Praising God

[Obadiah]

Day 1


Oh, the depths of the riches of the wisdom
and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
“Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?”
Romans 11:33–34



The Invitation

My child, every day you are faced with countless decisions. Many times you are unsure about what to do. I am the source of all wisdom, and I know the plans I have for you, plans so that you can prosper and thrive. Even when you don’t understand My ways, I am working behind the scenes to accomplish what’s best for you. My wisdom has no limits and My judgments are always perfect. I have never needed a counselor and have never had to ask for another’s opinion because all wisdom begins and ends with Me. Today, worship and praise Me for My wisdom. Every time you face a perplexing decision, praise Me that I can show you what to do. As you faithfully praise Me, I will show you which way to go. I love to generously share My wisdom with those who praise me. (Rom. 11:33–34; Jer. 29:11; Ps. 111:10; James 1:5)

God is the source of all wisdom, and He can provide the wisdom you need for every decision you face. Today, whenever you are presented with a challenge, praise God that you can trust Him to give you His wisdom in each circumstance. Every time you feel an uncertain angst in your soul, praise God immediately that He will give you discernment for that moment.

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.(James 1:5)

Listen

Listen to “God I Look to You” performed by Bethel Live, featuring Jenn Johnson, and “Sovereign Hands” performed by Hillsong United. As you listen, praise God that He will set the vision for your life and give you wisdom, moment by moment.

Pray

Lord Jesus, I praise You for being the God of all wisdom. All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are found in You. I exalt You because Your understanding is beyond anything I can fathom. You created the world with perfect insight. Scripture tells me there are no limits to Your knowledge and that You have never needed a counselor. I praise You that although I don’t have wisdom in ______________ [name a specific area], You do. You promise me that if I lack wisdom, I only need to ask, and You will give me wisdom. As I move through my day I praise You in advance for the wisdom You will plant in my mind moment by moment. (Col. 2:3; Jer. 10:12; Rom. 11:33–34; James 1:5)

Journal

In what specific area(s) of your life are you longing for wisdom? Write out your thoughts in your journal, and then write a prayer of praise affirming your faith that God will give you the wisdom that you need.



Becky Harling, The 30-Day Praise Challenge

 

[Obadiah]

Day 2


The LORD is the strength of his people,
a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.
Psalm 28:8


The Invitation

My beloved, I know you are tired. My strength is the perfect match for your weakness. I never grow fatigued or weary; I never lack the energy to accomplish My purposes. Praise Me for My unlimited strength. When you are weak and you praise Me, you give Me the opportunity to showcase My power. So don’t be discouraged by your weaknesses; instead, praise Me that I promise to sustain and help you. I will hold you up in the moments when you feel you cannot continue. As you praise Me, My Spirit will pour strength into your soul and you will feel renewed energy rising.

Ps. 28:8
The Lord is their [unyielding] Strength, and He is the Stronghold of salvation to [me] His anointed.

Isa. 40:28–29
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, does not faint or grow weary; there is no searching of His understanding.
29 He gives power to the faint and weary, and to him who has no might He increases strength [causing it to multiply and making it to abound].


2 Cor. 12:9
But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!


Isa. 41:10
Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice.


Today, praise God for His immeasurable strength and awesome power. Praise Him that He promises to renew the strength of those who spend time in His presence and that He will give you enough strength for the coming days. Whenever you feel low in energy, immediately praise God that His power is perfected in your weakness.

O my Strength, to you I sing praises, for you, O God, are my refuge, the God who shows me unfailing love. Ps. 59:17

Listen

Listen to “Hosanna (Praise Is Rising” performed by Paul Baloche, “Please Be My Strength” performed by Gungor, and “Stronger” performed by Mandisa. Listen for His voice as you worship. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you how to create the space for more rest in your life.

Pray

I praise You, Lord, because You are my refuge and strength even during times of stress. You arm me with power when tasks feel impossible and when life feels challenging. I praise You that when I feel exhausted, You invite me to rest in You, reassuring me that You are not demanding or harsh in Your expectations for me. You promise all those who hope in You that You will renew their strength, helping them to soar on wings like eagles. Those who put their hope in You will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint. Thank You that when I feel weak, I can move out of the way and trust Your strength. I praise You this day that You will provide the strength I need to be who You have called me to be.

Ps. 46:10
Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth!

2 Sam. 22:2–3
He said: The Lord is my Rock [of escape from Saul] and my Fortress [in the wilderness] and my Deliverer; [I Sam. 23:14, 25, 28.]
3 My God, my Rock, in Him will I take refuge; my Shield and the Horn of my salvation; my Stronghold and my Refuge, my Savior—You save me from violence.


Matt. 11:28
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]


Isa. 40:31
But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.


Journal

Write about a time when you felt extremely weak and then experienced God’s strength. What do you feel God is saying to you today?



Becky Harling, The 30-Day Praise Challenge

 

[Obadiah]

Day 3

For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
Psalm 139:13–14



The Invitation

You are My one-of-a-kind masterpiece! I designed you with intention. I deliberately crafted every part of your body, soul, and spirit for My glory. I know there are times when you feel frustrated with your weaknesses and limitations. But you are fearfully and wonderfully made in My image. You are a reflection of My beauty. Everything I make is good, including you. When you praise and thank Me for how I designed you, My Spirit quiets the voices of self-doubt. I knit you together in your mother’s womb. Praise Me that I chose your eye color, hair color, body build, and intellect before the foundation of the world.

