Happy Sunday to you!

It's quite easy to cling onto God when things in life are going awry. Somehow, in the midst of distress, all the time in the world becomes available to cry out before the Lord. Cooking dinner…answering your best friend's phone calls…your assignment due in three days…all of that can wait. All that matters in those urgent moments is that you get a hold of a “higher power”. In other words, you want an answer, a solution, a cure—and you want it ASAP! And God (in His grace & mercy) shows up—-as HE always does. Despite our impatience, rage, doubt, fear, HE willingly guides us to a resting place. Subsequently, we forget all about HIM. How convenient!

We return to hours on end of talking to friends, consuming media, and pleasing ourselves with whatever resources that provide the most gratification. God is an afterthought in those times of relief. We have only a slight memory of how painful our tribulations were; life is good and all troubles are out of sight (and out of mind). The reality is that no matter where you’re from or what language you speak, you or someone you know can testify that this account describes you. You only have use of God when other avenues are exhausted. What a depressing notion!

God is so much more than deliverer. Yes, He gladly rescues His children out of miry clay. Nevertheless, God wants to reveal more of His character to you beside redeemer. He wants you to experience the splendor of a loving relationship with Him. He wants you to love Him without forcing you to choose Him. God doesn’t want to be used for what He can do for you in the midst of a storm. He wants to fellowship with you during the most joyous moments of your life. God wants a ‘just because’ day of praise and worship.

You know how good it feels when your spouse lavishes you with words of affirmation, quality time, or gifts out of the clear blue. No reasons. No expectations. Your spouse just loves you, and out of that deep adoration he or she bestows upon you unforgettable surprises. Imagine how God feels when you just glorify His name just because He is. Not because He blessed you with that new house…not because He provided for your family…not because He healed your parent. God loves that kind of appreciation. He rewards that kind of commitment. He honors that kind of love.

So, the next time God draws you out of a wilderness period, remember this post. Praise God and worship Him EVEN MORE than you did while you were going through. Present God with a ‘just because’ praise. Lavish Him with love and honor Him with righteousness. Do it without expectations. Do it because you simply love the Lord. Watch how God responds. It will astound you.

REMEMBER: GOD DOESN'T NEED OUR PRAISES; HOWEVER, HE DESIRES & INHABITS THE PRAISES OF HIS PEOPLE.

Love,

CompassionateLee

John 6:22 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there. They also saw that Jesus had not got into the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23 Then some boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus. 25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”