Since I Have Been Redeemed

I have a song I love to sing,
Since I have been redeemed.
Of my Redeemer, Savior, King,
Since I have been redeemed.

I have a Christ who satisfies,
Since I have been redeemed.
To do His will my highest prize,
Since I have been redeemed.

I have a witness bright and clear,
Since I have been redeemed.
Dispelling every doubt and fear,
Since I have been redeemed.

I have a home prepared for me,
Since I have been redeemed.
Where I shall dwell eternally,
Since I have been redeemed.

Since I have been redeemed,
Since I have been redeemed,
I will glory in His name;

Since I have been redeemed,
I will glory in my Savior's name.

 - Edwin O. Excell

Early Morning Thoughts

I've been awake since 4:30 a.m. - two hours before my alarm went off.

I wanted to get back to sleep, but instead I lay in bed with my mind wandering.

Events of the previous days.

Plans for upcoming days.

Worry.

Prayer.

Praise.

Conversations I need to have.

Finances.

Fantasies.

Satisfaction in Christ.

Hymns.

Check e-mail and Facebook.

Review 1 John 2.

Repeat.

Finally, the alarm went off.

So how well did I apply Philippians 4:8?

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."

Certainly not 100%. But there was the convicting of the Holy Spirit through those early morning hours to get my mind back on to godly thoughts.

For that I am thankful.

"I'm pressing on the upward way.
New heights I'm gaining every day.
Still praying as I'm homeward bound,
'Lord, plant my feet on higher ground!'"

Seven-Day Challenge

How many times a day do you eat?

How many times a day to you text?

How many times a day to you check your e-mail?

How many times a day to you praise God for His commandments?

"Seven times a day I praise You for Your righteous rules" (Psalm 119:164).

Wow! Seven times a day praising God for His commandments!

I don't think that the psalmist is giving a command that we have to praise God seven times a day.

Nor is he setting a specific number out. It's not that six is not quite good enough or that 8 is more spiritual and 700 times is super spiritual.

But I'm going to take it as a challenge.

For seven days I'm going to make a conscious effort to praise God for His Word seven times each day. Not make a list of seven things for which to praise God each day. But to consciously praise God at seven different times during the day, specifically for His Word.

In prayer. In conversation with others. In song.

Anyone want to join in the challenge?

What are you doing today?

Psalm 104 tells about God's sovereignty over creation. He sets the boundaries for the oceans, controls the food chain, causes the sun to rise and set and provides the ingredients for man's food.

Everywhere we look, there is evidence of God's sovereignty and His mercy. Not only is He in control of creation, His control shows His mercy.

He could let the waters flood the earth as in the days of Noah.

he could cause earthquakes and volcanoes to wipe out humanity.

But He doesn't He chooses to control the universe so that we can continue to live.

As long as we are still alive, God has a purpose for our lives.

So what should we do about that?

The psalmist's response is to praise God.

"I will sing to the LORD all my life;
I will sing praise to my God while I live.
May my meditation be pleasing to Him;
I will rejoice in the LORD" (v 33-34).

Every day and all day, we should be praising God.

Every day and all day, we should be thinking God-thoughts.

It's a choice to be made every day and all day.

I can choose to complain about my situation, or I can choose to praise God who is lovingly controlling those events.

I can choose to complain about the bad things in life, or I can choose to praise God who is restraining evil and disaster - it could be a lot worse!

God is in control, doing what is best for me, so there really is no better thing for me to do than to praise Him.

Every day.

All day.