Today’s Readings:
Isaiah 40:25-31
Psalm 103:1-4, 8, 10
Matthew 11:28-30
“What a mighty God we serve. Heaven and earth adore Him, angels bow before Him. What a mighty God we serve!” Really? One of the greatest tragedies of our age is that we have managed to leave God out of everything. God is not acknowledged in our prayers, He is not acknowledged in our greetings when we tell people that we are happy to be alive, and we are grateful for a beautiful year. God is not acknowledged in public life, family, business, politics and so on.
We reduce God to a problem-solver. God only features when I need a “financial breakthrough” (I don’t know what you are breaking through). God is only sought when I am travelling and I need journey mercies. God is only sought when I have a heartbreak (and not when I go through a relationship). God is only sought when I need a marriage partner or my marriage is in shambles. God is only sought when I am looking for a job. God is only sought when there is trouble. But when all is well, I don’t remember God. That is not the way it should be. This is injustice because we have failed to acknowledge the source of our success, the one who upholds us.
It is impossible to do anything without God:
The Lord is an everlasting God, he created the boundaries of the earth. He does not grow tired or weary, his understanding is beyond fathoming. He gives strength to the weary, he strengthens the powerless. Young men may grow tired and weary, and youths may stumble, but those who hope in the Lord renew their strength, they put out wings like eagles. They run and do not grow weary, walk and never tire. Isaiah 40:28-31
The Psalmist says: “It is he who forgives all your guilt, who heals every one of your ills, who redeems your life from the grave, who crowns you with love and compassion (Psalm 103)
Jesus asks us to come to Him at all times: ‘Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light (Matthew 11:28-30)
Acknowledge God today:
Begin your prayer in the name of the Father of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Bless yourself with the sign of the Cross as you pray.
When someone asks how you are doing, do not be afraid to say, “I am fine, thank God”.
If anyone asks you the source of your strength, tell them “God is the source of my strength”.
If you go on social media to show gratitude, say, “I am grateful to God for 2024” Don’t say, “I am grateful for 2024”. Grateful to who? Grateful to what? To yourself? You know how feeble you are. So, acknowledge the source of your strength.
Commit your journey to God’s hands.
Commit the success of your daily tasks to God.
Place every person and every formal meeting into God’s hands; ask Him to preside and take control.
Normalise thanking God. See God in everything. Those who see God in everything will find Him always. If you exclude God from any part of your life, you are excluding Him from every aspect of your life. God does not want just one part of your life; He wants to be present in all of it.
JUDE-MARY OWOH
To surrender your life to Christ, say this prayer aloud. “Father, I acknowledge my sin against You. I repent and ask for forgiveness, in the name of Jesus. I surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, take control of my heart and lead me in Your path of righteousness. Thank you, Lord.”
If you said the prayer, Congratulations! Prayerfully look for a living church and meet the resident reverend, pastor or priest.
Prayer:
May God bless you today as you acknowledge Him. As you make Him the top of your day, He will place you at the top of all that you do and in control of every situation through Christ our Lord. Amen.
In all your ways, acknowledge God and He will direct your path to greatness and resounding success. Amen.
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