PRAISE BE TO THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE FATHER OF COMPASSION AND THE GOD OF ALL COMFORT, WHO COMFORTS US IN ALL OUR TROUBLES
(2 Corinthians 1:3-4).
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praise be to You for being the God of Compassion and the Lord of all Comfort. You comfort me when I feel lonely. When I go through the valley of the shadow of death, You assure me of Your Presence. After everybody has left me, You are still there.
LET THEM PRAISE THE NAME OF THE LORD, FOR HE COMMANDED AND THEY WERE CREATED
(Psalm 148:5).
Perfect Father, I praise You, for when I am hopeless, You command…and Hope is created. When I am powerless, You command…and Power is brought to life. When I am in darkness, You command…and Light shines out of darkness.
FOR AS THE EARTH BRINGS FORTH ITS BUD, AS THE GARDEN CAUSES THE THINGS THAT ARE SOWN IN IT TO SPRING FORTH, SO THE LORD GOD WILL CAUSE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND PRAISE TO SPRING FORTH BEFORE ALL THE NATIONS
(Isaiah 61:11).
I praise You, Lord God, for You cause Your Righteousness to spring forth in me, when I do not rely on the righteousness of my own Self. You fill me with Your Wisdom, when I do not lean on my own understanding. You give me Peace, all the time, and in every way, when I ask for it.
THE LORD IS MY STRENGTH AND MY SHIELD; MY HEART TRUSTED IN HIM, AND I AM HELPED; THEREFORE MY HEART GREATLY REJOICES, AND WITH MY SONG I WILL PRAISE HIM
(Psalm 28:7).
God, my heart greatly rejoices, for You are my Strength when I am bent over in my own weakness. My heart trusts in You and I am helped.
For what can you give thanks to God, today: for His Comfort when you were lonely, for His Power when you were weak, for His Light that shone in your darkness, or for His Righteousness that replaced your sinful habits and patterns of escape?
If you cannot praise God for anything He has personally done for you, you might know Him from your head, but not from your heart. If you want to get to know Him from your heart, invite His Presence and Participation into each and every perturbing perception of your heart.
Then, He will meet you there…in your heart.
Maintain an Awareness
Temptations give us many opportunities to be trained in God’s Holiness.