Hebrews 13:15 says ‘By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name’

DAILY READING; • John 12:1-26; 2 Chronicles 14-15; Psalm 77

Rev George Matheson was a Scottish minister and hymn writer. While he was a young ministry student, he began going blind. By the time he was twenty years old, he had become totally blind. However, he refused to give up on the dream of becoming a minister, he continued his studies and became an outstanding student

He had been engaged, until his fiancée learned that there was nothing more the doctors could do to restore his sight. She then told him that she could not go through life with a blind man.
George Matheson was heartbroken, but he was consoled by his sister’s unflinching loyalty as she stood by him and cared for him through the years. He completed his education at Glasgow Academy and the University of Glasgow, where he graduated first in classics, logic and philosophy. Later, he was ordained as a preacher in the Church of Scotland.
However, when he was 40 years old, his sister planned to get married. Her marriage brought a fresh reminder of his own heartbreak, as he was forced to confront his impending loneliness.
It was at this time that the Lord gave Matheson a hymn which is well-known today.
The popular hymn, “O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go” was written by Matheson on the evening of his sister’s wedding. This hymn proclaimed the one thing that he believed was still true: God’s love for him would never let him go.
Despite his life’s circumstances, George continued to praise and bless God. And indeed God’s grace and love sustained and upheld him. Despite his blindness, he went on to serve effectively as a minister in parishes in Glasgow. In 1886 he became the pastor of the 2,000-member St. Bernard’s Parish Church in Edinburgh.
George Matheson authored several books. He was celebrated and was awarded many honors during his lifetime.

Certainly God’s love will never let us go. His grace will always uphold us no matter what we pass through in life. In all situations and circumstances we can always count on His faithfulness till the very end.

There is a grace that God can give you that stabilizes you no matter what you encounter. Though you may face disappointment, heartbreaks, injustice and things that try to destroy you, yet God’s grace will keep you and sustain you through it all.
Sometimes God’s grace over your life will be proven by the fires you survived. You walked through a furnace that was seven times hotter than it ought to have been, yet you didn’t burn. That fiery trial was so hot that it should have totally incinerated everything around you. Anybody else would’ve lost their mind, yet you survived because of God’s abiding grace and love.

The truth is that in life’s journey sometimes you may have to pass through some valleys before you can get to your mountaintop. A valley is defined as a depression. When you come to those places of depression in your journey, when it seems as if life has taken an unexpected twist or turn, what do you do? It is easy to praise God when things are going well, but what of those times, when it seems as if life has thrown you a curve?
Certainly that is not the time to give up or despair. Rather it is the time to continually bless the Lord at all times, because His grace is ever sufficient for you.
Though you may walk through the fire and the water, God will preserve you and give you the victory.

In Isaiah 43:2 God says, ‘When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned or scorched, nor will the flame kindle upon you’ (The Amplified Bible).

This verse makes it clear that even in the worst of situations, God is always there. Despite the negative situations His sufficient grace is at work in your life.
The ‘sacrifice of praise’ is praising God even when our circumstances dictate the contrary.
Praise activates grace and favor. Therefore in all things let’s learn to always give God all the praise and glory.
Though you may sometimes walk through the valley of the shadow of death, never forget that ahead, God has prepared a table for you in the presence of your enemies. Indeed your cup is about to run over.
As you abide each day in God’s Presence through spending time in His Word, prayers and praise, you will certainly see God work wonders in ways you could never have thought or imagined.

PRAYER: Lord, Please help me to maintain a praise-full lifestyle, no matter what comes my way. I know that indeed You are too faithful to fail me and even right now Your grace is at work in my life to turn every mourning into dancing for me in Jesus Name.

QUOTE
When we fight by God’s help we are sure of victory. WORDBITE 222