One Voice – Romans 15:6

Click here to download the photo with text

5 May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus.

6 Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:5-6 (NLT)

In verse 6, Paul emphasizes the importance of unity among believers. He urges the church to maintain a united front by encouraging harmony, coming together in faith and worship, and glorifying God. His message calls for us to put aside our different origins and viewpoints and not judge one another, but rather share our faith in Jesus and work toward honoring God. To work together, communicate with understanding and love, and live together in peace.

When we worship in unity, harmonizing as if singing with one voice, we create a beautiful symphony of faith. This collective expression encourages growth and deepens our relationships with both God and one another.

Singing with one voice signifies unity—to come together in faith and worship, as well as the ability to live in harmony with one another in Christ.

God wants the combination of his steady, constant calling and warm, personal counsel in Scripture to come to characterize us, keeping us alert for whatever he will do next. May our dependably steady and warmly personal God develop maturity in you so that you get along with each other as well as Jesus gets along with us all. Then we’ll be a choir—not our voices only, but our very lives singing in harmony in a stunning anthem to the God and Father of our Master Jesus! – Romans 15:4-6 (MSG)

⁂

Our Heavenly Father, please give us patience and encouragement to live in unity with one another. Help us to put aside our differences and get along with each other and act like Jesus. May we sing with one voice, joining together in faith and worship. Like the open and beautiful cosmos blossom, let us be open to Your voice and blossom in Your love. In Jesus’ name. Amen

🌺

Sacrifice of Praise – Hebrews 13:16

15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. – Hebrews 13:15 (NIV)

It is important to offer praise to the Lord. Offering praise to the Lord uplifts our spirits and strengthens our faith. Recognizing His blessings with praise deepens our connection to Him and our appreciation for life.

We offer a sacrifice of praise, praising the Lord with gratitude and thankfulness, for His love and mercy surround us. As we acknowledge His presence in our lives, we cultivate a spirit of joy and contentment that enriches our hearts and influences those around us. In doing so, we cultivate a spirit of joy and contentment that transforms our perspective on life. Each moment becomes an opportunity to recognize His blessings, deepening our faith and strengthening our relationship with Him.

What is the meaning of offering to God a sacrifice of praise? Instead of burnt animal sacrifices, believers are to offer a sacrifice of praise. The act of praise should be a deliberate expression of devotion, recognizing the work of Jesus in our lives through the offering of praise from our lips. It involves offering praise in Jesus’ name with a spirit of thankful obedience, gratitude, and joy.

When times are difficult and we are struggling, praise may not be easy; it can become a sacrifice. However, it is precisely in those challenging moments that authentic praise can resonate most deeply, transforming our struggles into opportunities for growth and connection with our faith. By choosing to praise even when it feels like a sacrifice, we affirm our trust in God’s goodness and sovereignty and celebrate the truth of God, His faithful promises, and His love.

May we take time today to praise the Lord, remembering His goodness and mercy toward us.

Let’s take our place outside with Jesus, no longer pouring out the sacrificial blood of animals but pouring out sacrificial praises from our lips to God in Jesus’ name.

Hebrews 13:15 (MSG)

⁂

Our Heavenly Father, we praise Your Holy Name. We thank You for Your mercy and grace to us. Let our praise be an expression of love, devotion, and gratitude for Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf. We trust in Your goodness and celebrate You with praise and worship. Like the Potentilla flower that blooms continuously from spring to fall, let us worship and praise you continually through our lives. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen.

🌺

Give Thanks and Praise – Ephesians 5:20

Be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

– Ephesians 5:18b – 20 (NKJV)

Paul is telling the Ephesians to be filled with the Spirit, to joyfully speak to one another with the words of psalms and hymns. To make a melody in their heart to the Lord; to praise the Lord.

A Spirit-filled believer regularly gives thanks and praise for all God has done and is doing for them. They are filled with gratitude, giving thanks to Him. Thanks, always, and for all things to God for His grace, mercy, and blessings.

16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.- John 15-16 (NIV)

We pray to God the Father, in the name of Jesus, in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Giving thanks and praise helps us shift our focus from our struggles to the goodness of God. When we thank Him, we stay grounded in faith, trusting God’s plans for us, and find peace.

