We can start a day with complaining about this or that, or we can choose to begin the day right. As we grow in Christ, it may become apparent that we need no special or particular reason to praise God for the day. That PCH van didn't show up at my door this morning, and why should I look to that kind of worldly windfall for a reason to praise anyway? If I need a special circumstance to praise God then I am not serving with the correct attitude. A morning can be a good enough reason to wake up praising God. An evening should be more than enough reason to fall asleep praising God. Afternoon, mid-day, anytime is a good time to praise the Lord. We can list the things we are grateful for, and that is a good exercise at any time, or we can simply sing a song of praise. If our neighbor is looking down about something perhaps we can shout a good... wait a minute.
In love, we learn that first finding out what is wrong with our neighbor might be reason enough to keep our praise to a softer level, perhaps even simply a prayer of praise within our own mind. If our neighbor just received bad news such as the passing of a dear friend, we can praise God silently that we are in a position to join in sorrow with our neighbor. Shouting a stout 'Hallelujah!" might not be the best thing for a grieving neighbor or friend. He might not feel like praising the Lord at just that moment.
I praise God for the day, but I am also learning to be sensitive to those around me. We will all praise God together one day when all tears have been wiped away and sorrow and death are no more. What a great day that will be! Today is a day of praise for me; it may at the same time be a day of mourning for another. We look forward to that day when all can praise God as one.
Bucky
No comments:
Post a Comment