An encouraging God

This morning during my devotions, doubt began to creep into my mind. Questions such as 'why are you doing this blog? who reads it anyway? what do you know about God?' The Holy Spirit then lead me to this scripture in The Message bible from 1 Chronicles 16:23-27...

Sing to GOD, everyone and everything! Get out his salvation news every day! Publish his glory among the godless nations, his wonders to all races and religions. And why? Because GOD is great - well worth praising! No god or goddess comes close in honor. All the popular gods are stuff and nonsense, but GOD made the cosmos! Splendor and majesty flow out of him, strength and joy fill his place.

Reading this encouraged me to speak out aloud the truth of this scripture and tell those doubts to leave in Jesus name.  There are so many people in this nation, this world that haven't heard that God. Our daily newspapers certainly aren't publishing God's glory! So it is up to us, who have a relationship with Jesus and have experienced God's grace to get the word out! The challenge for me 'Get out his salvation news every day!' 

Thank you God for this encouraging word today, and that you have helped me to push aside the doubt and focus on you and you alone!

If there is doubt creeping into your mind about something, why not ask the Holy Spirit to lead you to a scripture that can encourage you in your situation. He wants to help you keep your focus on His promises and purpose for your life.

Godly reverence

For He who is almighty has done great things for me - and holy is His name [to be venerated in His purity, majesty and glory]! And His mercy (His compassion and kindness toward the miserable and afflicted) is on those who fear Him with godly reverence, from generation to generation and age to age. Luke 1:49,50

Let's go on a bit of a word search today, what is godly reverence? The Australian Concise Oxford dictionary defines godly as 'religious, pious, devout,' and reverence as 'the act of revering', and revering as 'hold in deep and affectionate or religious respect.' So from my perspective I would interpret the phrase 'godly reverence' as 'devout deep and affectionate respect'.

What a challenge that is, especially in today's society when 'respect' is so often an unused or misused in many of our daily interactions. How do we show devout deep and affectionate respect to God? Three questions to specifically consider today...

What is in our heart that shows devout deep and affectionate respect to God?

How do our words show devout deep and affectionate respect to God?

How do our actions show devout deep and affectionate respect to God?

My prayer today is that at least once during this precious God-given day, I will show Godly reverence to Him, who is more than worthy. Why not make it your prayer too?