3. Devotional: Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord!

Author: H. Norman Wright

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord, Praise the Lord (Psalm 150:6).

    Praise the Lord! Have you ever said that out loud? Praise is not only a response to God but a step in seeing change happen in your life. When you praise God for what He has done, for who He is, and for what He will do in your life, you are released to be more dependent upon Him and less dependent on yourself.

    It's easy to praise God for what He has done because you can reflect back and identify something tangible. But what about the future? How difficult is it for you to praise God for what He is going to do? Such praise opens your life to some possibilities you may never have considered. By praising God, you not only become a risk-taker, but you become more aware of what He wants for you. This may be an uncomfortable idea for you. It may mean that you learn to praise God in an unpleasant job situation or during times of financial difficulty. It may mean praising God in spite of that taxing personal relationship in your marriage or family life. Perhaps you are troubled and perplexed about some situation in your life. This is exactly the time God wants you to praise Him.

    Lloyd John Ogilvie has an interesting thought along this line: "Consistent praise over a period of time conditions us to receive what the Lord has been waiting patiently to reveal to us or release for us." Praising God is a response to His love, His goodness, His faithfulness, and His unbelievable concern for each one of us. When you praise God, you recognize His sovereignty. When you praise God, you transfer from trusting yourself to trusting Him.

    What have you praised God for today? Take a few moments to reflect upon several things you have praised God for in the past and what you can praise Him for in the future. Share your praises with each other and then praise Him together.

2. A Quote from C. H. Spurgeon (5)

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1. Hymn: How Great Thou Art

Hymn: How Great Thou Art

Author: Carl G. Boberg (1859-1940)

(Vocal)

(Music)

(Sheet Music)

1. O Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder
    consider all the works thy hands hath made,
    I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder,
    thy pow‵r throughout the universe displayed.

Refrain:

Then sings my soul, my Savior-God, to thee:

How great thou art! How great thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Savior-God, to thee:

How great thou art! How great thou art!

2. And when I think that God, his Son not sparing,
    sent him to die, I scarce can take it in,
    that on the cross my burden gladly bearing
    he bled and died to take away my sin.

3. When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
    and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
    Then I shall bow in humble adoration
    and there proclaim: My God, how great thou art!

3. Marriage Devotional: Marriage, Commitment for Life

Marriage Devotional: Marriage, Commitment for Life

Author: Warren W. Wiersbe (1929-2019)

    It is God's will that the marriage union be permanent, a lifetime commitment. There is no place in Christian marriage for a “trial marriage”, nor is there any room for the “escape-hatch” attitude: “If the marriage doesn't work, we can always get a divorce”.

    For this reason, marriage must be built on something sturdier than good looks, money, romantic excitement, and social acceptance. There must be Christian commitment, character, and maturity. There must be a willingness to grow, to learn from each other, to forgive and forget, to minister to one another. The kind of love Paul described in 1 Corinthians 13 is what is needed to cement two lives together.

    God has put “walls” around marriage, not to make it a prison, but to make it a safe fortress. The person who considers marriage a prison should not get married. When two people are lovingly and joyfully committed to each other - and to their Lord - the experience of marriage is one of enrichment and enlargement. They grow together and discover the richness of serving the Lord as a team in their home and church.

Read: Mark 10:2-12; Luke 16:18; Romans 7:1-3.

Action assignment: Ask God to help you toward a greater grasp of the biblical view of marriage and not let your philosophy be tainted by the modern, worldly view.

2. Devotional: The Never-Failing God

The Never-Failing God

Author: Oswald Chambers (1874-1917)

For He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (Hebrews 13:5)

    What line does my thought take? Does it turn to what God says or to what I fear? Am I learning to say not what God says, but to say something after I have heard what He says? "He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."

    "I will in no wise fail thee"—not for all my sin and selfishness and stubbornness and waywardness. Have I really let God say to me that He will never fail me? If I have listened to this say-so of God’s, then let me listen again.

    "Neither will I in any wise forsake thee." Sometimes it is not difficulty that makes me think God will forsake me, but drudgery. There is no Hill Difficulty to climb, no vision given, nothing wonderful or beautiful, just the commonplace day in and day out—can I hear God’s say-so in these things?