⁂

Lord, we praise and thank You for Your love, mercy, and grace toward us. We lift our voices to You in hymns and spiritual songs, praising Your name. Guide our thoughts and steps. Like the forsythia plant blooms every spring, let us be grounded and bloom in faith. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

🌺

Immortal, Invisible – 1 Timothy 1:17

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Timothy 1:17 (NIV)

Paul is describing God; He alone is eternal, the only God. He is immortal, invisible, and King of the ages. God is eternal; His reign is unshakable and timeless. God is immortal, He transcends time, He never dies, and He reigns forever. God is invisible to human eyes, but He is seen in His works, His creation.

Which brings to mind the hymn Immortal, Invisible. The first verse of the hymn:

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible, hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise.
Walter C. Smith, pub.1876

May we spend our days giving honor, glory, and praise to the Lord. Let us sing, praise, and worship our God and Saviour. Giving Him honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen

⁂

🌺

May the Lord be Praised-Psalm 40:16

May all those who seek you be happy and rejoice in you! May those who love to experience your deliverance say continually, “May the LORD be praised!”
Psalm 40:16 (NET)

May all who seek the Lord rejoice and be glad, be happy, and praise You. God’s love, promises, and truth bring joy and are reasons to celebrate. David wanted people to focus on the goodness of the Lord and rejoice.
Different versions have different worded rejoices; may the Lord be praised, may the Lord be magnified, and let the Lord be exalted, all praising the Lord for all He has done for us.

Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; Let those who love Your salvation say continually, “The LORD be magnified!”
Psalm 40:16 (AMP)

Thanks to our God of all mercies, comfort, and salvation. May the Lord be praised! He has delivered us from slavery to sin and promises to be with us always. May the Lord be magnified! Let us rejoice, for God loves us, has mercy on us, and gives us grace. May the Lord be exalted!

Constant worship clears the debris from our hearts. Praise is the cleansing element that flushes the trash of worry and anxiety.
Max Lucado “Help is Here”

The Lord has given us much to rejoice over and be glad about. Let us remember; to joyfully thank and praise the Lord for all He has done, is doing, and will do. ⁂

Do you take time to focus on the goodness of God and rejoice?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, God of grace, mercy, and salvation, we praise You! We exalt you, Lord, and thank you for your mercy, care, and protection. Teach us to be happy and rejoice; in your promises. May the Lord be magnified! As the flowers of the orchid are colorful and spread joy, let us rejoice and declare that the Lord be praised! In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

🌺

Strength & Joy: 1Chronicles 16:27

Splendor and majesty are in his presence. Strength and joy are where he is.
1 Chronicles 16:27 (GWT)

1 Chronicles 16 is a song, a hymn of thanksgiving. It was sung on the day of the Ark of the Covenant’s arrival in the city of David. The song celebrates and glorifies the Lord and praises and proclaims his miraculous deeds.

8 Give thanks to the Lord!
Call on his name!
Make known his accomplishments among the nations.
9 Sing to him! Make music to him!
Tell about all his miraculous deeds.
10 Boast about his holy name.
Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice
1 Chronicles 16: 8-10 (NET)

Our Lord is majestic; He set in place the planets, moon, and stars; he designed and made all living things. The magnificent beauty and diversity of the world declare His glory. Splendor; describes the Lord’s supernatural glory, His grander, and His moral perfection. The Lord is great; splendor and majesty; are found in His presence.

The Lord is our source of strength and joy; they are His dwelling place. He radiates; strength and joy. When you trust and believe in the Lord, you find strength and hope. Living in faith, living in the presence of God, brings joy. Joy is not dependent on circumstances; joy is internal, a gift from God. Joy is found by walking daily with the Lord, living in God’s presence, and through prayer and rejoicing.

25 And why? Because God is great – well worth praising! No god or goddess comes close in honor.
26 All the popular gods are stuff and nonsense, but God made the cosmos!
27 Splendor and majesty flow out of him, strength and joy fill his place.
1 Chronicles 16:25-27 (MSG)

How majestic is our God; splendor emanates from Him, and He is the source of our joy and strength. ⁂

When you are overwhelmed and feel lost, do you reach out to God, our source of joy and strength?