Others may tell you that you must look a certain way or attain a certain level of achievement to be worthwhile. Don’t listen to them. Instead, thank Me that I am continually perfecting the work I started in you. Rather than tear yourself down, exalt Me for the beauty I am exhibiting through your life. As you praise Me, I will help you let go of the anxiety you feel over your limitations. (Eph.2:10; Phil. 1:6; Ps. 139:13–14)

God is not disappointed in the way you turned out. On the contrary, He delights over you! He is continuing to change you and empower you to become the person He created you to be. Dare to praise Him today for the way He designed you. Whether you’re having a good body day or a bad body day, praise and worship Him that you are fearfully and wonderfully made. Praise Him for your intellectual capacities and for His ongoing work in your life. Praise Him that He is able to bring beauty out of any mess in your life, even those messes created by your own mistakes.

For everything God created is good. (1 Tim. 4:4)

Listen

Listen to “Beautiful Things” performed by Gungor

“For Your Splendor” performed by Christy Nockels.

Pray

My Father, thank You that I have been made in Your image and bear a striking resemblance to You. I praise You, because You carefully and creatively knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise You that I am fearfully and wonderfully made! You created me in perfect wisdom. You designed me to reflect Your beauty in a world that is often not very beautiful. Thank You for shining through my eyes, speaking through my voice, and loving through my heart.

I praise You that You are shaping me into the image of Your Son, Jesus Christ. “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.” There is no one I would rather look like than Jesus! Thank You for continuing Your work, even when I complain. I praise You that I was created to do good works that You prepared for me to do long before I was even born. Please renew the image of Jesus Christ in me today. I praise You and worship You, my Creator!


13 For You did form my inward parts; You did knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I will confess and praise You for You are fearful and wonderful and for the awful wonder of my birth! Wonderful are Your works, and that my inner self knows right well
Psalm 139:13–14

24 O Lord, how many and varied are Your works! In wisdom have You made them all; the earth is full of Your riches and Your creatures.
Psalm 104:24.


For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].
Eph 2:10.


15 [Now] He is the exact likeness of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible]; He is the Firstborn of all creation.
Col 1:15.

Journal

Has it been difficult for you to say, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made”? Why? How have you seen God use your weaknesses for good? How has He used your strengths to demonstrate His love?




Becky Harling, The 30-Day Praise Challenge

 

[Obadiah]

Day 4


“I am the LORD, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth.”
Jeremiah 9:24

The Invitation

Injustice is a part of the fallen world. When life feels unfair, you are tempted to question My kindness. Satan, the Enemy of your soul, fills your mind with doubts. Child, My sense of justice is different from yours. Dare to praise Me for being good, even when I allow circumstances to occur in your life and in the lives of those you love that feel unfair. My every intention toward you is good. I continually offer you kindness as an expression of My nature. Celebrate My loving-kindness by thanking Me for the gifts I shower on you every day. I reign with perfect justice. There will come a day when I will bring good out of every evil. When you worship Me, My Spirit nurtures your faith. Test Me in this; praise Me for My justice and goodness, then watch and see how your trust in Me grows. I have your best interests at heart. Come, praise Me and feel renewed hope rising in your soul. (Ps. 118:1; Ps. 33:5; Ps. 34:8; Ps. 107:1)

Today, praise God for being just and kind. Before you turn on your praise music, spend a few moments making a list of all the ways you have experienced God’s kindness in the last week. For example, you might have received a call from a headhunter just a few days after being told that your job was being terminated. Or maybe your husband brought you flowers or gave you a compliment when you were feeling like he takes you for granted. Perhaps just when you felt you couldn’t handle the challenge of having a child with special needs, you experienced an unexpected breakthrough. You can trust His kindness. Praise Him that even when life feels unfair, His intentions toward you are good.

For the LORD is righteous, he loves justice; upright men will see his face. (Ps. 11:7)

Listen

Listen to “Forever Reign” performed by Hillsong Live

“I Lift My Hands (Let Faith Arise)” performed by Chris Tomlin. Close your eyes and allow the music to prompt your praise.

Pray

Lord, You are worthy of all of my praise. You reign in absolute justice and kindness. Your name is good, Your heart is good, Your actions are good; everything about You shouts goodness. Yet these circumstances, ______________ [name specific circumstances here], feel unfair. I praise You that Your every intention toward me is good. Thank You that I can trust You to be just. You promise to redeem and use even the bad things that have happened in my life for my good and for Your glory. Even what others have meant for evil, You are able to turn around for my good. Lord, I know that someday You will right every wrong and bring justice. Thank You for promising to complete the good work You have started in me. Draw me deeper into knowing and trusting Your justice and goodness. You are my God, and I will give You thanks. Let me live to praise You! (Ps. 119:68; Rom. 8:28; Gen. 50:20; Phil. 2:13; Ps. 118:28; Ps. 119:175)

Journal

In a world of suffering, it is sometimes difficult to trust God’s justice and kindness. In what ways have you experienced God’s goodness during challenging or painful times? How might your life look differently if you trusted in God’s goodness right now?


Becky Harling, The 30-Day Praise Challenge