“The living, the living—they praise you, as I am doing today; parents tell their children about your faithfulness.” – Isaiah 38:19

Theodore Cuyler was a leading Presbyterian minister and religious writer in the United States. He was active from the mid-1800s to 1909. He pastored churches in New Jersey and New York. 

He once told of a young lawyer who was heartbroken by the death of the woman he loved. Despite his grief, he went ahead with his plans and became a powerful preacher of the gospel and a successful soul-winner. His great loss increased his effectiveness. Said Cuyler, "The record book of every Christian has some pages in it that were written at the bidding of that severe teacher called disappointment. Tears may have blurred the page at the time, but as we view it in the light of experience we can write beneath it, 'Thank God for those losses!'"

It is difficult to thank God for our losses, but it is often our losses that mold our character to become more like Christ. Today in prayer, give thanks to the Lord for a personal loss you have encountered and give it to Jesus. 

“Thanksgiving Day is a good day to recommit our energies to giving thanks and just giving.”– Amy Grant

God’s Word: “Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people; praise his holy name.” – Psalm 30:4

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2020, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.” – Psalm 136:1

Brennan Manning was an American author, a Roman Catholic priest who left the priesthood, and a public speaker. He is best known for his bestselling book “The Ragamuffin Gospel”.

He led spiritual retreats for people of all ages and backgrounds and traveled extensively in the U.S. and abroad to share the good news of the unconditional love of God.

On the subject of gratitude, Brennan wrote: “I believe that the real difference in the American church is not between conservatives and liberals, fundamentalists and charismatics, or Republicans and Democrats. The real difference is between the aware and the unaware. When somebody is aware of the love that the Father has for Jesus, that person is spontaneously grateful. Cries of thankfulness become the dominant characteristic of the interior life, and the byproduct of gratitude is joy. We’re not joyful and then become grateful—we’re grateful, and that makes us joyful.”

Let this day be the beginning of a full, joyful life. Today in prayer, give thanks to the Lord for He is good. 

“Remember God’s bounty in the year. String the pearls of His favor. Hide the dark parts, except so far as they are breaking out in light! Give this one day to thanks, to joy, to gratitude!” – Henry Ward Beecher

God’s Word: “Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever.” – Psalm 136:26

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2020, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.” – 2 Corinthians 2:14

Corrie ten Boom was a Dutch Christian watchmaker and later a writer who worked with her father, her sister, and other family members to help many Jews escape from the Nazis during the Holocaust in World War II by hiding them in her home. Corrie was caught and sent to the Ravensbrück concentration camp. Her most famous book, “The Hiding Place”, is a biography that recounts the story of her family's efforts and how she found and shared hope in God while she was imprisoned at the concentration camp.

Corrie once said, "People thank me so much, and it used to worry me because I didn't want to get a big head. So I began to collect those compliments like flowers. 'Thank you,' I'd say. 'Thank you, thank you, thank you.' Then at the end of the day, I'd kneel down and I'd say, 'Here You are Jesus, they're all Yours.'" 

Let any praise you receive to your Father in Heaven. Today in prayer, give thanks and praise to Jesus.

“The thankful heart opens our eyes to a multitude of blessings that continually surround us.” – James E. Faust

God’s Word: “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” – 2 Corinthians 9:15

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2020, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING

“For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving” – 1 Timothy 4:4

In 1863, Folliott S. Pierpoint was wandering through the English countryside around the winding Avon River. As he looked on the peaceful beauty surrounding him, he was inspired to reflect on God’s gifts to his people in creation and in the church. Above all, Pierpoint thought of the sacrifice of Christ, in the greatest of sacrifices, that of his life in return for ours. He thus originally wrote the text of “For the Beauty of the Earth” as a hymn for the Lord’s Supper. The original chorus read, “Christ, our God, to thee we raise this, our sacrifice of praise.” The hymn was meant not only as a song of thanksgiving, but as the only thing we could give Christ in return for his mercy and love: a hymn of praise laid upon the altar as a sacrifice. Editors have since altered the refrain so it has become a more generic hymn of thanksgiving, but as it stands, it takes on a deeper meaning when understood as something we not only sing, but offer up to God.

The Lord is the Creator of the heavens and the earth. Today in prayer, praise Him for the beauty of the earth. 

