Read: Hebrews 13:91 Thessalonians 5:16-18Acts 16:25-40 Day Five: Praising in the Middle of Our Prisons and PromotionsScriptures: Hebrews 13:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Acts 16:25-40As seasons change, God remains. His goodness never fails. He is the same “yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). While every song must end and every season eventually comes to a close, God will never leave us no...  Read More

Read: Psalm 100:4-5Nehemiah 8-9 Day Four: Embracing a Posture of PraiseScriptures: Psalm 100:4-5; Nehemiah 8-9Every day, we are given the opportunity to realign our hearts with God’s faithfulness. Gratitude is a choice, a perspective, and a daily heart posture. We can speak to our soul to lift up a song. We can throw up our hands. We can get up and praise the Lord. These are each physical reflecti...  Read More

Read: Proverbs 18:21Colossians 4:2-6Luke 18:1-81 Samuel 1:1-191 Samuel 2:1 Day Three: The Potential of PersistencyScriptures: Proverbs 18:21; Colossians 4:2-6; Luke 18:1-8; 1 Samuel 1:1-19; 1 Samuel 2:1Persistency is key. Gratitude is not only the worthiest response to our King, but its persistent presence on our tongue makes a forever impact in our own lives. Physical, emotional, spiritual, and m...  Read More

Read: Genesis 1:3Psalms 95:22 Chronicles 20:1-29Joshua 6:1-27 Day Two: The Power of That Lion Inside Your LungsScriptures: Genesis 1:3; Psalm 95:2; 2 Chronicles 20:1-29; Joshua 6:1-27Declaration makes a difference. Truth breaks down barriers. Our praises usher life into effect, and our worship knocks down walls. Remember, God created the world with His words, saying “Let there be light” (Genesis 1...  Read More

Read: Psalms 9:1-2Psalms 34:18Luke 7:36-50 Day One: The Purpose of GratitudeScriptures: Psalm 9:1-2; Psalm 34:8; Luke 7:36-50We sing “hallelujah,” because He is worthy. Period. What else do we have that’s fit for a King, aside from songs of gratitude being sung from deep within our lungs? When we remind ourselves of all that He’s done and when we actively choose thanksgiving, our hearts are soften...  Read More

Read: Hebrews 12:1-2 If we expect to see God’s ability in the here and now, it will require a turning. And this turning, according to Paul, is a turning to God.People often think of turning to Jesus as being a bit too impractical in terms of spiritual advice. Turning to Jesus. Looking to Jesus. It sounds good, but what does it really mean?While we seem to find the concept of turning to Jesus a bit...  Read More

Read: John 10:10 Not a Minute Too SoonJohn 10:10 is one of my favorite passages in the Bible. Maybe one of yours too. It talks about a thief who comes “only to steal and kill and destroy,” set against the contrasting intention of Christ, who comes that we may have “life, and have it abundantly.”I think most of us believe in that truth. In theory. In the abundant, ever-filling, overflowing life tha...  Read More

Read: Ephesians 3:1 I mentioned before that these two verses, Ephesians 3:20–21, are what’s known as a doxology. If you attend a more traditional church, you may sing the “Doxology” as part of your worship service sometimes: “Praise God from whom all blessings flow . . .” You know the one? Doxologies, for us, whenever they occur, usually happen in our Sunday best. With the organ playing. With the ...  Read More

Read: Psalms 34:17-18 Get everything out of your head except now.As we begin looking at Ephesians 3:20-21, it’s important we look at the very first word, which conveys its crucial context: now.I understand that the current conditions in your life may not be your favorite thing to dwell on right now. You may have become more adept at concentrating on earlier, back before some of these parts of your...  Read More

Read: Ephesians 3:20-21 Some things are just hard to describe. You search your brain for the right word, but you can’t seem to find it.Like trying to explain the view of a cloud-filled sky from an airplane window seat at 36,000 feet. Or an unusually moving worship service where God’s presence was particularly near and tangible. Sometimes even our most spectacular vernacular still seems insufficien...  Read More

Read: Jeremiah 29:11Isaiah 41:10 There is a fire within all of us that is waiting to be ignited. A fire that grows and can spread to those around you if you continue to feed it’s flames. This fire is stronger than the uncertainty that you may be feeling. It has the power to overcome the negativity that may be surrounding you right now.That fire, that passion, that inner strength was instilled in y...  Read More

Read: Hosea 6:3Psalms 18:30 Things don’t always go according to our plans, but they will always adhere to the plans of the Lord.Life, however, is not lived without any bumps in the road. Failure is not found within these bumps, it is found when we allow these bumps to stop us in our tracks. Don’t become so discouraged in the delays that you give up on the pursuit of your purpose. We cannot control...  Read More