I’ve failed.
Just being honest with myself even if I don’t want to admit it, but I have failed to praise God as much as I should. With all of the blessings he has poured over me, especially in the last couple of months, I should have spent many more days on my face worshiping him.
My life is God’s. I’m fully surrendered. I feel like I am obedient in the things God tells me to do, but I can’t find the words to express how I feel. I was just doing what God told me to do. My heart was after him. But something felt different, and it was affecting my mood. I had to figure out what was different. I hate these moments, yet at the same I love them because it brings me closer to God. Trying to figure out what to do, I went to God in prayer. Something wasn’t right. So I went to scripture.
Hello, God.
I found out what was wrong with my mood. I realized that in the last few weeks, I hadn’t been spending alone time to thank God. There were a few weeks where I only spent a half an hour each day in scripture, and I hadn’t spent ample time on my knees praying and thanking God for who he is and what he has done for me.
This was revealed to me in Luke 17:11-19.
As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. As he entered a village there, ten lepers stood at a distance, crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us! He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy. One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, Shouting, “Praise God!” He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.”
Jesus healed the lepers, and he told them to go. They went. They were obedient to what Jesus told them to do. I’ve been obedient.
One came back to praise God. Only one. Jesus said where are the others that I healed? Oh snap. I think I’m in that group of nine. I’m going and being obedient, but lets be honest, I think I failed to stop, come back to the feet of Jesus and thank him.
I don’t want to be obedient without praise. I want to be praisefully obedient in the work the Lord has for me.
I’m coming back, God, to say thank you.
Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! Psalm 63:3