Prayer; Our majestic Heavenly Father, you are our source of strength and joy. We worship you with song and praise with thanksgiving for your support and care. We thank you for the beauty and splendor of your handiworks; and the diversity of nature. Like the beautiful lilies, glow with your light; let us find strength through you and glow, with joy and light. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

Light of Your Presence: Psalm 89:15

15 Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, LORD. 16 They rejoice in your name all day long; they celebrate your righteousness.
Psalm 89:15-16 (NIV)

Blessed and happy are the people who worship the Lord. Praising, Him with open hearts and voices raised in song, making a joyful sound. A sound in biblical times associated with trumpets and singing during feast day celebrations.
To walk in the light of God’s presence, or the light of His countenance means to walk in God’s favor, enjoying His love and blessings. Celebrating and rejoicing; God’s righteousness and grace. Worshiping the Lord with shouts of joy and songs of praise. Delighting; in the light of His presence. ⁘

Are you taking time to worship God and joyfully praise Him? Is your heart open to His Word, and are you walking in the light of His presence?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, we thank you for your righteousness and grace. Joyfully we raise our voices in songs of praise and worship. Lord, you are our hope and salvation, our refuge in times of trouble. Like the open, glowing rose blossoms, let us be open to Your Word and glow with the light of Your presence. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

🌺

Declare His Glory: Psalm 96:1-3

A Song of Praise

Oh, sing to the Lord a new song!
Sing to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Sing to the Lord, bless His name;
Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.
3 Declare His glory among the [a]nations,
His wonders among all peoples.
Psalm 96 1-3 (NKJV)

Psalm 96 is a praise song, a song of good news, and a song of joy. It was written during the time David brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. The people were encouraged to sing to the Lord, a new song for God’s wondrous works. To sing in praise and with thanksgiving. Let us join in the chorus and sing to the Lord.

Psalm 96 is sometimes referred to as the “missionary psalm” since it encourages us to declare God’s glory among the nations to all people. Declare to all, the Glory of God, and proclaim the good news of God’s salvation. Lord let our thoughts, words, and deeds praise you.

The new year is a great time to thank the Lord, praise Him, and proclaim the good news. Will you take time and declare His wonders and glory?

Prayer; Our Heavenly Father, we raise our voices in praise and thanksgiving for all you have done for us. We thank You for Your forgiveness, grace, and mercy. We praise You for Your love and compassion. We proclaim the good news of Your salvation and declare Your Glory to all. Like the petals radiate on the chrysanthemum flower, let us radiate Your light and love to all people. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen

–

Need prayer? I believe in the power of prayer and would be glad to pray for you. Leave a comment or message me on the contact page.🌺

Joy to the World

Words by Isaac Watts

Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let earth receive her king
Let every heart prepare him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and heaven and nature sing

Joy to the world the savior reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains

Repeat the sounding joy (repeat the sounding joy)
Repeat the sounding joy (repeat the sounding joy)
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy

He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of his righteousness
And wonders of his love (wonders of his love)
And wonders of his love (wonders of his love)

And wonders, wonders of his love
And wonders, wonders of his love
And wonders, wonders of his love

Joy to the world
The wonders of your love
The wonders of your love!

Joy to the World is Isaac Watts interpretation of Psalm 98 and celebrates Christ’s second coming as well as His birth.

The Messiah’s Coming and Kingdom
4 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth,
burst into jubilant song with music;
5 make music to the Lord with the harp,
with the harp and the sound of singing,
6 with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—
shout for joy before the Lord, the King.

7 Let the sea resound, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it.
8 Let the rivers clap their hands,
let the mountains sing together for joy;
9 let them sing before the Lord,
for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples with equity.
Psalm 98: 4-9

Joy to the World sung by Celtic Women

Peace and Joy! 🌺

Holy, Holy, Holy – Lord God Almighty

written by, Reginald Heber

Holy, holy, holy
Lord, God Almighty
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee

Holy, holy, holy
Merciful and mighty
God in three persons blessed Trinity
Holy, holy, holy

Though the darkness hide Thee
Though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see
Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee
Perfect in power, in love, and purity