"Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; make known among the nations what He has done. Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell of His wonderful acts. Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of them who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always. Remember the wonders He has done, His miracles, and the judgments He pronounced, O descendants of Israel His servant, O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones. He is the Lord our God; His judgments are all in the earth. He remembers His covenant forever, the word He commanded for a thousand generations." ~~1 Chronicles 16:8-15
David Knew God's Favor
David knew God's favor because David knew God's heart. David was compelled to consider God's ways, to remember God's ways, to analyze and anticipate God's responses.
Could it be that the one, whom God referred to as "a man after His own heart," was really onto something here?
Weary and faced with life threatening circumstances, he would cry out to the Lord in desperation. He expressed His complaints and even his anger, freely, to God. Then having poured out his lament, he would consider what God had done in prior times of distress. Focusing once again on God's track record, David would then be infused with renewed hope. Strengthened in faith, David's soul would begin to focus on God's faithful ways and merciful nature. His expectation would turn to God's history of victorious intervention and His awesome power. The enemy's threats would pale by comparison to the greatness of his God.
Gratitude would replace fear and strength would arise within him. Praise would flow from his soul that was formerly downcast. Courage to push through would arise within him.
God Smiles when You Remember
Remembering and thanking and praising resulted in God's favor on David's life. Who better to emulate than the one who was the apple of God's eye, the one who truly knew God's favor?
Remembering God's track record in one's life often facilitates a Divine eye transplant, where His wisdom, mercy and grace become the center of focus. The difficult circumstances one faces then become more peripheral.Could it possibly be that, the reason that God exhorts us to remember, is so that we will grow in faith and therefore become more empowered? Just a thought.
David remembered and God's favor smiled upon his life. David had faith in God's favor as previously demonstrated.
Faith is the Kingdom Power Conductor
There is a powerful Kingdom dynamic here. Faith is a power conductor. What you have faith in, you empower. If one's faith is in the probability of calamity, calamity is then empowered. When one puts faith in God's ability and willingness to rescue and resolve, then God's willingness and ability is empowered in your behalf.
You have the ability to choose where you put your faith. It is a choice of your will, not a warm fuzzy feeling. It is accomplished one situation, even one second, at a time.
You probably have not experienced the parting of the Red Sea in your behalf. However, there are certainly difficult situations, in your history with God, that have been resolved in some amazing way, where God's fingerprints were evident. This is precisely what needs to be remembered when you feel threatened by circumstances. Even the little victories add up to a history of faithfulness.
When life to seems to sap your joy and dull your heart, those are the times to ask the Lord to restore your grateful heart. Considering whatever is good, whatever is positive, however mechanical it may seem at first, often becomes a Divine jump start to renewed joy.
Who's Your Daddy?
Consider, first of all, that you have been personally chosen by the Creator of the universe to be His son, or daughter, or friend. Consider that He actually sought you out, handpicked you, and chose you for His team, His royal family.
Consider where you were a month ago, a year ago, or even before you came to know Him. Remember what your Father has done. Remembering who your Daddy truly is, becomes the key to courage and empowering faith.
"He remembers His covenant with you forever and the word He commanded for a thousand generations."
If you are feeling a little dull today or pressured by life's circumstances, invite the Holy Spirit to come now and restore that heart of gratitude in you. Given the opportunity, the Holy Spirit will seize the moment to glorify the Father and the Son. He will restore your heart of thanksgiving and praise.
It will be His delight to come alongside and empower this in you, for this is the heart of the Holy Spirit!
