Date: Sunday, June 29, 2014
Today's Chapters: Psalms 109-114
Message Title: Getting God's Attention

Many Christians put up a good front, they appear to be happy, but deep down, they are sad, depressed, and full of self doubt. The devil has a way of bringing us down to our lowest when we are down on ourselves, he stops at nothing to get us to dwell on the past or present circumstances in order to keep us from seeing just how blessed we are. While we cannot do anything about our past, we can do something about our future, God does not want us depressed and living sad lives, He wants us living full and joyful lives, but only we have the power to change our situation. “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” - James 2:14,18-20.

Faith, it's the key to getting God's attention, but if we are not willing to make an effort to change our situation, it will not get much of His attention. David, weary and distraught, pleas with God to deal with his enemies, he tells Him how much he as prayed and fasted, but still saw no end to his troubles. Then, he stops asking God to destroy his enemy, and asks Him to simply deliver him from them. “When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his prayer become sin. Let his days be few; and let another take his office. Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow. But do thou for me, O GOD the Lord, for thy name's sake: because thy mercy is good, deliver thou me. For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me. I am gone like the shadow when it declineth: I am tossed up and down as the locust. My knees are weak through fasting; and my flesh faileth of fatness. I became also a reproach unto them: when they looked upon me they shaked their heads. Help me, O LORD my God: O save me according to thy mercy:” - Psalm 109:7-9,21-26.

We can pray, fast, and read the Bible all we want in hopes that it will change things, but it will not until we have a change our heart. The key to opening our heart to change is forgiveness, we must forgive ourselves, we must forgive our enemies, and we must accept that God has forgiven us for all our foolishness. If we do not forgive ourselves it's just as bad as not forgiving our enemy. “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.” - Mark 11:24-26.

Once we take that step to do something about our situation the next is to seek God's attention. Now, seeking God's attention is more than just praying, which is asking Him for things, and reading the Bible, seeking God's attention means talking to Him, giving honor to Him, thanking Him, and just seeking His presence. Simply put, it's giving praise to Him, even when we do not feel like it. The more we praise Him, the more faith we will have in Him, and faith we have in Him, the more He can do to help us out of our situation. “Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation. The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein. His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever. He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion. The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure. They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.” - Psalm 111:1-4,7,8.

God does a great work in us when we praise Him with a whole heart, even when it's hard to even get up out of bed. Remember, God knows our heart, and while the flesh and mind change constantly with our circumstances, out heart shows the real picture. I will admit that I have gotten so depressed that I stop talking to God and get this horrible attitude of despair. I wanted to give up and run off to any place that will take far away from where I am. In the midst of my crying and feeling sorry for myself, the Holy Spirit reminds me of where I was at one time, when God was not in my life, and where I would be right now. God knew my heart, and that I did not want Him out of my life, I was just overwhelmed from my circumstances. It's a scary thought to think of where you would be if you were living the same life you lived apart from God, Selah.

“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” - 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.

Praising God in the midst of our circumstances not only gets God's attention, it gives us hope, puts our trust in Him, sets our heart on Him, and blesses us greatly. “Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed. Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever. Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous. Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance. He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.” - Psalm 112:1-4,6,7.

While we should not seek the riches of the world, God will bless us with them as we continue to seek His attention. If we want to see what happens when we keep praising God in the midst of our circumstances, and our heart begins to change, then we need to keep doing it, it's the only way we will keep God's attention. When we keep God's attention, that is when we get blessed beyond measure. “Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD. Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD'S name is to be praised. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people. He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD.” - Psalm 113:1-3,7-9.

Let me tell you, when God changed my life, I never got married, I had no kids of my own, and I even lost my house. God took everything I desired and worked so hard for away from me, but today, I am a keeper of God's house, I am a mother to many children, and I am surrounded by so many things given to me that I cannot even remember all that I have. God truly blesses those who give all their heart to Him, we are not always going to be wholehearted for God, and that is when He brings circumstances in our lives. If your life is not where you want it to be right now, give it to God, let Him take the reins and guide you where He wants you to be. It may be hard at first, but you don't need to ask God for much, just His presence, and once You seek that, everything will fall into place. “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” - 1 Peter 5:6,7.

Today's Prayer: God, Life brings us down, and it's so hard to get back up sometimes, we pray, and pray, read Your Word, every day, in hopes of change, yet, nothing changes. In order for us to see change we need to get Your attention, and not by prayer or Bible reading, but by simply seeking Your presence. Lord, today, I am not asking for anything, but Your presence, You are my Lord, my God, my everything, I am nothing without You. Show Yourself to me, take hold of the reins of my life, and lead me where You want me to be. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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