Start with Praise

Watching and helping people blossom into their potential is one of the greatest things we can do. We have a unique gift in seeing people be transformed by the circumstances and encouragement that they can get when things are not so easy. We believe that we are doing a favor for people when we allow them to focus solely upon themselves and we think that we have to be “perfect” to be a person that God finds joy and potential in. To reach the potential we have we need to start with some basic building blocks that will allow us to move forward.

First, start with praising God. So often we end by praising ourselves and giving ourselves honor when the one that really brought us through and provided for us has not been even acknowledged in any REAL way in our lives. To praise God we first honor who God is then progress to acknowledging what God is going to do – before God does it. Now that takes some faith to see it through. It takes some hope that no matter what happens you know that God will carry you. Lastly it takes some love for God and others to move beyond our limited understanding of the world. Praise God and you will find that your issues pale in comparison and that all those things that you worry about will become manageable with God’s grace and mercy.

While it starts with Praising God it continues by depending upon God. We have been told all of our lives that we cannot trust that others will care for us. While that may be true to some extent with humans, we generalize that is such a way that we trust in no one or anything other than ourselves. We need to learn to trust in God and develop a discerning spirit to find people whom we can trust – people of faith that look for potential not perfection. It means that we must clean up our filters so that we can determine with clear ability the motives and intentions that people bring to the table when they approach us. The only relationship that has no secondary motive is the relationship that God has toward you. Most motives are good and helpful to both people – but they are there and they are to draw us closer to the motives and intentions of God as we assist each other in maturing.

Praise and depending on God leads us to the natural result. It leads to growth as a person, especially as a person of faith. So often we think that growth is about us, but it is only to the level that we achieve the potential that God has placed in us. The growth that we have is to assist others as they assist us in redeeming our pasts to be delivered to our futures. The only growth that remains is the growth that draws us closer to God and develops a character and ability that mirrors that of the creator. Everything else will pass away – fame, fortune and everything else.

This week start praising and you will be on the road to the best person you can be!

Blessings,
Pastor Greg