Notice this from Psalm 44:1:
1WE HAVE heard with our ears, O God; our fathers have told us [what] work You did in their days, in the days of old.
It is vitally important that those of us who are parents and grandparents continually remind our children and families of all the wonderful things that God has done in our lives. Give thanks daily for God's protection, provision, safety, health, healing, wholeness, wellness, fitness, abundant supply and leading, guidance and direction! This WILL build faith in them about Who God is and what He can and will do. We also need to teach them who THEY are in Him! Then they will be able to say this:
8In God we have made our boast all the day long, and we will give thanks to Your name forever. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!
But then we need to show them how to have a deep, intimate, personal fellowship with Him daily so that they can begin to build their faith in His deliverance based on their OWN experiences with trusting Him! That, also, is VITAL!!!
In Acts we continue to see the Holy Spirit working through the believers who dare to follow His lead and stand on His Word! The church is growing and God is getting the glory! We also see the believers being persecuted in every place. The enemy continually stirs up people to persecute those who will dare to preach God's Word boldly, confidently, uncompromisingly, precisely, accurately and in Love! But if you pay attention to what you've been reading, supernatural deliverance ALWAYS comes when you stand strong on God's Word and continue to have a grateful, thankful heart! Remember that He inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3).
In Genesis it is exciting to see that the same Isaac who had told pharaoh this in yesterday's reading in Genesis 47:9:
9Jacob said to Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are 130 years; few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and they have not attained to those of the life of my fathers in their pilgrimage.
..now has this to say about his life in Genesis 48:15-16:
15Then [Jacob] blessed Joseph and said, God [Himself ], before Whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac lived and walked habitually, God [Himself ], Who has [been my Shepherd and has led and] fed me from the time I came into being until this day,
16The redeeming Angel [that is, the Angel the Redeemer--not a created being but the Lord Himself] Who has redeemed me continually from every evil, bless the lads! And let my name be perpetuated in them [may they be worthy of having their names coupled with mine], and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them become a multitude in the midst of the earth.
He has a much more thankful heart at this point in time! Let's not wait until the end of our lives to recognize and be thankful for all that God has done for us! Live a life of daily praise and thanksgiving and your outlook on life will be filled with expectant hope and eager anticipation of all the GOOD that God has planned for you and your family! AMEN!
Shalom in Him!
