Sometimes as workers in God's field, we think that the divine strategy...
Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
By Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour
"The Power of Praise"
July 9, 2017
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!
~ Psalm 150:6 (ESV)
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
The salvation story of Jesus Christ reaches around the world. So that the readers of our Daily Devotion may see the power of the Savior on a global scale, we have asked the volunteers of our international ministry centers to write our Sunday devotions. We pray that the Spirit may touch your day through their words.
In Christ, I remain, His servant and yours,
Kenneth R. Klaus
Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour
Sometimes as workers in God's field, we think that the divine strategy in reaching people is predictable. We get used to it and our ministry becomes a normal event in our daily life. In contrast to what we think, the Lord reminds us that His incomprehensible glory is revealed in every moment of His ministry.
Oday, a young educated man from Lebanon, was touched by God's love and grace through our book, A Story & A Hymn. It is so amazing how God chooses the way and the time to get into a relationship with someone.
He wrote, "Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus, peace be with all of you. When I first read the hymns in your book, I was extremely full of joy; an unexplainable feeling was growing inside of me. I could not help myself, I felt the urge to take my pen and write you this letter ..."
The distance, the environment, and the religious barrier did not hold the Holy Spirit from touching Oday's heart. His writings show that he is experiencing God's changing power through the Spirit. He shared, "The stories moved me; the words of the hymns delivered a superb message to me as if the Lord was addressing His words to me personally."
As we read what Oday is saying, God reminds us of the abiding power in praising Him.
A simple hymn that we learned a long time ago in Sunday school can be used as a pulpit for proclaiming God's salvation, comfort, and peace to reach the hearts of thousands. We praise God because we are thankful for what He has done for us through the sacrifice and resurrection of His Son.
When we praise Him for His grace, we give Him what He deserves, and He offers us a joyful heart. Praise then becomes an effortless expression of our love to God and leads us to feel a state of bliss and inner peace.
Oday concluded, "And I have a request my friends, can you please provide me with A Story & A Hymn (part 2), so I may have the opportunity to learn more hymns and enjoy the blessings, and may God bless you all the time, your brother, Oday."
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, may You give us the strength to keep on revealing Your message of salvation and comfort through various ways, and in using our ministry as a channel of the Holy Spirit. This we ask in Jesus' Name. Amen.
Biography of Author: Today's international devotion was written by Fadi E. Khairallah. Mr. Khairallah was born to a Christian family in Baabda, Lebanon. He has attended graduate courses in communications and Lutheran theology at Concordia University, Seward, Nebraska. He is currently preparing the thesis for his Masters degree in Islamic Studies. At present he serves as director for Middle East Lutheran Ministry (MELM) in Lebanon, a position he has held since December 2001. Mr. Khairallah is married to Lara and has one baby boy. He and his family reside in Beirut, Lebanon.
Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
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