I'm Determined To Declare My Praise

  

 Each week is different. Each day has its own set of problems just waiting for you and I. I can come home and feel alone, even with a house full of people. Especially in the evenings, there is something about the darkness and quiet that really gets to me. I don't think I ever feel so alone than in the night time. I can go to work and feel lost not knowing my purpose. I could even be sitting in church and wondering am I even good enough? There are a million thoughts that could be running through our minds and those thoughts make us sad, make us question, and even make us feel defeated. I can tell you that those thoughts are from the devil. Let's make it simple, anything positive is of God and anything negative is of the devil. Now, we already know that but it's one thing knowing it and another actually living it. Let me share this quote from a preacher I heard one time:

"Never permit a negative thought to come in your mind if you can help it. When it starts that don't entertain it…

You can't help the thoughts when they come, but don't entertain them; just pass it on."

     

     I am beyond guilty of entertaining every thought that comes into my mind no matter how negative it may be. The longer I think about it the more I believe it. It begins to become reality to me, yet I am being deceived in my own mind. I begin to live a lie. Let me give an example, how often do we assume things? If I am honest I do it all the time. Assuming things is a prime example of living/believing a lie. Just because a thought came to us doesn't mean it's true. I've had people treat me like I was the enemy because they "assumed" that I was going behind their back to all of our friends talking trash about them; and it wasn't true I never did any of those things. Yet I have been guilty of doing the same to others because of assumption and then there was division in our relationship. Our thoughts can be very powerful and at times it can cause us to do crazy things, even look at people differently then for who they truly are. That's the devil for you, always playing a good old mind game. It's easy to think that these thoughts are our own but most of the time they probably are not. I personally think that because of the negative thoughts (that eventually cause us to live a defeated life) it is so important to confess the truth of God's Word. " Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised;)"(Hebrews 10:23). I gave this example in another post called "Break Free From Your Burden" (https://jsfocusonthepositive.blogspot.com/2019/10/break-free-from-your-burden.html) when a good sister of mine told me that she kept on confessing her healing after she had prayed. Even when the pain grew worse she didn't falter she kept on saying," devil you are a liar. I am healed." Another sister standing by said, "confess it until you believe it." I was intrigued by that statement. As much as we think things until we actually believe it then it would be the same through our confession of faith. The only difference is the powers working behind it. We have already determined that our thoughts are from the devil, but our confession from the Spirit of God within us.

     I encourage you at some point today to get a sheet of paper and list the thoughts that come into your mind. Then next to it write how it makes you feel, how does it change your day, or even your attitude. Then write some verses (there are many, I will provide a few) about confessing your healing or deliverance. Write next to it how does it affect you? How does it change your circumstance? You don't have to do this it is merely a suggestion if you are like me and understand things better when you see it demonstrated visually. Don't expect answers right away or even notice a change instantly. Things take time and you can be sure that the devil will waste no time to test you confession of faith. Maybe this is something we can do together and we will see a difference between the two.

Here are some verses that show the power of our words:

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the LORD Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." (Romans 10:9)

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

"For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith." (Mark 11: 23)

    Like I said there are so many verses to refer to so don't limit yourself to just these three. Search the scriptures and see for yourself. My point is that when we are feeling alone we should remind ourselves and confess that He "will never leave thee nor forsake thee" (Hebrews 13:5). If we need healing, " if ye abide in me and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you" (John 15:7). For by His stripes we were healed (1 Peter 2:24).  Anyway, you get the point the list could go on forever. I encourage us all to praise God despite the hardships of the day (whether big or small). We should never allow the devil to steal our praise because of one little thought that turned into a million negative thoughts. The greatest battle ever fought was in the mind and still goes on today. So let us be determined to declare (or confess) our praise to God who is always faithful for He is "the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8).  Remember you don't need to feel a certain we in order to say thank you Jesus. I used to think that, but again it was thoughts warring against me that prevented me from doing it. I could feel awful and be having a pity party but yet I am still able to say thank you Jesus; and before you know it you are reminded of all of your blessings and your mood changes. So my sisters and my brothers, do not entertain any negative thought and be determined to declare your praise no matter the circumstances you are surrounded by. Your confession of faith will produce results because God is faithful. Trust in Him always. God Bless You!

"He's worthy of every word I would say, and every praise that we could give Him. And I love Him."

" He's the High Priest of our confession. He can only do for us as we accept it, and believe it, and confess it."