When I went to work on August 31, I had not touched a piece of candy in six months. There is a large glass candy jar just a few feet away from where I sit. To enter and exit the room I must walk right by it. Since August 31 I have touched many a piece of candy.
I determined that come November 1 I would not touch any more. Since then, I have discovered my lack of willpower. I can get through most of the day, but when everyone else starts raiding the jar in the early to late afternoons, I fall to temptation. My will seems to be overpowered by the smell and sight of chocolate. My job will only last another couple of months, so I can’t do too much harm to my diet, can I?
There is one area though where I must see my will rise to the occasion. Ps 69:30 declares, “I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.” [NIV]
I will praise. I will glorify God. I will come to Him laden with thanksgiving for His wonderful ways. I will. Everything about life in this world tries to undermine our will to praise our God. Our aging bodies, our forgetful minds, our busy schedules, our circumstances, our hardships, our poverty, our sickness, our losses all work to make us concentrate on them and forget to praise our God and Savior. We can’t, however, allow that to happen.
I will praise. I will glorify God. I will come to Him laden with thanksgiving for His wonderful ways. I will. It is in praising Him that we find the strength to overcome our aging bodies, our forgetful minds, our busy schedules, our circumstances, our hardships, our poverty, our sickness and our losses.
I come today, Father, into Your presence with thanksgiving and praise. Bless Your Holy Name. Amen
