THE AMAZING MEDICINE OF 'PRAISE YOU ' THANK YOU JESUS!'
By: Norm Rasmussen
Do you feel overwhelmed with struggles - difficulties you are faced with? God has provided Christians with a solution to keep us from becoming overwhelmed! Do yourself a huge favor and take the time to read this short writing, and KEEP re-reading it, until you fully grasp what God is WISELY telling every Christian in the following scripture passage to do to stay emotionally and spiritually well:
Rejoice always, and I will say it again: Rejoice! Philippians 4:4
How often is 'Always'? Seriously ' think about it. It's ALL THE TIME, isn't it? Giving thanks and praise to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ should be done how often? ALWAYS, He says!
Why is He saying we should be doing this all the time? Because it is spiritual medicine to the troubled soul in a difficult world. Because God created us, wouldn't you suppose He knows what is good for us in a troubled world?
After all, everything God tells us to do in the New Testament Bible is good for us. Everything. We sometimes forget that, don't we?
In addition ... God wouldn't tell us to do something in the New Testament we aren't capable of being able to do through Christ who empowers us. That's the KEY for those who deal with acute depression: Philippians 4:13 and 2 Corinthians 12:9
For anyone refusing to believe true Christians can't "rejoice always", my first thought would be that they have yet to understand the crucial importance of diligently seeking God to work out in their life: Galatians 2:20.
Please don't take this as some put-down. You may have no clue WHO Jesus really IS, so you may be thinking: "Why even thank and praise Him? Who is HE to be thanked and praised?" He's fully one of the three person's of the eternal Godhead, dear one. Here's some recommended viewing if you are questioning who He really IS: Who REALLY Is Jesus Christ? (I had no real clue who Jesus Christ REALLY is either for the first 35 years or so of my life, so don't feel bad).
Here's some valuable insights about being thankful and offering praise (rejoicing) to Jesus Christ ALWAYS:
The Christian who isn't motivated to be thankful to Jesus won't be motivated to praise Him either.
The Christian who will begin praising Jesus will find it is much easier to become thankful to Jesus.
Most Christians who are blinded to the wisdom of praising and thanking Jesus (Daily, even HOURLY if necessary) have sadly placed themselves in a self-imposed prison they don't even realize they are in.
Most Christians who are blinded to the wisdom of praising and thanking Jesus ALWAYS are also blinded to the spiritual battle the entire human race is subjected to. (Recommended reading: The Armor Of God - Why Christians Need It)
When Christians are blinded to the spiritual battle they are in, it is much easier for the devil to keep struggling Christians upset at God. When a Christian is upset at God (and some Christians refuse to admit to themselves they even ARE), praising and thanking Jesus is about LAST on their priority list, which delights the devil so MUCH. (Recommended reading: The Secret To Joyless - Faithless -Miserable Christianity)
When a Christian remains upset at God, their ability to have confidence in their prayers dies, which delights the devil even MORE.
The Christian who will force themselves to START their day, every day - by thanking and praising Jesus, no matter how rotten they feel, no matter how much pain they are in, are using THE key the Holy Spirit provides to let themselves out of emotional - spiritual prison, and stay OUT of that prison.
The Christian who will use the weapons of thanks and praise to Jesus throughout the day will discover that there is absolutely nothing else that works BETTER to deal with the pain and struggles they are facing.
A doctor can prescribe the right medicine, the correct solution - for your affliction. But if you don't do what the doctor says, is it the doctor's fault you aren't getting well?
Jesus Christ will be our judge on the Judgment Day. God the Father has decreed that to happen. Would it not be wise to start giving honor now - frequently - to the One who will judge our eternal fate?
Dear Reader - are you at peace with God? If not, you can be. Do you know what awaits you when you die? You can have the assurance from God that heaven will be your home, if you would like to be certain. You can even have that assurance RIGHT NOW! Either Jesus Christ died for your sins, or He didn't (He did!). Are you prepared to stand before God on the Judgment Day and tell Him that you didn't need the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the Cross to have your sins forgiven and get in right-standing with God? We plead with you...please don't make such a tragic mistake.
To get to know God, to be at peace with God, to have your sins forgiven, to make certain heaven will be your home for eternity, to make certain that you are in right-standing with God right now ... please click here to help you understand the importance of being reconciled to God. What you do about being reconciled to God will determine where you will spend eternity, precious one. Your decision to be reconciled to God is the most important decision you'll ever make in this life, because in Christ, it is impossible to put a value on the worth of your soul in light of eternity.
PLEASE HELP US HELP YOU SHARE THE BEST NEWS GOD HAS FOR EVERY PERSON BECAUSE...
JESUS DID IT! and...
Remember: All that we do in this life comes back to our God-given purpose which is to serve and glorify God. The money and assets we accumulate, the fame and power we've attained or seek to attain - all of the things of this nature will one day pass away, but those lives of others we impact for Jesus Christ will last for eternity, and we will be rewarded for the part we helped play by impacting those lives ... for eternity. (Matthew 6:19-20 is our assurance)