“Lord of all, to thee we raise This our hymn of grateful praise.” - Folliott S. Pierpoint

God’s Word: “I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the Lord.”

– Psalm 116:17

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2020, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING

“saying: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!” – Revelation 7:12

In just after Halloween 2011, Amy Latta from Pennsylvania started making a list with her children of all the things to be thankful for. Then she had the idea to write them on a pumpkin with a permanent marker adding to the list every day.  

The first year they had a small pumpkin, but in the following years, they challenged one another to write everything they were thankful for. Her son just kept saying, “Wow, we have so many things to be ‘fankful’ for, Mommy!” He added, “All of our blessings come from God, right, Mommy?”  

It is now a 10-year old tradition and Amy and her family. She wrote: “All you need to make one is a pumpkin and a permanent marker and a heart full of gratitude.

All blessings do come from our Heavenly Father. Today in prayer, give thanks to the Lord for He is a loving Father. 

“To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant, to enact gratitude is generous and noble, but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven.” – Johannes A. Gaertner

God’s Word: “All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.” – 2 Corinthians 4:15

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2020, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere.” – 2 Corinthians 2:14

Corrie ten Boom was a Dutch Christian watchmaker and later a writer who worked with her father, her sister, and other family members to help many Jews escape from the Nazis during the Holocaust in World War II by hiding them in her home. Corrie was caught and sent to the Ravensbrück concentration camp. Her most famous book, “The Hiding Place”, is a biography that recounts the story of her family's efforts and how she found and shared hope in God while she was imprisoned at the concentration camp.

Corrie once said, "People thank me so much, and it used to worry me because I didn't want to get a big head. So I began to collect those compliments like flowers. 'Thank you,' I'd say. 'Thank you, thank you, thank you.' Then at the end of the day, I'd kneel down and I'd say, 'Here You are Jesus, they're all Yours.'" 

Let any praise you receive to your Father in Heaven. Today in prayer, give thanks and praise to Jesus.

“The thankful heart opens our eyes to a multitude of blessings that continually surround us.” – James E. Faust

God’s Word: “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” – 2 Corinthians 9:15

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2020, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING

“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you.”- Colossians 1:3

One day in the early 1930s, William Stidger and a fellow pastor sat in a restaurant talking about the worldwide depression—the suffering people, rich committing suicide, the jobless. The pastor said, "In two or three weeks I have to preach on Thanksgiving Day. What can I say?"

Pastor Stidger said it was like the Spirit of God answered that question: "Why not thank those people who've been a blessing in your life and affirm them during this terrible time?" He thought of an English teacher who had instilled in him a love of literature and verse, affecting all his writing and preaching. So he wrote to her.

In a matter of days, he got a reply in the feeble scrawl of the aged. "My Dear Willy: I can't tell you how much your note meant to me. I am in my eighties, living alone in a small room, cooking my own meals, lonely, and like the last leaf of autumn lingering behind. You'll be interested to know that I taught in school for more than 50 years, and yours is the first note of appreciation I ever received. It came on blue, cold morning, and it cheered me as nothing has done in many years." 

The Lord brings beautiful people into our lives. Today in prayer, thank the Lord and show your appreciation to them. 

“For my part, I am almost contented just now, and very thankful. Gratitude is a divine emotion: it fills the heart, but not to bursting; it warms it, but not to fever.” – Charlotte Brontë

God’s Word: “We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers.” – 1 Thessalonians 1:2

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2020, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING

“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” – Psalm 55:22

Pastor Elisha Hoffman was the author of more than 2,000 hymns. On the origin of the hymn “I Must Tell Jesus”, Elisha wrote:

“During a pastorate in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, there was a woman to whom God permitted many visitations of sorrow and affliction. Coming to her home one day, I found her much discouraged. She unburdened her heart, concluding with the question, “Brother Hoffman, what shall I do? What shall I do?” I quoted from the word, then added, “You cannot do better than to take all of your sorrows to Jesus. You must tell Jesus.”

For a moment she seemed lost in meditation. Then her eyes lighted as she exclaimed, “Yes, I must tell Jesus.”

As I left her home I had a vision of that joy-illuminated face ... and I heard all along my pathway the echo, “I must tell Jesus ... I must tell Jesus.”

When he got back to his study, Elisha Hoffman quickly penned the words, and soon after the melody. The hymn has become one of the most loved hymns among Christians.

