“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.” (Psalm 100:4, NKJV) As believers, we have the honor and privilege to enter boldly into God’s presence. Scripture says that we can come to His throne of grace and receive His mercy. Because He loves us, He has given us unlimited access to Himself 24 hours a day, seven days a week. But notice that today’s verse tells us that we shouldn’t just come any old way to God. We shouldn’t come empty-handed to the King of kings and the Lord of lords. What can we bring? What do we have that’s worthy of Almighty God? Our praise. Our thanksgiving. Our worship. We are to enter His gates with an offering from our hearts of adoration because He is worthy! We have to understand, praise isn’t just about singing songs on Sunday mornings. Praise is the expression of gratefulness to Father God for Who He is and all that He has done. Praise gets God’s attention. Praise is a powerful tool in the life of the believer because God inhabits our praises! When we enter His presence the right way, He enters our circumstances, and when God shows up, the enemy must flee! Today, enter into His gates with thanksgiving and open the door for Him to move on your behalf! Father, I come to You today with thanksgiving in my heart. I enter into Your courts with praise. Today I declare that You are good, and Your mercy endures forever! Have Your way in me by the power of Your Holy Spirit in Jesus’ name. Amen. Matthew 4:4
It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' - What has God been saying to you lately? - Have you been doing what He has been showing you to do? - We need more than just material things in life. - We need to know that He is there and we need to follow His leading. PRAYER: Lord, I realize today that I need more than just having my physical needs met. I need You and Your life-giving words in my life today. Amen. Felix Baumgartner broke the sound barrier on Oct. 14, and did so without benefit of a supersonic transport.
The 43-year-old Austrian skydiver took off this morning from Roswell, N. M., in a pressurized capsule lifted by a helium-filled balloon. His goal: to break the altitude record for a freefall set by Air Force Col. Joe Kittinger in 1960. Baumgartner was successful. Kittinger made his jump 52 years ago as the third in a series of Air Force experiments in high-altitude bailouts. His craft, the Excelsior III, was an open gondola carried aloft by a helium balloon to 102,800 feet. During his skydive, Kittinger maintained a freefall for 4 minutes and 36 seconds and achieved a speed of 634 mph before deploying his chute at 18,000 feet. Today, Baumgartner's capsule reached 128,100 feet before he exited. Falling for 4 minutes and 20 seconds for a distance of 119,846 feet before deploying his chute, Baumgartner broke the sound barrier and reached a top speed of nearly 834 mph. Sponsored by Red Bull and filmed by National Geographic, the project will provide valuable data for high-altitude research as well as key analysis of a latest-generation pressure suit. To me, the most inspiring element of this story is the relationship between Kittinger and Baumgartner. Far from perceiving the retired colonel as a rival, Baumgartner sought out the 84-year-old high-altitude pioneer for counsel. Kittinger mentored Baumgartner during the long months of preparation leading up to the record-shattering fall that lasted mere minutes.By working together, the men helped bring about a new achievement in human exploration. In a sense, Kittinger did not see his own record broken so much as his achievement carried farther by a young friend. His decades of experience helped to ensure the younger Baumgartner's success. A similar dynamic takes place in countless human relationships. Parents should be thrilled when their children's achievements surpass their own. As should teachers whose students push their field of expertise to new limits. Whenever we help someone to go farther than we were able to go, part of us tags along for the journey. The apostle Paul felt that way about the people he helped in life. To the Thessalonian Christians among whom he had ministered, he wrote, "You are our hope, our joy, and the crown we will take pride in when our Lord Jesus Christ comes. Truly you are our glory and our joy" (1 Thessalonians 2:19,20, NCV). Paul described the Corinthian believers as a living letter of recommendation for his ministry (2 Corinthians 3:2,3), and repeatedly called his young protégé Timothy his son. Kittinger and Baumgartner remind us that unselfish cooperation takes everyone involved farther than anyone can go alone. That proved true in today's exploration milestone, and should always be the case among followers of Christ. Scott Harrup is managing editor of the Pentecostal Evangel and blogs at Out There (sharrup.agblogger.org). |
Ana & Andre Schoonbee God uses us to motivate and encourage the body. Authors
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