Heartful Thanks

I will give thanks and praise the Lord, with all my heart; I will tell aloud all Your wonders and marvelous deeds.Psalm 9:1 AMP

First of all, life is a personal walk, and personal experience. No matter how hard you try, you can only learn from the experiences of other people or learn lessons from their mistakes. Even if I pattern my life exactly like someone else, we will not end up the same way because that is not how God works. Today's extract opens with a personal touch: it is first about what I do; not what WE should do.

The Psalmist made a decision to give thanks and praise God. Note that it wasn't because all was perfect, but because of his knowledge and experience of God. The praise didn't come from an unwilling or reluctant heart; his whole heart was commited to the praise. When you are dealing with a God who knows all, you can't be a hypocrite. When you are dealing with a God who created the heart, then you should be aware you cannot deceive him.

And as I praise him, the world knows the person I have come to accept as Lord. My mouth confession lines up with my life profession. I daily ask God to help me on this point: you can give the impression that all is well whilst your heart is far away, weighing all the problems before you and wondering just how they will be settled.  Todays extract just tells me to let go and praise God. Even when nothing works, I should just praise.

God may not guarantee instant relief, but I can be sure that He will work out what is perfect. Can I trust his wisdom and power? Can I trust his silence also? His time of favour is here.