Devotional For Monday, November 27, 2023
Music is an awesome, powerful and emotional force in our culture. Everyone has their preferred genre of music. Some of you love country and western music such as such Fast Cars by Luke Combs and Try That In A Small Town by Jason Aldean. Some of you prefer classic rock music such as Jump by Van Halen and Dream On by Aerosmith. Some of you love southern gospel music such as I Know Who Holds The Future by the Isaacs and Saved By Grace by the Gather Vocal Band. Some of you love pop music such as Beat It by Michael Jackson and Bye Bye by NSync.
Whatever your favorite kind of music is or singer is or group is, it is a “Thriller” to you. Look at Psalm 95:3, “Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation” (NLT). We are about to enter into a season that is full of music. People who may be hesitant to sing, will sing Christmas carols. David understood the power of music. He wrote this in Psalm 59:16, “But as for me, I will sing about Your power. Each morning I will sing with joy about Your unfailing love. For You have been my refuge, a place of safety when I am in distress” (NLT).
This week as you are out and about, in your car, in your home, find some great Christian songs that you can sing with joy to the Lord. It is one way we express our Thanksgiving to the Lord. This is one of the ways we give credit where credit is due. The Bible says in James 1:17, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows” (NIV). That means your talents, your abilities, your intellect and your education are all gifts from God.
Do you give credit to God for all of these? When you get an idea that helps your employer, do you give God the credit? Do you give God the credit for all of your abilities, talents and etc.? Look at Psalm 78:4, “We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about His power and His mighty wonders” (NLT).
How about this week we do what the psalmist says — lets give credit to where credit should go — to the Lord. Everyday God reveals His power and self to us and we often ignore Him or we fail to give credit to God. We often push ourselves rather than God. We say, “Well I did this . . . or I thought of this . . . I, I, I.”
In our American culture, we hear people being very vocal through through speeches, demonstrations, marches, roadblocks, and even the “cancel culture,” people declare their feelings about issues in very assertive ways. What would it mean for Christ-followers to be that assertive about our biblical worldview and our willingness to give God credit?
We live in a culture where we have never had to stand up for our faith nor fear it being illegal. That is changing. We have many reasons to sing about how good the Lord has been to us and the blessings He has given us.
Verse to Meditate On: Psalm 104:33, I will sing to the Lord as long as I live. I will praise my God to my last breath!” (NLT).
Prayer To Pray: “Dear Jesus, I am so sorry that I do not give You all the credit You deserve. I know all of my talents, skills, abilities, intellect and education are from You. This week, I commit to giving You the credit You certainly deserve. I love You. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”