No matter where you find yourself today, you must tell Jesus. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that He always loves us and cares for us. 

“I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!

I cannot bear my burdens alone;

I must tell Jesus! I must tell Jesus!

Jesus can help me, Jesus alone.” – Elisha Hoffman

God’s Word: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

– Matthew 11:28

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2020, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING

“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.” – Revelation 11:17

In preparation for Season 5 of the television show American Idol, contestants had to fill out an online questionnaire. 

In response to the question, "If you win, who will you thank first?" 16 of the 24 finalists didn't hesitate to acknowledge their allegiance to God. Some of their responses included:

"I would thank God first…"

"My personal Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ."

"God, then my wife …"

"God."

"God, then my Mom."

"God! (of course)."

"I will first thank God Almighty!"

"God."

"God, then my family."

"Jesus! He's so good to me."

"My savior, Jesus Christ."

"God."

One contestant, Mandisa Hundley, witnessed: "Jesus is my hero. He saved my life." Mandisa told of the influence author and speaker Beth Moore has had upon her: "She inspires me to live more like Jesus, and I want to do the same." Mandisa has gone on to be a Christian gospel singer. 

Jesus is to be worshiped above all. Today in prayer, praise the Lord that He is all-powerful and all-loving. 

““God has two dwellings; one in heaven, and the other in a meek and thankful heart.” – Izaak Walton

God’s Word: “Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: ‘Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.’” – Revelation 19:6

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2016, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” – Colossians 3:17

Edward Perronet was the son of an Anglican priest, who worked closely with John Wesley in England's eighteenth-century revival. A gifted poet, during his life, Edward published three volumes of Christian poems, including a poetic rendering of the Scriptures. 

In 1779, he began work on a poem he initially entitled “On the Resurrection, the Lord is King”. He expanded the poem to eight verses and retitled it “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name” and it was published in 1780. Originally, the poem was set to different melodies. It would take 58 years before the tune “Diadem” written by James Ellor in 1838 was matched to “All Hail”. 

The lyrics to “All Hail” have been translated into almost every (if not every) language in which Christianity is known. It is so popular that it is often called "The National Anthem of Christendom".

Is your life centered on Jesus? Today in prayer, praise Jesus for He is Lord of all!

“All hail the pow'r of Jesus' Name!

Let angels prostrate fall;

Bring forth the royal diadem,

And crown Him Lord of all!” – Edward Perronet

God’s Word: “always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” – Ephesians 5:20

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2020, Devotional E-Mail    

DEVOTIONS IN PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING

“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.” – 1 Chronicles 16:34

Johann Tauler was a German monk who lived during the 1300s. One day, Johann met a peasant. "God give you a good day, my friend," he greeted him. The peasant answered briskly, "I thank God I never have a bad day." Tauler, astonished, kept silent for a moment. Tauler then added, "God give you a happy life, my friend." The peasant replied composedly, "I thank God I am never unhappy." "Never unhappy!" cried Tauler bewildered, "What do you mean?" "Well," came the reply, "when it is sunshine—I thank God, when it rains—I thank God, when I have plenty—I thank God, when I am hungry—I thank God; and since God's will is my will, and whatever pleases God pleases me, why should I say that I am unhappy when I am not?" Tauler looked upon him with awe. "Who are you," he asked. "I am a king," said the peasant. "A king?" Tauler asked, "Where is your kingdom?" The peasant smiled and whispered softly, "In my heart."

The Lord is God and He continues to reign. Today in prayer, acknowledge even though things might not be what you want, know that God is accomplishing His purpose, and let Him rule your heart. 

“In all things, give thanks to God.” ― Lailah Gifty Akita

God’s Word: “When all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, “He is good; his love endures forever.” – 2 Chronicles 7:3

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2020, Devotional E-Mail    

DEVOTIONS IN PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING

My Apologies if you already received this email. It was intended for Friday, but some were sent early. Sincerely, Peter Kennedy

“I will sing of your love and justice; to you, Lord, I will sing praise.” – Psalm 101:1

Blaise Pascal was a French mathematician, physicist, religious philosopher, inventor and writer. He laid the foundation for the modern theory of probabilities, formulated what came to be known as Pascal’s principle of pressure, and invented a mechanical calculator. His theories had an impact on such later philosophers as Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Henri Bergson and also on the Existentialists.

