A Pattern of Praise By Paul Chappell share on Facebook share on Twitter forward to a friend Monday, Nov 24, 2014 “I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:1–4 In December of 1920, Vice President elect Calvin Coolidge (then governor of Massachusetts) went to Plymouth Rock to celebrate the three hundredth anniversary of the Pilgrims’ landing in the New World. In his remarks, he highlighted the vital role that faith played in their daily lives: “There was among them small trace of the vanities of life. They came undecked with orders of nobility. They were not children of fortune but of tribulation. Persecution, not preference, brought them hither; but it was a persecution in which they found a stern satisfaction. They cared little for titles; still less for the goods of this earth; but for an idea they would die. Measured by the standards of men of their time, they were the humble of the earth. Measured by later accomplishments, they were the mighty. In appearance weak and persecuted they came—rejected, despised—an insignificant band; in reality strong and independent, a mighty host of whom the world was not worthy, destined to free mankind.” The Pilgrims were routinely thankful, not just when things were going well and all their needs were being met. We remember the first Thanksgiving celebration they had after a great harvest, but they were also thankful during the harsh cold first winter when there was little to eat. We are meant to praise God day after day and throughout the day. The idea of restricting thanks to certain times is foreign to Scripture. Instead we should fill both our hearts and our mouths with praise to God. Today’s Renewal Principle: Giving thanks to God on just one day robs us of blessings for the remainder of the year.
Posted on: Tue, 25 Nov 2014 00:20:47 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015