ON TRACK
Recommended Reading: Psalm 95:1–11; Matthew 6:5–15; Colossians 4:2–4
What if every driver decided to ignore the center yellow lines? Smash-ups would rival apocalyptic visions. Those colored splotches in the roadway keep us on track. They keep us safe.
In our spiritual journey, praise and thanksgiving are like a yellow line, keeping our hearts on track. But it doesn’t take much to veer off course, does it? Think about the Levites. They were set apart to offer thanks and praise to God every morning and every night, day in and day out, in a never-ending cycle (see 1 Chronicles 23:30). It was their job. Forced “thank yous.” Praise, praise, praise.
Imagine the temptations inherent in this routine. Did easy-to-repeat prayers take the place of petitions motivated by full hearts and genuine gratitude? Did their minds wander as the words bubbled out? “Hear me, O God. Here we go again.”
We’ve all heard of the doctor who’s in terrible physical condition or the plumber whose house has leaky pipes. When you do something for a living, as these people do, it’s sometimes hard to stay motivated to keep your own life in order. This is what it may have been like for the Levites as well.
Praise and thanks are key ingredients in a healthy relationship with God. We need them as much as we need fresh air. Praise isn’t just an outward gesture; it reveals what’s inside us—the attitude we have toward God. When we offer meaningful thanks, we acknowledge that God’s goodness deserves our recognition and awe. Every gift comes from his hand. Nothing we’ve done grants us the sun’s bright rising or peaceful slumber at night—it all comes from God’s good hand.
How do we make our delight in God genuine and true every day? Unlike the Levites, God doesn’t demand that we follow certain daily requirements. Maybe that makes the routine more difficult. We are responsible for taking the time to bow before him and offer our praise and thanks.
When we skip this routine, we become like those drivers who disregard the center line—a potential accident waiting to happen. But when we take the time to regularly focus on and praise the God who loves us, he helps us to stay on track.
TO TAKE AWAY
- Spiritually, would you describe yourself as “on track” or as “an accident waiting to happen”? Why?
- The scripture that comes to mind...be not weary in well doing for we shall reap if we faint not. Our outward man is at enmity with God being the natural block and we have to participate in the morning a fairly violent activity. I have murder this flesh and reckon myself to be alive to God daily. WOW. Waiting for accident...God is faithful and he always has been.
- Why does God want you to praise him?
- For my benefit. Praise elevates me to place where I can see him for who he is. Praise answers some of the questions I have and changes someone the decisions I have made because it brings me closer to His Spirit and His desire for my life.
- List several things in your life for which you can praise and thank God. How can you keep your prayers of praise and thanksgiving fresh?
- God's Convicting Spirit
- God's Faithful Word and Acts
- Jesus Christ Sacrifice
- His Blood that allows me to draw near
- His willingness to forgive and continue with me.
- His abounding grace committed to me so that I can be who he called me to be.
- His peace and his life he entrusted me with.
- His provision...
- This list can get extenstive...but my prayer is yet the same.
9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
12 Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statutes.
13 With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.
14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.
15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.
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