Psalm 34:1

"I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth."
Psalm 34:1

Bless the Lord when? - At all times
His praises are to be where? - In my mouth.
Praise Him when? - Continually......

Lord help us to bless you at all times, and may your praise be in our mouths and from our hearts and may we  praise You continually. We ask this in Jesus wonderful and matchless name.  Amen.

contrition

"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise."                Psalm 51:17




God desires brokenness and contrition in our lives. Psalm 51 was written by David after his tragic sin of adultery and murder with Bathsheba and her husband Uriah. David is crying out to God in repentance and brokenness for his sin that he had committed, he asks the Lord to cleanse him and to create in him a clean heart and to renew his spirit. Then he confesses that it is not sacrifice and offerings that God desires from him (animal sacrifice), but a broken and a contrite heart.  


We also need to know that God is not desiring outward works to please him but an inward sensitivity and yielding to His Spirit. Where we are quick to recognize when we do not please Him, when we offend Him, when we do not walk in His commandments. Quick to recognize His leading, to obey Him. David was restored to a right relationship with his Lord because of his brokenness and contrition. So we also need to walk in the same sensitivity and contrition.

Prayer:
Father, I ask in the name of Jesus to create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me daily. That You would make me sensitive to Your dealings with me. That I would recognize the leading of Your blessed Spirit and that I would walk in Your perfect plan and desire for my life everyday. I praise You and ask it all in Jesus name. Amen.

Awareness

"For in Him we live and move and have our being..."
                 Acts 17:28


In this portion of Scripture the Apostle Paul is speaking to the philosophers of Athens, who were very religious and loved debating about the latest philosophies of the day. They loved knowledge, new ideas and new gods. In their seeking to promote their own knowledge they had missed the reality of the Living God. Paul said in the verse before that He (Jehovah God) is not far from each person.
Jesus is not difficult to find, He is nearer than the air we breath, for He created the very air we breath. It takes a sincere seeking of the heart and stillness of the mind to sense His reality. He is near for, "In Him we live and move and have our being..." In this time of year lets remember that He is not far, but near and seeks to be loved.

prayer:
Lord Jesus we praise You, we thank You for coming to earth so long ago and we thank You for dying on the cross to pay the price for our sins. Thank you for the joy of this time of year, may You be Lord. In Your name, amen.