SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY: Psalm 138:1-8
1 I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee. 2 I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. 3 In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. 4 All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth. 5 Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD. 6 Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off. 7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me. 8 The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.
MORE LESSON: 1 Chronicles 15:25-29
25 So David, and the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands, went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the house of Obededom with joy. 26 And it came to pass, when God helped the Levites that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, that they offered seven bullocks and seven rams. 27 And David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, and all the Levites that bare the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the master of the song with the singers: David also had upon him an ephod of linen. 28 Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, and with sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, making a noise with psalteries and harps. 29 And it came to pass, as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looking out at a window saw king David dancing and playing: and she despised him in her heart.
Tuesday, 16 September
Memory Verse: I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart… even before kings will I sing praises unto thee. Psalm 138:1
Real thanksgiving breaks the rules of dignity. It shatters protocols. If your praise still looks “neat,” it hasn't reached heaven yet. Until your Thanksgiving embarrasses dignitaries, breaks protocol, and dismantles your pride, it hasn't touched God.
When you're truly grateful, you empty yourself, you lose your titles and forget your status. You become like David, dancing before the Ark. David brought the ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem, as recorded in 1 Chronicles 15:28: Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the LORD with shouting, and with sound of the cornet, and with trumpets, and with cymbals, making a noise with psalteries and harps. He praised God until the whole queen got offended in verse 29: And it came to pass, as the ark of the covenant of the LORD came to the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul, looking out at a window, saw king David dancing and playing: and she despised him in her heart. He stripped off his royal attire in exchange for reverence.
You can't celebrate God as “big man” and expect to see His mighty hand. Until your honour is laid down, you have not started true thanksgiving.
You owe God praise, no matter the achievement you have recorded. Your title didn't save you; Jesus did. Whatever appointment you have, that contract, that job, that testimony; they are not your doing. Strip the pride and remove the polish. If God hadn't stepped in, the enemy would have finished you.
Since we owe Him everything, how should we praise Him?
• Let your mouth praise Him – Complainers can't provoke wonders. Only grateful hearts receive the overflow.
• Let your money praise Him – Praise Him with the resources He has blessed you with. Stop needing reminders to give. Stop waiting to be begged to sow. If someone must push you to be grateful, you're not thankful yet.
• Let your glory praise Him – Whatever makes you stand out, bring it back to His feet. Psalm 108:1 says: I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.
Jesus is both Lion and Lamb. He defended you like a lion and lay down like a lamb. Why hold back your gratitude when your Defender roared like a lion for you? Why hide your praise when your Shepherd bled for your soul? Why hide your appreciation? Why act like you earned this? Until your praise embarrasses you, it hasn't impressed God—praise like David': give like Mary; worship like the healed. If your pride is intact, your praise is incomplete.
Prayer/Action
* Tell the Lord that you will always return all the glory to Him.
* Tell the Lord that from today, your praise will be loud, your giving extravagant and your thanksgiving break protocol.
TODAY’S PROPHETIC PRAYER: Father, give me Grace this month to follow you unconditionally, in the precious name of Jesus.
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