Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise (James 5:13).
I suppose we’re more likely to obey the first part of that verse than we are the second. It’s easy to let all of life’s stresses cause us to forget our need to praise God for everything good. If we’re not careful, talking to God can be more like a 911 call, something we do only when we find ourselves in a very difficult spot.
Talking to God, though, praising him, ought to be what we do in every situa-tion. When we’re hurting or sad, we pour out our hearts to him.
When we’re joyful, when he’s blessed us, we praise him. Praise shouldn’t be rare or reserved for big moments. It ought to be woven into the ordinary rhythms of our lives, into quiet mornings, daily routines, and simple conver-sations with God.
James recognizes that life has its ups and downs. We’ll have problems like everyone else. When we do, we pray about it. But we should also recognize that God gives us so many joys. Gratitude doesn’t come naturally when life gets busy. It has to be cultivated, noticed, and expressed.
What’s right in your life today?
Did you hear the birds singing outside this morning? Perhaps you already took a walk today. God’s blessings surround us, and most of us have quite a few things to smile about. Too often, we rush past those moments without slowing down long enough to acknowledge where they came from. Even a brief pause to thank him can reshape the way we see the rest of the day.
A soft bed and a comfortable house. Water to drink and food to eat. A job that supports our families, healthy kids, faithful friends, a country that, even with all its problems, most of us would not trade for any other. These aren’t small things. They’re daily mercies we quietly depend on. Recognizing them guards our hearts against entitlement and forgetfulness.
And most of all, of course, we’ve got Christ. Even if we have problems, which we do, nothing can dampen the fact that we’re forgiven.
Saved from sin. Washed in the blood. Justified, sanctified, and soon to be glorified.
So today, take time to praise. List the blessings God has poured into your life, and thank him for every single one of them.
But especially thank him for giving you hope in the crucified, buried, and risen Savior.
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