Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. Psalm 95:1-2 NIV
I looked around my office and sighed. What a mess.Books stacked knee-high, papers separated in every vacant spot on the desk – my to-do list had been shoved from the refrigerator door, to the living room, to the bedroom. . .ending up in my office. Moving it didn’t seem to make it go away.
The news roared from the downstairs television. Attack on Paris. 123 dead, hundreds wounded. I leaned against the door frame and bowed my head. “What next Lord? What next?”
I used to love the holidays. Thanksgiving brought laughter and fun. Tons of food, and family was something I looked forward too. It seemed years ago, life was much simpler. My office wasn’t overrun with work and the most the news had, was the anticipation of the newest Macy’s Day parade floats. Now, the holidays are dampened by disaster and sadness.
I kicked a box out of the way and made a split-second decision. I’m going to praise God despite the crap.
I realized the world was doing to me, just what Satan wanted it to do – drag me down. If it could blare the horrors of the news events at me, overwork me, AND make me miss my children worse than I normally do, then I was caving into the sadness of sin. Satan was winning.
The writer of the Psalms must have realized this same thing. Chosen by God as the future king of Israel, David was just a child. God didn’t crown him and set him on the throne. Instead, he was sent back into the fields. There he learned about the hardships of life. Danger. Trust. And complete dependence on God. There David found peace in praising God despite the trials.
These last few days I’ve spent the hard moments saying, “Rejoice in the Lord always.” And as I prepare for the thanksgiving holiday, I’ve decided to come before Him with thanksgiving and praise. True thanksgiving and praise.
When you feel the weight of the world bearing down this holiday season, rejoice in the Lord. Shout aloud to the Rock of your salvation. Go before him with thanksgiving and praise. Great is His faithfulness. Strong is our praise. Let your thanksgiving be filled with praise.
Photo 2 courtesy of Pixabay.com & Chorengel
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