DAY 4 - PRAISE THE LORD
You who love the Lord, hate evil! He protects the lives of His godly people and rescues them from the power of the wicked. Light shines on the godly, and joy on those whose hearts are right. May all who are godly rejoice in the Lord and praise His Holy Name!
OUR DEVOTIONAL
People who deeply love God instinctively know the effects of evil and hate all that it does to destroy. The more we know the heart of God, the more we value what He loves and therefore hate what He hates. This comes out of an ongoing, nurturing, and deep relationship with the person of God in Christ Jesus. Not just a knowledge or understanding, but a relationship with the actual, real, live person. A love relationship with God is one that is always growing and always being strengthened. Our God protects and rescues us as we are obedient to Him, fully surrendered. We don’t have to understand or feel protected from all of life’s stuff; instead, we have the deep confidence that God is for us and in us and that wickedness will never overtake us.
God has given us the power through the Holy Spirit to identify evil and shun the temptation to participate in it. We will never be perfect, but our hearts are so motivated to stay close to the Lord, we repent quickly when we mess up and start anew. Following after God’s heart, we experience His wonder, a light heart, no shame, guilt or condemnation. Only in a real relationship with Him are we able to discern appropriately where He wants us to be and know real joy.
There is so much to rejoice about when we walk with God. Praise is natural when we deeply believe that God is good, no matter what we may face. When we fully trust God, our mind is at rest and praise erupts from the inner parts of our heart. May we who truly love the Lord, allow praise to be released even in our difficult circumstances and with anticipation see what God will do next.
FAMILY MOMENT
Talk with your kids about the reality of God’s hatred for evil. Brainstorm ways to value God’s love for what is right. Share some ways you nurture your relationship with God and help them discover how they can do the same at their age level.
Dance and sing to a favorite children’s praise song together. Talk about the lyrics, what they mean. Come up with other ways to praise the Lord together.
PRAYER & REFLECTION
- What is one thing I can adjust in my life to nurture and deepen my love relationship with Jesus?
- Do I praise the Lord because I know that He is protecting me at all times or only when I feel like He is? What does my assurance look like? What holds me back?
- What if I take the risk to praise God, no matter what – what could be possible?
Lord Jesus, help me to love what You love and hate what You hate in the deepest places of my heart so all I know is the wonder of Your glory in my moment. I want the assurance that You are for me and with me. Help me to nurture my relationship with You and confidently release praise to You, Lord!