Praise and rejoice in the LORD

¹ Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright. ²Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. ³Sing unto him a new song; play skillfully with a loud noise.

Comely = proper, seemly, becoming

Upright = adhering to righteousness and honesty

Sing =to vocalize melodically

Why is it proper for the upright to rejoice in the LORD?

Did you sing to God today?

What words would you sing to Him in your current circumstances?

What do you have to praise God for?

Reasons to praise God

⁴For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth. ⁵He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD. ⁶By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. ⁷He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. ⁸Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. ⁹For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast. ¹⁰The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. ¹¹The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

What goodness of the LORD do you see in the earth?

What counsel do you need from God today?

God watches out for you

¹²Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. ¹³The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men. ¹⁴From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth. ¹⁵He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.

Looks = to turn one’s eyes toward something

Beholds = to observe

Fashions =to make or adjust

Heart = the center of the total personality, especially with reference to intuition, feeling or  emotion

Considers = to think carefully about in order to make a decision

What does it mean to you that God is watching over you?

What does it mean to you that God watches what you do?

You are an unique creation of God. You have a unique personality. Your emotions are your own, no one can tell you how you should feel. God does not make cookie-cutter Christians. He has uniquely, designed and created you. Your meaningful experiences shaped your inner self and every one of them is known to God. Nothing happens to you, except He allows it for His own purpose. He is able to work all things together for your good.

Deliverance is from God alone

¹⁶There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. ¹⁷An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. ¹⁸Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; ¹⁹To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. ²⁰Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield. ²¹For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. ²²Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.

Fear = reverential trust

Mercy = God not giving us what we deserve

Death = complete separation of the soul from God

What are your circumstances today?

Are you trusting God or things?

Do you see God as your help and your shield? Why? Why not?

Is your hope in God? Why? Why not?

Our focus = Hebrews 12:¹Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, ² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Our challenge = Dearly Beloved,

Run with your eyes on Jesus alone!

Run in faith that Jesus loves you, has uniquely designed and created only one you, has a good plan for your life, runs with you and will accomplish His purposes for you and through you!

Run in His strength alone!

Run with your eyes on the prize!

Run with the desire to finish strong!

Run with the desire to finish with your lamp burning!

Run with the expectation of being in His physical presence when you cross your finish line!

Run to His glory alone!

Run and keep on running!

Coach Patti