After he became a Christian in 1654, he began writing influential works on philosophy and theology. His two most famous works date from this period: the Lettres provinciales and the Pensées. One of his thoughts was “There is a God-shaped hole in the life of every man.”

Pascal observed that the people who have the greatest influence in shaping the hearts and minds of any generation are not the folks who write the laws, but those who write the songs. 

Not everyone can write songs, but we sing or meditate on songs that praise God. Today in prayer, let your praise and song be to Jesus.

“In difficult times carry something beautiful in your heart.” – Blaise Pascal

God’s Word: “I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth, I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.” – Psalm 89:1

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2020, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING

“I will sing of your love and justice; to you, Lord, I will sing praise.” – Psalm 101:1

Blaise Pascal was a French mathematician, physicist, religious philosopher, inventor and writer. He laid the foundation for the modern theory of probabilities, formulated what came to be known as Pascal’s principle of pressure, and invented a mechanical calculator. His theories had an impact on such later philosophers as Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Henri Bergson and also on the Existentialists.

After he became a Christian in 1654, he began writing influential works on philosophy and theology. His two most famous works date from this period: the Lettres provinciales and the Pensées. One of his thoughts was “There is a God-shaped hole in the life of every man.”

Pascal observed that the people who have the greatest influence in shaping the hearts and minds of any generation are not the folks who write the laws, but those who write the songs. 

Not everyone can write songs, but we sing or meditate on songs that praise God. Today in prayer, let your praise and song be to Jesus.

“In difficult times carry something beautiful in your heart.” – Blaise Pascal

God’s Word: “I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth, I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.” – Psalm 89:1

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2020, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING

“Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,” – Psalm 103:1-4

Alfred Ackley, born in 1887 in Pennsylvania, showed great musical potential as a child. He was tutored by his musician father and then went to New York City to study and on to the Royal Academy of Music in London. There, Alfred played the piano and cello and showed great promise as a composer.

After completing his musical training, Alfred returned to the states and was ordained as a Presbyterian minister in 1914. He pastored in Wilkes-Barre and Elmhurst, Pennsylvania, and then to a congregation in Escondido, California. For a few years, he worked with evangelist Billy Sunday.

While in California in 1932, Alfred began witnessing a Jewish man who attended some of the evangelistic meetings. This young student kept saying, “Why should I worship a dead Jew?”

This bothered Alfred and it stayed on his mind. After waking early to prepare his Easter Sunday message, he was amazed to hear on the radio a famous liberal preacher in New York say, “Good morning. It’s Easter! You know, folks, it really doesn’t make any difference to me if Christ be risen or not. As far as I am concerned, His body could be as dust in some Palestinian tomb. The main thing is, His truth goes marching on!”

Alfred’s anger at this was displayed as he threw the radio across the room, yelling, “It’s a lie!”

During the Easter service that morning, Alfred preached with strength and urgency about the reality of Christ’s Resurrection.

But later that night, he continued to dwell on his Jewish friend’s words and the sermon on the radio.

His wife told him it was time for him to do what he did best — write a song — and then he would feel better.

In his study, Alfred re-read the Resurrection account from Mark’s Gospel in the Bible, and soon he wrote the words to “He lives”. A few minutes later, he put music to the words, and answered the question, “Why should I worship a dead Jew?”

Jesus is alive and because He lives we have eternal life! Today in prayer, praise the Lord that He is alive. 

“He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!

He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.” – Alfred Ackley

God’s Word: “Sing to the Lord! Give praise to the Lord! He rescues the life of the needy from the hands of the wicked.” – Jeremiah 20:13

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2020, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING

“Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.” – Psalm 29:2

Christian author J.I. Packer wrote the following: “To worship God is to recognize his worth or worthiness; to look God-ward, and to acknowledge in all appropriate ways the value of what we see. The Bible calls this activity "glorifying God" or "giving glory to God," and views it as the ultimate end, and from one point of view, the whole duty of man (Ps. 29:2; 96:6; 1 Cor. 10:31).

Scripture views the glorifying of God as a six-fold activity: praising God for all that he is and all his achievements; thanking him for his gifts and his goodness to us; asking him to meet our own and others' needs; offering him our gifts, our service, and ourselves; learning of him from his word, read and preached, and obeying his voice; telling others of his worth, both by public confession and testimony to what he has done for us. Thus we might say that the basic formulas of worship are these: "Lord, you are wonderful"; "Thank you, Lord"; "Please Lord"; "Take this, Lord"; "Yes, Lord"; "Listen everybody!"

