Ephesians 5:19-21 (NLT) - 19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow! – First line of the “Common Doxology”
Praise is the acknowledgement of that which I have sent you. Few men would send a further gift of payment until they had received the acknowledgement of the previous one. So praise, acknowledging, as it does, that My gift and blessing leaves the way open for Me to shower yet more on the thankful heart. – an excerpt from “Eject Sin with Love” – a Two Listeners Devotion
Acknowledging our Blessings
Reading the above paragraph from the Two Listeners made me stop and think. What if the Lord’s blessings were predicated by the amount of appreciation we had of those gifts? What if He waited to give us more gifts until we had acknowledged the ones He had already given?
I dunno, on some days I think I’d be sorely lacking in blessings, if that were the case.
- I slam through my day and take for granted all the little things that “go my way” to help me get through all my “to do”s.
- I barely glance at the gloriously green and lush back yard that my husband works so hard to maintain.
- I casually whip out my credit card to pay $6.00 for a tasty meal at Rubio’s at least once or twice a week without even blinking an eye (yes, Rubio’s really should have a plaque on the door that counts me as one of their most frequent customers).
- I growl under my breath as I observe the evidence (i.e., mess!) of the presence of my husband and sons.
- I breathe in and out every second of the day without one thought of how wonderful that is.
This is just a tiny drop in the bucket of things that I take for granted every day; things that I would sorely miss if they were no longer there.
I really don’t want to see what would happen if the Lord waited until I acknowledged all the gifts that He bestows upon me before He gave me more! How about you? J
Dear Lord – all the wonderful miracles that you shower me with on a second by second basis are too numerous for my brain to even think of, let alone thank you for. But, I am so grateful for every one of them. And I am especially grateful that you bless me with them just because you love me…and not because I acknowledge them beforehand. That does not mean that I shouldn’t thank you for your great gifts when I do think of them. And I know that I should make a conscious effort to think of them more often. I pray that your Holy Spirit will help me do just that. Currently I am so thankful that you have given me this moment in time to send up my prayers of praise and thanksgiving: for the wonderful people reading these words; for the glorious day beckoning me with its birdsong, distant dog yapping, laughing waterfall and clean morning freshness; for the new job that is calling me to begin again my “keep up with my new boss lady” tap-dance. I could spend all morning listing the blessings that happened in the first second I started listing them! So, instead I will thank you in advance for every minute and every massive blessing that you will bestow upon me today. I am humbly aware that everything I do and have is because of your wondrous generosity and love, Lord. I love you with every particle of my being! Amen.
Blessings and peace,
Leah
P.S. I did an internet search on “Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow” and found a site that listed the entire hymn that our common doxology came from. I’ve included it below because it is a beautiful tribute to praising God…from Whom all blessings do flow!
Thy daily stage of duty run;
Shake off dull sloth, and joyful rise,
To pay thy morning sacrifice.
Thy precious time misspent, redeem,
Each present day thy last esteem,
Improve thy talent with due care;
For the great day thyself prepare.
By influence of the Light divine
Let thy own light to others shine.
Reflect all Heaven’s propitious ways
In ardent love, and cheerful praise.
In conversation be sincere;
Keep conscience as the noontide clear;
Think how all seeing God thy ways
And all thy secret thoughts surveys.
Wake, and lift up thyself, my heart,
And with the angels bear thy part,
Who all night long unwearied sing
High praise to the eternal King.
All praise to Thee, who safe has kept
And hast refreshed me while I slept
Grant, Lord, when I from death shall wake
I may of endless light partake.
Heav’n is, dear Lord, where’er Thou art,
O never then from me depart;
For to my soul ’tis hell to be
But for one moment void of Thee.
Lord, I my vows to Thee renew;
Disperse my sins as morning dew.
Guard my first springs of thought and will,
And with Thyself my spirit fill.
Direct, control, suggest, this day,
All I design, or do, or say,
That all my powers, with all their might,
In Thy sole glory may unite.
I would not wake nor rise again
And Heaven itself I would disdain,
Wert Thou not there to be enjoyed,
And I in hymns to be employed.
Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Words: Thomas Ken, Manual of Prayers for the Use of the Scholars of Winchester College, 1674.
0 comments:
Post a Comment