LIFE=DEVOTION TO GOD (13 of 15)
By Travis Warren
"All the believers devoted themselves...all the while praising God." Acts 2:42, 47
Praise is a wonderful thing. I think all of us love to receive praise and credit when we do something worthy of it. Think about it, if I saw a lost dog and I rescued it and brought it back to it’s owner and they gave me no thanks or praise, it would drive me crazy. I would at least deserve a thank you.
Or what if you saved someone’s life and they did not thank you whatsoever. No verbal thank you, no thank you card in the mail, they just walked away, or worse took the credit for what happened. They walked around telling others how great they were and how they escaped danger on their own.
I think sometimes we treat one another and more importantly Jesus like this. He saved our lives by dying on the cross and yet we often live like He did nothing for us. God provides for our business, family and relationships and we take the credit for our own success. He heals us of sickness and we credit it to medicine. There are so many ways to praise that are often missed.
Praise is giving credit where credit is due. When we see good things happening in our lives praise is giving God the credit. Not I worked so hard for my raise, but “God!!! Thank you for my raise! Thank you for providing for me and my family! You are so good!”
We need to take the time to praise God in every situation in our lives. We need to thank Him when things go well for us. We need to give Him credit for saving our lives and changing us. It’s not coincidence or happenstance it is God moving in your life!
Another way to praise is to encourage and give props to men and women who do the work of the ministry. When someone shares a good word with you, thank them. When you someone praying for another person take the time to encourage them and let them know how awesome you think that is. When you see someone bring a friend to church, when that friend is not around, give them praise for doing the work of the ministry. Give props to volunteers and anyone doing the work of the ministry.
We need to take the time to give credit to one another when it is due. We also need to take time to give credit to God for everything good in our life. Praise him for your home, your family, your food, your finances, and your job. There is so much to be thankful for!
Take some time today and evaluate some areas you need to praise God for. Search your heart and see if there are any areas where you took credit when it should have went to God. Repent and give Him the praise! Also take a minute to think about three people you’ve seen do the work of the ministry and plan to praise them this Sunday!