This then is worship in its largest sense: petition as well as praise, preaching as well as prayer, hearing as well as speaking, actions as well as words, obeying as well as offering, loving people as well as loving God. However, the primary acts of worship are those which focus on God directly, and we must not imagine that work for God in the world is a substitute for direct fellowship with him in praise and prayer and devotion.”

Do you actively talk and listen to the Lord? Today in prayer, remember the Lord throughout the day, focusing on Him and worshiping Him. 

“You never go away from us, yet we have difficulty in returning to You. Come, Lord, stir us up and call us back. Kindle and seize us. Be our fire and our sweetness. Let us love. Let us run.”—Augustine of Hippo

God’s Word: “Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.” – Psalm 96:9

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2020, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING

“The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.” – Exodus 15:2

Pat Barrett was a pastor’s kid and grew up in Atlanta, Georgia playing guitar in his garage with other Christian teens. They formed the band, Housefires. 

After getting married and starting a family, Pat wondered: "When I started having kids and I'm looking at my daughter Harper Gray, and I'm like, 'How am I going to explain God to you?'" Pat recalled. 

"'How am I going to introduce you to someone who so transformed my life?'" he continued. "How am I going to tell you what He's like?'"

As Pat and other band members put thoughts to paper, the result was the song “Good Good Father”. 

Pat said the message resonated with members of the church and helped create "a recalibrating of hearts" as the lyrics healed spiritual wounds. 

"To see that same thing connect with so many people has been so humbling, so mind-blowing, surprising, but also encouraging that that message is something we can stand on," he said.

“I want my kids to think that the first image of worship is not to be Sunday, big stage, lights, fog, cameras, action. The first thought I want when we talk about worship is my real life before God” Pat said. 

Do you worship and praise the Lord throughout the week? Today in prayer, remember your Good, Good Father and praise Him throughout the day.  

“You're a good good father

It's who you are, it's who you are, it's who you are

And I'm loved by you

It's who I am, it's who I am, it's who I am” – Pat Barrett

God’s Word: “and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” – Philippians 2:11

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2020, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING

“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” – Philippians 2:9-11

A.W. Tozer was an American Christian pastor, author, magazine editor, and spiritual mentor.

He became a Christian as a teenager in Akron, Ohio: while on his way home from work at a tire company, he overheard a street preacher say, "If you don't know how to be saved ... just call on God, saying, 'Lord, be merciful to me a sinner.'" Upon returning home, he climbed into the attic and heeded the preacher's advice.

On the subject of worship, Tozer wrote: “Worship is to feel in your heart and express in some appropriate manner a humbling but delightful sense of admiring awe and astonished wonder and overpowering love in the presence of that most ancient Mystery, that Majesty which philosophers call the First Cause, but which we call Our Father Which Are in Heaven.”

There is only one person who deserves worship and praise above all others – Jesus Christ. Today in prayer, praise the Lord for all that He is!

“I have never committed the least matter to God, that I have not had reason for infinite praise.” – Anna Shipton

God’s Word: “Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker” – Psalm 95:6

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2020, Devotional E-Mail    

DEVOTIONS IN PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING

“David praised the LORD in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, "Praise be to you, O LORD, God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.” – 1 Chronicles 29:10

In his book “When the Darkness Will Not Life”, Christian author John Piper says the following about praise: “Resolve to spend most of your time in thanksgiving and praising God. If you cannot do it with the joy that you should, yet do it as you can. You have not the power of your comforts, but have you no power of your tongues? Say not that you are unfit for thanks and praises unless you have a praising heart and were the children of God; for every man, good and bad, is bound to praise God, and to be thankful for all that he hath received, and to do it as well as he can, rather than leave it undone... Doing it as you can is the way to be able to do it better. Thanksgiving stirreth up thankfulness in the heart.”

Circumstances should not dictate whether you are thankful to the Lord. Today in prayer, give thanks to the Lord for He is very good. 

