A prayer for when you don't feel like praising God by Mary Sutherland and the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your mind in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4.7.

Praise does not depend on an understanding of the circumstance or trial.

Praise depends on an understanding of who God really is and wants to be in our life

and on our willingness to put our faith in him.

As humans, we will never fully understand God, this side of heaven.

God is wholly and without blemish.

God is all powerful and omniscient. He is the Creator of the universe and

yet lives in you and me at our invitation. He is the only true living God.

I learned that I couldn't depend on my own strength or my fickle emotions.

God often asked me to praise him when there didn't seem to be a whole lot to praise him for.

I didn't feel like praising him. I began to understand that

praise is not a feeling. Praise is a choice, a step of obedience taken without the assurance of a changed circumstance or the elimination of a trial.

Praise focuses on God, not the circumstance, and fixes its gaze on God's truth and God's character instead of on the

trial at hand. Praise begins and ends with faith in the very nature, personality and

integrity of God and that never changes.

No matter what lies ahead, God is faithful.

No matter how hot the fiery trial may be, God is with us and will deliver us in it or from it.

So praise God, thank Him today for every victory tomorrow holds.

Father, I praise you today for all that you have done in my life.

You are faithful even when I am faithless.

Your love pursues me even when I am unlovable. Your forgiveness

covers my sin and frees me from its penalty. I praise you for your love and

...