God-Absorbed or Self-Absorbed?

“Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, the God of our salvation.” Psalm 68:19

The famous English preacher Charles Spurgeon said, "Praise is the rent which God requires for the use of His mercies." And there is no question that we have lived under the abounding mercies of God. If we were to focus on all God has brought into our lives, we would be overwhelmed at God’s goodness.

Where there is gratitude and thankfulness flowing out of a life that has received mercy, we find greater peace and joy, the very fruit of God's Spirit working effectively in us.

When we become negligent to give God the praise He is due, we tend to become more self-focused. The result of a self-centered existence is focusing more on yourself than others. Self-focus can produce negative thinking, and negative thinking will produce thoughts of fear and failure.

The very best help you can give anyone who is self-absorbed, is to refocus them on God, who daily loads them with benefits. It is in the grateful heart that God's Spirit works His grace, sufficient for all of life’s challenges. We need to practice gratitude and thankfulness, and in time it will become a habit.

When we offer up heartfelt praise, the goodness of God chases us!

~ Pastor Mike

Labor day is a time to break from work and spend time with family and friends. So take a moment, push the pause button, and thank God for all that He has given us in Christ.