SCRIPTURE  FROM:   Isaiah 12:3-5 (GNT)

TEXT: ³ As fresh water brings joy to the thirsty, so God’s people rejoice when he saves them.” ⁴ A day is coming when people will sing, “Give thanks to the Lord! Call for him to help you! Tell all the nations what he has done! Tell them how great he is! ⁵ Sing to the Lord because of the great things he has done. Let the whole world hear the news.

OBSERVATION:   Just as fresh bubbling water refreshes the spring and gives it new nutrients, so does the joy and shout of praises bring a new excitement and fresh anointing to a believer in Christ. The heart that brings praise is one that has been touched by God and has something to praise Him for. For the unbeliever, it tells a story about what they could expect if they surrender to the same Lord. I wonder how this looks to the unbeliever in our weekend services!!

APPLICATION:   Ever noticed how unhappy a person looks when they can’t, or won’t break a smile? Ever heard someone say that they have way too much going on in life to create a sense of joy and/or happiness in their lives? However, have you ever noticed that there’s never a church service designed especially for you to come and complain about all of your sorrows and hard times? Instead church services are designed for you to come together with others, who may be struggling just like you, to offer up praises to the King of Glory, our precious Lord and Savior! Friends, there is always something to praise God about. You may have a broken limb that you could sulk and complain before God about, but all of the other limbs are in perfect shape that you can praise Him for! You may have a family member in hospital that you are so concerned about, but oh what a rejoicing over the many other family members who stand by you every day and find ways to show their love for you! You could still wind up praising God all day, if only you would concentrate on the blessings for a few moments of each hour. It’s really a choice that we make each day, whether we will feed the isolated cases of bad feelings, or painful joints, or school homework, etc. or whether we will choose to praise God above all else, for the many ways that He is blessing you, preparing you, protecting you, providing for you, guiding you and loving you beyond anything you could ever have dreamed. Remember friends, this is the same Savior that went to the cross knowing that it was for sinners that He would die, but also knowing that His sacrifice would provide the open door to heaven for all who believe on Him. Our God is worthy of our praise dear one. Love Him with all your heart and surrender your life to Him, so that His sacrifice on Calvary would not be in vain. Consider posting a sign on the doorpost of your home, and on the forefront of your heart: As for me and my house, we will praise the Lord! Shout it out to God and convince yourself!

PRAYER:   Father, please forgive us for what appears to be our lack of appreciation for all that You do for us. We are ungrateful when we choose to complain and whine about the way that You chose to answer our prayers, instead of being grateful for the doors that are opened to us for spreading Your love, Your forgiveness, Your mercy and Your loving kindness. Please give us a fresh boldness and a renewed will to praise You in all things, knowing that You are in control of our destiny, and You deserve our praise, even when things seem dismal to us. You are Lord, You are Savior and You are our everlasting King of Glory, AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’.  If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog could indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Sebring, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!