DAILY HOPE DEVOTIONAL: DECEMBER 28 A THANKFUL HEART IS AS POWERFUL AS VERBAL PRAISES SCRIPTURES: EPHESIANS 5: 19 – 20
Normally, many people find it difficult to think of giving God thanks and quality praise in times of sorrow or during complete depressive environment. It does not make sense to figure out singing and making music in the heart exalting God’s name in a very unfriendly circumstances. The only person who can do this will be one who is filled with the Holy Spirit of God, the great comforter of the oppressed. Apostle Paul happened to be a man filled of the Holy Spirit, who never allowed any situation takes away from him the joy of knowing Jesus Christ. He was in prison at Rome when he wrote the epistle to the Christians in Ephesus.
In the passage, Apostle Paul told the Christians in Ephesus about singing and making music in their hearts as well as always giving God thanks in everything and in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. This one amazes me particularly. We all know that Apostle Paul was already in prison in Rome, waiting for execution. How could a person in this situation think of being thankful to God? How is it possible for one to sing praises and verbalise thanksgiving to God in an environment dominated with deadly enemies? Apostle Paul had once sung praises loudly while in prison with Silas. In this case however, Paul discerned that there is power in praising God in the heart level.
Today’s devotional points at one outstanding fact. That the loudly rendered praise and thanksgiving and singing melody to God and giving thanksgiving to God in the heart are equally powerful. God hears whatever words we are speaking in our hearts. As Christians, we must, at all times refuse to be silenced in our hearts not to singing songs of praises and Thanksgiving to God. Most often, when we are in serious hardship we might be tempted to become bitter against God. The devil would, at this type of situation, convince us that the words in the hearts cannot be heard by God. But Paul who had tested all kinds of communications with God knows better that being thankful to God in the hearts helps Christians overcome oppressions and persecution of the enemies.
Let us therefore, as Christians, know how to develop the method of singing melodies, songs of praises and words of thanksgiving to God our Father for everything in the name of Jesus Christ. Let it be that, a situation will not allow you sing to God audibly, your hearts can do the same. He will hear your singing, praising and giving Him thanks in the heart. He will in turn attend to your needs. In the remaining days of this month, we might have found ourselves in such a disheartening situation. Notwithstanding, we should not allow our hearts be disquietened, but open up to praising God inside our hearts. We will surely achieve same results as when praising Him with loud voices.
PRAYER:
HOLY FATHER, I beseech you today, to give me quiet heart any time there is hardship before me. Lord Jesus, fix my heart on areas that I will praise Jehovah my Father in time of hardship. Amen.
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