TISHRI 27
Thoughts of Praise
“For the rest,
brothers … if there is any praise – think on these.” (Phi 4:8 TLB , emphasis mine)
As
we come to the end of this series, it is evident that our ‘thought’ process is
first and foremost a choice. We choose to cultivate thoughts that are
positive, not negative, beautiful, not ugly, thoughts that bless, not curse,
and those that are worthy of ‘praise’, instead of criticism. It is very easy to set ourselves up as not
only the prosecuting attorney, but also judge, jury, and executioner when it
comes to criticizing difficult circumstances, situations, and people in our
lives. However, is this revealing the
character of Messiah Yeshua to a world gone mad? We are called to bless those that persecute
and ridicule us, and pray for those who use us spitefully (Mat 5:44), that “we
may be children of our Father in heaven.”
It
is no accident that the Word of Elohim calls this a “Sacrifice of Praise” (Jer
33:11; Heb 13:15). There are those times
when it is a sacrifice to praise Him, when everything in you wants to
weep and wail, to run and hide, as Elijah did when he ran to his cave (1Kin
19). But those are the times when it is
of vital importance to put on the garment of praise (Isa 61:3),
and begin to rehearse the many blessings that our Abba has poured into our
lives. Beginning with our deliverance,
with the shed blood of Messiah Yeshua, and all that we have been rescued from- fix your thoughts on these things …
“And do not be
conformed to this world, but be TRANSFORMED by the renewing of your mind, so
that you prove what is that good and well-pleasing and perfect desire of
Elohim.” (Rom 12:2 ISR, emphasis mine)
“… if indeed you
have heard Him and were taught by Him, as truth is in יהושע: that you
put off – with regard to your former way of life – the old man, being corrupted
according to the desires of the deceit, and to be RENEWED IN THE SPIRIT OF YOUR
MIND …” (Eph 4:22-23 ISR, emphasis mine)
©2018
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