Psalm 34:1 ‘I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad’.

DAILY READING • Luke 16; Genesis 27:46-28:22; Psalm 21

John Wesley was the minister of the Gospel who was used by God to found the Methodist Church. During the time of his ministry, John Wesley passed through very tough times and suffered many persecutions. But in every circumstance he always remained thankful to God at all times.
His attitude of thankfulness was a lesson he had learned while he was a 21 year old student at Oxford University. At that age John Wesley used to be snobbish and sarcastic because of his good family background, intelligence and good looks.
However, one night, Wesley had an encounter that changed his life. While talking to a porter at the university, Wesley was surprised to learn that the man was so poor that he had only one coat, lived in impoverished conditions and didn’t even have a bed. Wesley was especially surprised because he knew this porter to be an unusually happy person who was always filled with gratitude to God.
Wesley was deeply moved by the man’s attitude of gratitude despite his poverty. That night Wesley learned the true meaning of thankfulness and it was a lesson that humbled him and stayed with him for the rest of his life.

In the following years, as he faithfully served God, Wesley passed through many trials. However in all things, he remained ever thankful even till the end of his life.
By 1791, John Wesley had lived to the ripe old age of 88 years and was ready to depart the world. As he lay on his deathbed, his family gathered around were touched by his last expressions of gratitude. With his remaining breath, despite his extreme weakness, he began singing the hymn, “I’ll Praise My Maker While I’ve Breath.”
Indeed even with his last breath, John Wesley remained grateful, and continued praising God till the very end.

In every situation we are to remain joyful and praise-full. Despite the circumstances we are to bless the Lord at all times, His praise is to continually be in our mouth.
Paul said in Philippians 4:4 ‘Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.’

No matter how things may seem in the natural, Praise means looking through the eyes of faith and seeing God constantly at work in our lives. The truth is that we can never in this life grasp the full extent of the goodness of God in our lives. We can never fathom the volume of angelic activities that constantly go on around us and our families. We can never know the number of hidden battles God daily fights for us. We can never tell the many deaths we could have died but His mercy constantly said ‘No!’
How then can we not be grateful?
Indeed it is only because of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed. It is only by His grace that we continue to exist. We must therefore be thankful and always praise God for His many mercies. Indeed if it had not been for the Lord on our side where would we be? Therefore everyday of our lives, at all times and in all things, all the glory must go to God, because without Him we are nothing and can do nothing.

Lack of praise is a form of pride and expression of ingratitude. It is an anti-grace virus that causes a man to take God for granted and thus he becomes grounded.

This was why in Deuteronomy 28:47-57, God told the Israelites that because they refused to serve the Lord with joyfulness and gladness for His abundance to them, He was going to bring judgment upon them and cause them to serve their enemies with grief.

Truly, God is always good. And even if it seems you are faced with an adverse situation, through praise you can invite God in to change your story. God inhabits the praises of His people and as we praise Him, we make room for Him to come and inhabit our situation. And when God steps in, every problem must bow out. This was what happened to Paul and Silas in Acts 16:22-26.
When they broke out in praise at midnight, God arrived in the midst of their praises. At God’s Presence the prison door broke down, their chains were cut asunder and they were delivered from captivity.
Likewise, today, it doesn’t matter the obstacle you may be faced with, as you begin to praise God, He will release the breakers anointing to go before you and break down every barrier and destroy every captivity.
Truly as we bless the Lord at all times, we will reap the harvest of His unending blessings in all our endeavors.

PRAYER: Lord, You are always good and faithful. No matter what happens around me, I know You are always at work in my life and causing all things to work together for my good in Jesus Name.

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Illuminate your world for you are a star destined to shine. WORDBITE 222.