“An attitude of gratitude flavors everything you do.  Learning to be thankful is the golden thread woven through every truly successful life.” – Charlie Jones

God’s Word: “Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.” – Chronicles 29:13

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2020, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING

“Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples.” – Psalm 117:1

Dallán Forgaill was born in 560 AD in the County Cavan, Ireland. He was blinded at a young age. He became a monk and an early Christian Irish poet. He followed St. Patrick’s ministry and his poems were often recited as part of Irish monastic tradition. 

One of his poems became the song “Be Thou My Vision”. 

It wasn’t until 1905 that Mary Byrne translated the song. 

The best-known English version, with some minor variations, was translated by Eleanor Hull and published in 1912. Since 1919 it has been commonly sung to an Irish folk tune, noted as “Slane” in church hymnals, and is one of the most popular hymns in the United Kingdom.

Today, believers love the exalted words and Godward vision of the song just as they were hundreds of years ago by the Irish believers.

Let your vision and peace come from Jesus. Today in prayer, praise the Lord for He is worthy of our praise. 

“Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;

Be all else but naught to me, save that Thou art;

Be Thou my best thought in the day and the night,

Both waking and sleeping, Thy presence my light.” - Dallán Forgaill

God’s Word: “For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord” – Psalm 117:2

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2020, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING

“Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.” – James 5:13

In July 2020, Walmart shoppers in Shreveport, Louisiana got a treat when one shopper started to sing and praise God. 

A fellow shopper Yella Redd Alexander heard the unknown man and shot a video of him: "I heard this man singing way from by the meat and went and found him".

Apparently, this is a regular thing for this spiritual man. Another Facebook comment wrote: "I used to love to hear him sing. His voice is so soulful. The last time I saw him he was in Kroger on Ellerbe Road." 

The elderly man was in a wheelchair on the dog food isle lifting up his song and words to praise God. He attracted quite a few people to the area before he finished up his songs.

During this pandemic, do not bottle up your praise to the Lord. Today in prayer, praise Jesus for He is good. 

“When we complain about our current situation, we remain in it; when we praise God in the midst of difficulty, He raises us out of it.” – Joyce Meyer

God’s Word: “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.” – Acts 16:25

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2020, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING

“‘But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? ‘Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’” - Romans 9:20

In an article entitled “Accepting God’s love – God is not angry at you”, Pastor Scott Wendal wrote: 

“We have all met people who don’t understand God. They blame God for a lot of things He didn’t cause—like sin and death. Many people think that God kills everybody. They say, “Well, the Lord took Uncle John.” God didn’t take him—he died. Death took him. Now God took his soul and spirit to Heaven if he knew the Lord. But God didn’t kill him. Death doesn’t come from God. He created the world without death in it. In fact, Jesus came to save us and destroy death—which is the last enemy (1 Corinthians 15:26). People who think God is angry with them are ignorant of God.”

The opposite of praise is criticism and blame, and we should never doubt God’s goodness towards us. Today in prayer, confess any sin of criticism and praise the Lord for He is good. 

“The most insanely daring thing that any man can do, the most exceedingly foolish thing any man can do, the most desperately wicked thing that any man can do, is to reply against God, to enter into controversy with God, to criticize God, to condemn God. Yet that is what many people are doing.” - R.A. Torrey

God’s Word: “You turn things upside down as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘You did not make me’? Can the pot say to the potter, ‘You know nothing’?” - Isaiah 29:16

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2020, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING

"For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened." - Romans 1:21

When you’re ungrateful, you’re not concentrating on the good aspects of your life, leaving you resentful and even angry. You’re scanning for what’s missing, making choices based on what is lacking rather than what you have to work with, which can really go against your path to true happiness.

Research conducted by the Harvard Business Review analyzed the effects of anger on decision-making, concluding that holding onto resentment and anger throughout the day will poison choices made and actions taken.

The practice of gratitude allows you to step back from anger, fear, hurt - all those emotions that can really cloud judgment. By concentrating on the elements you are thankful for (no matter how small), you are giving your mind the best to chance to thrive and be fuelled by positive, inspiring energy.

We need to be grateful for all the Lord has given us. Today in prayer, confess any sin of ingratitude and be thankful to the Lord.

“Ingratitude is always a kind of weakness. I have never seen that clever men have been ungrateful.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

God's Word: "People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy" - 2 Timothy 3:2

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2020, Devotional E-Mail

DEVOTIONS IN PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING