More and More
Date: April 10, 2023
I use the BLESS method every morning for my devotional.
B - Bible Verse
L - Listen for God's Word and pray
E - Explore the History and meaning
S - Study and savor
S - Summarize and Share
You can read more about it by going to: What is a Faith Journal?
B - Bible Verse: "But I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more." - Psalm 71:14 (NIV)
L - Listen: Dear God, help us to understand the hope and praise we are called to have in you. Open our hearts to hear your voice and guidance as we explore this verse today.
E - Explore: Psalm 71 was written by King David, who is often referred to as the sweet psalmist of Israel. This psalm is a prayer for help in a time of need, and David expresses his trust in God even when facing difficult circumstances. In verse 14, David declares that he will always have hope and will praise God more and more.
S - Study: The key phrases in this verse are
"Hope continually" means to trust in God and have faith in Him at all times, even in the face of adversity.
"Praise you" means to give thanks and express gratitude to God for His blessings.
"Yet more and more" means to continue growing in our faith and devotion to God.
S - Summarize: David is reminding us to put our hope and trust in God, even in difficult times. He’s telling us to continually praise Him and grow in our faith. We can find hope and strength in God, and express our gratitude for all that He has done for us.
When we take the time to praise God, we are putting our focus and attention on Him and His goodness. This act of gratitude and worship can shift our perspective and bring us into a more positive mindset. Let's say you wake up feeling stressed and overwhelmed with the day ahead. If you start your day with a prayer of praise and gratitude, thanking God for all He has done for you and praising Him for His love and faithfulness, it can completely turn your day around. Suddenly, your focus shifts from your problems to God's power and provision. Your worries may not go away completely, but you'll feel more equipped to handle them with God by your side.
Make it a habit to praise God daily, not just for what He does for us, but for who He is. Let’s remember that He is worthy of our praise and when we do praise Him, we invite His presence and power into our lives. And when we do that, nothing can stand against us.
Bible Cross References:
Psalm 42:5 & Psalm 42:11 "Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God."
Psalm 119:114 "You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word."
Lamentations 3:21-24 "Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”