Listen:
“I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among the throngs I will praise you.” (Psalm 35:18)
Reflect:
Sometimes we feel like thanking and praising God in private, alone, with ourselves, which is OK. The scripture today encourages us to give thanks in the assembly. Why? In the assembly, our praise, not only edifies us, but others too. Maybe someone just wanted to hear my praise report and they are encouraged, or their prayers are answered. I gave the testimony of my daughter’s healing and praising God that she had graduated from college.
When I was preparing the testimony, I felt the conviction to print her graduation photo and to show at the end of my sharing. I was not comfortable with this part because I felt this was private and I didn’t want to show my daughter’s photo to everyone. But I did print it and carried the photo and after my very emotional testimony of God’s love and power to heal, I announced that the Lord wanted me to show the photo and I passed it round the room and I sat down.
We were in an all-night prayer meeting and during the break, a lady walked to me and told me she was so encouraged by my testimony and the photo. It touched her because she had a daughter who was in college and struggling with health complications. She said that my daughter’s story gave her a sign and hope that her daughter’s case is in the hands of the Lord, and she will finish college and graduate. I was so glad that I obeyed, and someone was touched.
Public praise and thanksgiving edify. I will give thanks in the assembly as you touch your people, Lord.
Prayer of Response:
Lord, we pray that you give us a sensitive ear to hear and obey when you need us to give thanks in the assembly of saints so you can touch them the way you desire. Thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit who guides us into your will, and your Word of life that instructs us all the time. Amen.
Questions to Ponder:
Is there something in you that is telling you to give thanks and praise to God in the assembly? Reflect on it and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you on how to go about it.
Do you feel that your story, testimony, praise is too big, embarrassing, shameful to tell in the assembly? Ask the Holy Spirit the best way, time and place to testify God’s goodness in your life.
—Submitted by Elizabeth Gachuiri
I live in Geneva and work in the United Nations. My daughter Eva is my testimony and in 2019, she got married and I give God all the glory.
Leave a Reply