they say, "I got this," risk the opportunity to be blessed by waiting and listening to God, by thinking they have it figured out!
That might not make sense to some, because this current world teaches us to plan and make things happen on our own; instead of waiting on the Lord and listening for Him to give us instructions. Whatever we do, we need to do it as unto the Lord, with His guidance and by praying for doors to open or shut, giving God the glory in everything, even those things that might not turn out well; everything counts, both good and bad, somehow or another!
Anywho; the thought I was looking to share about was based upon the word, "continually," as if it was not just thrown into the verse, but that it actually means something very important. Everything isn't always going to be roses and candy; there will be times where we are overwhelmed and feeling as though life is too hard, that we are being tormented, or nothing is working out the way we thought that it would. Even then, we need to give thanks!
Believe it or not, but even the hard things we might go through, as terrible as they might seem, they build character and cause us to draw closer to the Lord...
"Look here, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit." How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog - it's here a little while, then it's gone. What you ought to say is, "If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that." Otherwise you are boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil. Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it." (James 4:13-17 NLT)
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