I have often wondered why some Christians can do certain things. Then there are others that can't or won't do those certain things.
Me, I use to cuss like a sailor and a truck driver (as the saying goes) all rolled into one. But once I fully gave my heart to the Lord, he started to work on me. I had a little god in this foul language. So little by little, he worked this out of me. Now if I slip, the first thing I do is apologize to the person who heard it and then confess it to the Lord.
Then there is drinking. I use to go to the bars and drink. Sometimes I drank too much. Then there were the times I drank too much and drove. Then I started to drink less but still wanted to be "cool" and hang with co-workers and friends. Again, I had made social drinking a little god. The Lord would impress on me that being "cool" was not cool at all. My little god tended to get me in trouble or made me drive when I shouldn't. I stopped going to the bars and drinking the my favorite hard liquor. But I noticed that I could not go to sleep in the early 2000's. So I made an excuse and started to have a glass of warm Sake. I just switched one little god for another. It ended up being my choice to give up all drinking. I wanted to be sober minded and I know what alcohol of any kind would do to me.
Am I finished with little gods in my life? I don't think so because that clay is hard. It needs to be softened by the Master Potter. He is the only One that can soften a hard heart. He is the only one that can change my mind.
Do you have any little gods? What excuses do you use? Do you feel the Lord would like to have you remove those little gods? I know He will allow you to do so when you are ready.
My prayer for you and I is that we will be willing to give up those little gods and grow closer to the Lord our God and Savior.
From Praise to Proclamation
In Psalm 105:1 we are invited on a journey—not across geography, but into the heart of God. The verse begins with worship: “Give praise to the Lord.” Before we do anything for God, we are called to behold Him. Praise lifts our eyes from our circumstances and fixes them on His faithfulness and goodness.
The verse then moves deeper: “Proclaim his name.” Worship is not meant to remain silent. As we speak His name, we remember who He is—the covenant-keeping God who acts in history, rescues His people, provides for their needs, and reveals Himself to those who seek Him (Jeremiah 29:13).
Finally, the movement turns outward: “Make known among the nations what he has done.” Praise naturally overflows into proclamation. The God we worship is the Lord of all peoples and he does all things for His Glory and our good. His works are meant to be told and retold until every nation hears and sings!
These words were first sung when the ark of God was brought into...