Good morning, world. Things are looking pretty good from the front porch of my farm in Virginia today. It may be cold but it sure is beautiful, and as this new day came to life; it put the icing on the cake of my time with the Living God. It’s an honor to stand before the Throne of the Living God and it’s a privilege to place my requests before Him. It’s a comfort to know that He loves me more than anybody else does and that He’s always there for me. But before I get too carried away with all that I get from my time with Him; I praise Him. No matter what’s going on in my life or what’s NOT going on in my life; I praise Him. Rain or shine, happy or sad, smooth sailing or turmoil; I praise Him. Isn’t that the way it is for you too?

It’s so easy for us to get right to the-bottom-line with just about every person and every conceivable situation in life, and we see no need to offer praise. If the world doesn’t live up to our expectations, and if the results that we see don’t meet with our approval; we go straight for the jugular and we forget the good that exists in every person and every situation…if we’re willing to look for it. If we tell a child to clean their room and their efforts fall short of our expectations; we nix the praise for the parts they did get right, and go straight for the faults instead. If a clerk in the check-out line is rude or if they don’t handle our items the way we think they should, we rip them up for all the world to see and we forget about all of the good that exists in every person and every situation…if we look for it. I’m grateful for an earthly father that used to say “a little sugar goes a long way” and when it was time for my correction, he always began with a reminder of the good in me. I’m grateful for a Heavenly Father that never rebukes me without showing me the Good in me. I don’t think I could stand the pain of hearing about all of the wrong in me and all of my countless faults without “a little sugar”. So if WE want to hear about the good in us and we want to be given a little credit for who we are and for all the parts that we do get right; why would the God of the universe, the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the Bright Morning Star, the Prince of Peace, the Everlasting Father, and the Great “I am” ever be okay with us approaching Him with a list of all that He should be doing FOR us without it all beginning with Praise?

Everything we need to know about everything in life can be found on the pages of the Word of a Mighty God. We’re His children; and it shows. He gives us simple Instructions that anybody can understand, so there’s no excuse for not getting it right. We’re even given instructions on “how” to pray…and it begins with Praise…”Our Father which art in Heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth AS IT IS IN HEAVEN”. When we read about what will take place when the End of Time comes and Christ returns for His church, we know that the Throne of our God is guarded on all sides and that 24 hours a day for all of Eternity the praise of those angel/guards is “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, Who was, Who is and Who is to Come”. I get goose-bumps just thinking about what Heaven will be like! So how is it possible to fail to praise Him in worthy fashion, and why don’t we Praise Him FIRST if we know that’s the way it’s “supposed” to be? It all comes down to the condition of the heart. It’s only when we experience Him (instead of just acknowledging Him) and we understand that He’s our everything, He’s our Creator, our Protector, our Provider and the Reason for Life. Once we get that part embedded in the Heart, we end up Praising Him a whole lot more than we EVER ask for His help.

“A little sugar goes a long way” and I’ll be generous with my heart and my compassion today no matter what comes my way…a Valuable Lesson from the Living God. The world I encounter today will see Christ in me as I Praise for the good that I see, instead of going in for the kill. I’ll be “doing unto others” the way I want I want to be dealt with myself… and I may not actually praise Him 24 hours a day like the Angels do; but I’ll be a close second.

How about you?