Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Bits & Pieces: Prayer Promises

"Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving And pay your vows to the Most High; Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me," (Psalm 50:14, 15).

* In the verses leading to this passage, the Lord makes it very clear that outward religious actions without inner commitment, are worthless. What He values most is a thankful-hearted son or daughter who follows through on commitments made to Him. And, He loves to show Himself strong on our behalf in times of trouble.

* The commands in these verses, 'offer thanksgiving', 'pay your vows', and 'call upon Me,' speak of humility, commitment, and dependence. We are told by God to be grateful for everything, follow through on promises we make to Him, and lean on Him in times of trouble.

* We honor our Lord when we express a grateful heart, when we fulfill our promises to Him, and when we call upon Him, thereby demonstrating our dependence. But when we walk in prideful independence, and rescue ourselves, then we get the credit, and He receives little or none.
It's a sign of maturity to be more concerned with our Lord's honor & reputation than our comfort.

No comments: