GIVING GOD YOUR GRINS

GIVING GOD YOUR GRINS

"Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever."
(1 Chronicles 16:34)

In church one Sunday a small boy was turning around smiling at
everyone. He wasn't gurgling, spitting, talking, humming, tearing the
hymnals or rummaging through his mother's purse. He was smiling, just
smiling. Suddenly his mother jerked him around and said in a loud
whisper, "Stop grinning. You're in church."
Is that the way you feel about spending time with God? Not a
very fun thing to do? How very different is the attitude of true
worshippers found in the Bible. When the ark was returned to Jerusalem,
David composed a song of thanksgiving. You can read it in 1 Chronicles
16:7-11. It's something of ode to joy that presents a string of
suggestions designed to help us enjoy out time in worship of God. David
says:

* 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 all his wonderful acts
* glory in his holy name
* let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice
* look to the Lord and his strength
* seek his face always
* remember the wonders he has done

Of all David's counsel, perhaps the most difficult for us is to
seek God's face always. That simply means to enjoy His presence, like
the grinning boy in church. True worship of God is often the simple act
of enjoying Him.
Missionary Jim Elliot wrote in his diary: "Oh, the fullness,
pleasure, sheer excitement of knowing God on Earth. I care not if I
never raise my voice again for Him, if only I may love Him, please Him.
Perhaps in mercy He shall give me a host of children that I may lead
them through the vast star fields to explore His delicacies whose finger
ends set them to burning. But if not, if only I may see Him, touch His
garments, smile into His eyes - ah then, not stars nor children shall
matter, only Himself."
Take the time today to discover that there is no joy like that
of an intimate hour spent with God. Spent the time and enjoy Him.

Dr. Woodrow Kroll

Taken today from our Keswick devotional - Real Victory for Real Life -
365 daily meditations to help you live and walk in victory. You can
order today from the Keswick Bookstore - 732-350-1187 ext. 31. Check out
our ad in the current edition of World Magazine:
www.americaskeswick.org.

Great quote: There is one thing that keeps many from zealously improving
their lives, that is, dread of the difficulty, the toil of battle.
Certainly they who try bravely to overcome the most difficult and
unpleasant obstacles far outstrip others in the pursuit of virtue. A
person makes the most progress and merits the most grace precisely in
those matters wherein he gains the greatest victories over self and most
mortifies his will. True, each one has his own difficulties to meet and
conquer, but a diligent and sincere person will make greater progress
even though he have more passions than one who is more even-tempered but
less concerned about virtue. Thomas a Kempis