What if we lived in a world without God? What if we didn’t have God to lean on, to cry to, to cast our burdens on, to pray to, to praise, honor and glorify? What if we didn’t have God to talk to and share our most intimate feelings, to meditate on, to witness the miraculous and the impossible, the God who knows every little detail about us, Who can feel our deepest emotion, our pain, hurt and sorrow? And, what if we didn’t have a Heaven, the place of eternal glory, joy, and peace to look forward to after this life is over?
If we take away what God has supplied us with over the course of our lives, the world would be most miserable. In a totally godless world there would be no love, no help. Sin would be the star of every single day. You wake up sinning, you go to bed sinning. Just imagine Who God is and what He is not. He is the opposite of sin so in a godless world, corruption, hatred, lying, abuse of every kind would be the norm.
But glory be to God that He does exist and we are covered by the blood of Christ every day. We don’t have to sin. We fall deeper in love with the Father and His Son as we actively seek His will over our own. We commit to responding to their lead in what we think, do and say. We are led, transformed and controlled by the Holy Spirit as holiness captures our hearts, molds our character and shapes our lives to reflect righteousness and mercy. Our mandate is to serve Him mind, body, soul, strength and to represent Him well. We take no pleasure in sin. “Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season…” (Hebrews 11: 25) We are absolutely committed to the call of being chosen by God Himself to fulfill His will as He pleases.
We, by faith, look for the eternity that God has promised to those who love Him. We, by faith, believe the prophets of God and His holy Word. And we, by faith, are completely convinced that there is the reward of a Heaven prepared for the children of God, His apostles and the prophets who died horrible deaths for the Kingdom of God. “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.” (Hebrews 11: 13 & 32-40)
Many people think that the Christian life is quite boring because there are a lot of things (sin) that we cannot or choose not to do. Our first priority is to God. We want to please Him in every thing. The things we give up are in accordance to His will and to how holy we choose to walk this narrow path. We simply don’t do what God’s Word forbids. We use the wisdom provided for us and not let our flesh get entangled in it. “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (Galatians 5: 1) We should be forever thankful for the sin, the vices that God has delivered us from. These are the things that had us in bondage. We were slaves to sin because we loved it. We had pleasure doing them. If felt good to the flesh. But glory to God for saving us from the wrath that is to come. “Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; Who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies…” (Psalm 103: 1-4) We are now slaves to God because we love Him, we have pleasure serving Him and it feels good to our Spirit to offer praises to the King. As God prunes us to use us, our praises are even more frequent because it pleases Him and we love Him.
We choose life over death in our holy living. We are thankful that God called us for His glory. “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.” (Galatians 4: 4-7) What a privilege it is to be called sons and daughters. God will always protect and defend what is His. When He calls us He also equips and prepares us according to His purpose because we have an enemy to contend with on a daily basis.
To be Christian today means swimming against the world’s flow, going against its Satanic system is extremely powerful. Those who enter God’s Kingdom do so through faith and with great effort…effort that is not their own but from the sovereign, converting power of the Holy Spirit. To see the Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit in action is one incredible thing. Always active to deliver us messages, to teach us and take our prayers to the throne of Jesus. And He is the source of comfort. “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” (John 14: 26) “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of Me:” (John 15: 26) “Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come. (John 16: 13)
We are the most thankful people on earth due to all of the wonderful things that God has done and spared us from. “I will bless the LORD at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” (Psalm 34: 1) He blesses us day after day. He cares for us and our families. He protects us from harm and danger. He renews our mind and restores our strength when we are faint. He’s there in our darkest moments of panic and doom. He gives us peace, hope and fulfills our every need. We are a blessed people in every aspect of our lives which is why we can’t help but to praise God. We praise Him in the city, in the field, coming and going, in sickness and health, in good times and bad times, whether happy or sad, hungry or full, rich or poor.
We are thankful for experiencing a life through God. Spiritual growth can be hard. Letting God change and shape us is quite an experience and can be painful because it goes against our human nature. It takes a lot of perseverance and practice. Our victories and failures are a part of the process. We wait on God and trust Him through prayer and praise. Sometimes it’s not about the answer to prayer but more about what you learn while waiting for the answer.
Trusting God involves not only a genuine fear of Him but also a deep passion for Him. Being faithful and having faith is essential. Great faith is the product of great fights. Great testimonies are the outcome of great tests. Great triumphs can only come out of great trials.
Life with God is not immunity from difficulties, but peace in them. It may be hard to see God working in the middle of your trial. You want to trust His heart but you can’t trace His hand. What may seem like God’s inactivity is never inability. He is and always has been trustworthy, faithful and able. His strength is unrivaled, His might is unmatched and His capabilities are limitless. He is God! “I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless Thy name for ever and ever. Every day will I bless Thee; and I will praise Thy name for ever and ever. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable. One generation shall praise Thy works to another, and shall declare Thy mighty acts. I will speak of the glorious honour of Thy majesty, and of Thy wondrous works.” (Psalm 145: 1-5)
Throughout the generations we can see God’s mighty power in the lives of His people all throughout history. By faith the children of Israel followed God through the wilderness. His grace, mercy and peace still abide with us today. Our faith in Jesus rescued us from sin and it provided us total access to the Father as we please to fellowship with Him. He gives us the ability, at free will, to declare His greatness. We speak on His glorious honor, His majesty and wondrous works. We abundantly utter the memory of His goodness and sing His praise all the day long because He is gracious, full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. We praise Him because He is good and because He is GOD.
“All Thy works shall praise Thee, O LORD; and Thy saints shall bless Thee. They shall speak of the glory of Thy kingdom, and talk of Thy power; To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of His kingdom. Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Thy dominion endureth throughout all generations. The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down. The eyes of all wait upon Thee; and Thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. The LORD is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works. The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth. He will fulfil the desire of them that fear Him: He also will hear their cry, and will save them. The LORD preserveth all them that love Him: but all the wicked will He destroy. My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD: and let all flesh bless His holy name for ever and ever.” (Psalm 145: 10-21)
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