Joel 1: 1-3 ; Joshua 4: 4-7 ; Psalms 105: 1; 34: 1-7 ; Isaiah 12: 4
“Praise the Lord, call upon His name. Declare His deeds among the peoples; make mention that His name is exalted”.
“Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples”!
When often in danger, peril, or distress, the tendency is to cry to God for help. Depending on the intensity of the predicament, we engage in various spiritual exercises to obtain God’s attention regarding our situation – praying, fasting, or a combination of both, is usually a common strategy, along with reading and studying the Bible for specific promises or direction. Usually, God is faithful; and as we seek Him, He intervenes in the situation, and brings deliverance/relief.
Many, some, or all of us, would have, at some point in our lives, found ourselves in such a situation – where the problems/challenges of life tend to overwhelm us. We sought the Lord for mercy, relief, deliverance; God came through for us, granting favor, answer to our prayers, deliverance from the ordeal, and blessings of breakthroughs/provisions.
However, do we remember to thank God when He intervenes in our situation? Do we show our gratitude to God with the same intensity we sought His help in the first place? For instance, if during the time of our distress, we stayed up late most nights to pray – did we stay up late for at least one night to thank God in demonstration of our gratitude? We probably fasted several days to get answers to our prayers – how about fasting for one day as a thanksgiving offering to God who graciously delivered us from that vexatious situation of helplessness and worry.
When God gives a testimony of deliverance, healing, provision, preservation, etc., He expects us to shout it out! That is, share the good news with all around – in your neighborhood, community, church, city, workplace, etc., so that people are encouraged and His name is glorified! The testimony is not meant for us alone – There are people whose faith in God will be kindled by that testimony, so you’ve got to shout it out for the world to hear!
How many people have you told of what God has done for you? Have you moved on to the next item on your prayer list in attempt to obtain more answers from God? Could it be that you are sitting on God’s goodness? Have you esteemed lightly His mercies and favor? Have you taken God’s faithfulness for granted? Have you encouraged those around you with your testimony?
Take some time to acknowledge God for the things He’s done for you. Applaud His kindness, appreciate His favor, acclaim His mercies, proclaim His goodness, declare His faithfulness, announce His greatness, profess His Sovereignty, and publicize His glory!
If you would like to publicize your testimony with us, place it in the ‘comment’ section of this article; or send an email to grace4djourney@gmail.com.
Shalom!