    We have the idea that God is going to do some exceptional thing, that He is preparing and fitting us for some extraordinary thing by and by, but as we go on in grace we find that God is glorifying Himself here and now, in the present minute. If we have God’s say-so behind us, the most amazing strength comes, and we learn to sing in the ordinary days and ways.

1. Hymn: Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

Hymn: Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus

Author: Helen H. Lemmel (1863-1961)

(Vocal)

(Music)

(Sheet Music)

1. O soul, are you weary and troubled?
    No light in the darkness you see?
    There’s light for a look at the Savior,
    And life more abundant and free!

Refrain:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face;

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace.

2. Through death into life everlasting
    He passed, and we follow Him there;
    Over us sin no more hath dominion–
    For more than conqu‵rors we are!

3. His Word shall not fail you–He promised;
    Believe Him and all will be well:
    Then go to a world that is dying,
    His perfect salvation to tell!

4. Hymn: What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Hymn: What a Friend We Have In Jesus

Author: Joseph M. Scriven (1819-1886)

(Vocal)

(Music)

(Sheet Music)

1. What a friend we have in Jesus,
    All our sins and griefs to bear!
    What a privilege to carry
    Everything to God in prayer!
    O what peace we often forfeit,
    O what needless pain we bear,
    All because we do not carry
    Everything to God in prayer!

2. Have we trials and temptations?
    Is there trouble anywhere?
    We should never be discouraged;
    Take it to the Lord in prayer.
    Can we find a friend so faithful,
    Who will all our sorrows share?
    Jesus knows our every weakness;
    Take it to the Lord in prayer.

3. Are we weak and heavy-laden,
    Cumbered with a load of care?
    Precious Saviour, still our refuge;
    Take it to the Lord in prayer.
    Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
    Take it to the Lord in prayer:
    In his arms he‵ll take and shield thee,
    Thou wilt find a solace there.

3. A Quote from T. Austin-Sparks (4)

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2. Devotional: The Characteristic of the Prophet Is Always Love

The Characteristic of the Prophet Is Always Love

Author: A. W. Tozer (1897-1963)

    We were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us (1 Thessalonians 2:8). 

    If evangelical Christianity is to stay alive she must repudiate the weaklings who dare not speak out, and she must seek in prayer and much humility the coming again of men of the stuff prophets and martyrs are made of! 

    God will hear the cries of His people as He heard the cries of Israel in Egypt. And He will send deliverance by sending deliverers. It is His way among men. 

    A characteristic of the true prophet has always been love. The free man who has learned to hear God's voice and dared to obey it has felt the moral burden that broke the hearts of the Old Testament prophets, crushed the soul of our Lord Jesus Christ and wrung streams of tears from the eyes of the apostles. 

    The free man has never been a religious tyrant, nor has he sought to lord it over God's heritage. It is fear and lack of self-assurance that has led men to try to crush others under their feet. These have had some interest to protect, some position to secure, so they have demanded subjection from their followers as a guarantee of their own safety. 

    But the free man—never; he has nothing to protect, no ambition to pursue and no enemy to fear. For that reason he is completely careless of his standing among men. Whether accepted or rejected he will go on loving his people with sincere devotion, and only death can silence his tender intercession for them!

1. Hymn: God Will Take Care of You

Hymn: God Will Take Care of You

Author: Civilla D. Martin (1866-1948)

(Vocal)

(Music)

(Sheet Music)

1. Be not dismayed whate’er betide,
    God will take care of you;
    Beneath His wings of love abide,
    God will take care of you.

Refrain:

God will take care of you,

Through every day,

Over all the way;

He will take care of you,

God will take care of you.

2. Through days of toil when heart doth fail,
    God will take care of you;
    When dangers fierce your path assail,
    God will take care of you.

3. All you may need He will provide,
    God will take care of you;
    Nothing you ask will be denied,
    God will take care of you.

4. No matter what may be the test,
    God will take care of you;
    Lean, weary one, upon His breast,
    God will take care of you.