As an artist, nothing inspires me more than the beauty of God's creation. I see Him clearly no matter what's going on in the world.
On a recent trip to Ocean City, Maryland, my husband and I decided to go to the beach very early to watch the sunrise. It was very quiet, there was only one man looking for seashells, another fishing at the waters edge and a young woman on a morning walk. The sound and movement of the water and waves continually rolling in was so powerful and loud yet it felt as if time had stood still. There was a quiet stillness in spite of the noise. He was there...His tangible presence, His peace. Then as I looked out at the vastness of the water and saw the incredible explosion of color touching the skyline, all I could do was praise Him and thank Him for the opportunity to stand with Him before His magnificent masterpiece.
I'm now back in my studio worshipping, painting papers, spending time with Him and preparing for our next painting. The chaos in the world seems dim now. His very real presence with us, over shadows it all. All I can do is praise Him.
DAILY PRAISE
Pastor Nate Thompson (Revised)
Dear Father,
As I come before You this day, I enter into Your gates with thanksgiving and into Your courts with praise. I give You all the glory, all the thanksgiving, all the honor and I say glory hallelujah to Your name. Father I take this time to magnify Your holy name because you are more than worthy to be praised. I will bless You O Lord at all times and Your praises shall be continually in my mouth. May Your kingdom come and Your will be done on earth today as it is in heaven.
Father I serve You with gladness as I come before Your presence with thanksgiving. How excellent is Your name in all the earth! Thank You for the beauty of Your creation, the heavens and the earth and the magnificent seas! There is none like You O Lord, for You are far above all nations, kings and kingdoms. You are the God of gods, Lord of lords and King of kings! You are the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. There was no god formed before You and nor will there be one after You. Therefore, I will praise You with much joy in my heart!
Father, I praise You, for in You I have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Jesus Christ. I praise You for dwelling in my heart by faith; and for keeping me rooted and grounded in love so that I am able to comprehend with all the saints the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and that I will know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that I will be filled with all the fullness of God. Father I thank you that You are able to do exceeding abundantly above all that I could ever ask or think, according to the power that works in me, unto Him be glory in the church by Jesus Christ throughout all ages, world without end.
I am thankful Heavenly Father for the expression of Your will for my life as You have shown me in Your Word. I therefore claim all the will of God in my life this day. I am thankful that You have blessed me with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus. I am thankful that You have begotten me unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. I am thankful that You have made provisions for me so today I can live filled with the Spirit of God in my life.
I am thankful Heavenly Father that You have loved me from eternity past and that You sent the Lord Jesus Christ into the world to die as my substitute. I am thankful that the Lord Jesus Christ came as my representative and through Him You have completely forgiven me; You have adopted me into Your family; You have assumed all responsibility for me; You have given me eternal life and have given me the perfect righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ so that I am now justified. I am thankful that in Him, You have made me complete, and that You have offered Yourself to me to be my daily help and my strength. I thank You for helping me to walk in the Spirit this day, as well as every day. I praise You for leading me not into temptation and delivering me from every evil temptation and snare of the enemy. I praise You for not allowing any weapon formed against me to prosper and for condemning every tongue that rises against me.
I praise You for Your power and anointing being upon me. Father, I thank You for the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord resting, ruling and abiding upon me this day. I thank You Father for causing Your glory to shine brightly from my life.
I thank You for the enemy being forced to flee from me seven ways. I praise You for making every trap the enemy has for me to backfire on him and work out for my good, which is for Your glory. I magnify You for setting watch over my lips and I thank You for blessing me to guard my heart with all diligence by teaching me to discipline my eyes and every member of my body. I am thankful heavenly Father that the weapons of my warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, to the casting down of imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and to bring my every thought captive into obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ.
I praise You for directing my path in every situation. I praise You for blessing me to prosper spiritually and that You have drawn me nearer to You through Your Spirit and Your Word. I praise You for binding every stronghold of the enemy that has been holding back my financial blessings, and for loosing prosperity in my life according to Your riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Father I thank You for causing me to prosper in all that I do, for enlarging my territories and for Your hand being upon me to keep me from evil so that it would not cause me pain. Father I thank You for blessing my ministry, my marriage, my family, all loved ones and friends, our health and every other area of our lives. I praise You for giving me favor with those who are in authority over me. I praise You for allowing them to be well pleased with my work. I praise You that I have favor with You Father and with men everywhere.
Lord You are my salvation, my strength, my hope for tomorrow. Lord You are my song! I will trust You and not be afraid for You the are my Jehovah Jireh, my Provider. Therefore, I will praise You with much joy in my heart and draw water out of the wells of salvation. I boldly confess that I shall live and not die to declare the works of the Lord.
Father, I thank You for hearing my cry and I praise You O Lord for Your presence and Your peace all around us and Your Word that instructs us to be still and know that You are God.
I thank You for sending now Your wisdom and knowledge, for sending now Your blessing and prosperity, for sending now Your anointing. I thank You Lord for this is the day that You have made and I will rejoice in it and be glad. I will continue to praise You throughout this day and thank You for letting Your light shine brightly through me to all whom I may encounter this day.
Father I thank You that Your goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. I praise You, I give You all honor and glory for Yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever and ever. In Jesus’ Mighty name, Amen.