Dark Clouds Hovering Over

O. T. #1244  "Dark Clouds Hovering Over"
July 19, 2018
Psalm 50-Part 2
Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High. Then call on Me when you are in trouble, and  I will rescue you, and will give Me glorify.
Psalm 50:14-15 NLT

LET IT GLOW

What can we thank God for today? For me, I am so very grateful for the much needed rain showers we received last night and early this morning. Our yard was yellow with crunchy grass in places. God answered my prayers, and probably others, too. The thing is, dark clouds hovered over us, then passed by earlier this week, giving rain to areas around us, just not our farm and town. Was it a testing of faith?
Do you have dark clouds hovering over you today? Continue reading and find out what we can do on our part.

When we reach a point of need, where do we turn? God allows us to get to that point for a reason. He is ready and able to rescue us. When we call upon our God and trust Him deliver us, we are showing a watching world how He makes a difference in the lives of His children. If we don't turn to God, then we prevent people the opportunity of seeing God's provision in a Christian's life.

So why do we not turn to God during our distress? It can be due to our pride, self-sufficient attitude, thinking we can handle it our self by using our own resources, wisdom, and hard work. Friends, pride robs God from being given glory and seeks to give it to us. We are taking what rightfully belongs to God-glory. I had not thought of it that way before now. Shall we call upon our Lord and wait exclusively upon God to rescue us. So the next time we find that we are in distress, turn to God first. He promises to rescue us. (Give Him thanks and keep our vows.)
[These thoughts were taken from Henry and Richard Blackaby's devotional book, Experiencing God Day-by-Day.

LET IT GROW

Verse 23 KJV says, Whoso offereth praise glorifieth  Me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God.

In the Hebrew language, the word conversation refers to a road (as trodden); a course of life or mode of action; journey; manner; path; way.

Giving thanks to God is a sacrifice that truly honors Him. If we stay on God's path for our life, He will bless us with God's salvation, which means liberty, deliverance, prosperity, safety, saving.

Did you notice the giving of thanks occurred before the deliverance or prosperity? Before we receive anything, we are instructed to thank God.
Can we thank Him for what He is doing or going to do?
Can we glorify Him in our circumstance? What about if He choses to come through in a different way than we prefer? Or what if God ultimately heals by taking our loved one home to heaven? Will we still thank Him?

LET IT GO

Give God thanks now before He does it and afterwards.
Trust Him always.
Jesus, Your grace is sufficient for me.