We should do so for two reasons–what He has done and what He shall do. According to vs. 12 faith looks in two directions– to the past and the prospect. Our praise should be prompted by retrospect and prospect. As the Psalmist said, “The LORD hath been mindful of us: he will bless us”. Doing this not only awakens our adversary, it will get God’s attention and bring God’s aid. It will bring blessing to those who are burdened. Let this promise inspire you to hope when your situation seems hopeless–“trust thou in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.“(vs. 9). “Praise the LORD“!—HDS

Considering His loveliness, how can we not be constantly “Looking unto Jesus” (Heb. 12:2)? It is with great delight that we “Consider Him” ( Heb. 12:3). And the is the secret to success for every Christian. It is no wonder that the song writer said, “He is so precious to me”. Indeed He is. So much so that we rejoice in Him, rely upon Him, rest in Him, reflect Him, and relay what we know about Him to others. Yet in spite of all this, if the truth was known the average church member fails to spend ten minutes a day meditating on Him. It is no wonder that they are bored, miserable, discontent, and easily overcome by temptation. Rather than complaining about the unpleasant things in life, set your focus on Jesus. He is “Altogether lovely” In Him we always have a reason to rejoice.—HDS

You need not live with a dark cloud of doubt hanging over your head– wondering and worrying about the future. Christ died and rose again to give you “a lively hope“, “an inheritance incorruptible”, “joy unspeakable and full of glory”, and much more than the mind can imagine or the tongue can describe. Trust Him today! It will be a day you never forget.–HDS

“Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.”–Josh 7:12 

This is the only record in the Book of Joshua, of a lost battle. The word “therefore” tells us that it was a sin that caused this defeat, a secret sin, and the sin, too, of but one individual. How little do we know of the real causes of the failures we see about us!

All of us have our Ais, too, our defeats in battle; and very often they come just after our Jericho, our victories. It was only a little town, too, at which this disaster occurred, so small that it was thought unnecessary to send more than a handful of soldiers to take it.

Is it not often just so in our spiritual warfare? One writes, “Our greatest failures often happen in the little things of life. We miscalculate the strength of the foe; we fail to spy out the reserved forces. Indeed, we mistake, when we think it an easy matter to subdue any enemy. How often has it happened that he who has won his most signal victory in some great crisis of the church, who has rescued the truth from the teachers of false doctrine, or stormed the entrenchments of vice–has forthwith failed in some petty domestic disturbance, in some social duty, or in a trifling claim of common charity? If there is a time in life when we need more than ever to watch and pray lest we enter into temptation, it is in the hour of success.”– J. R. Miller

Living among others subjects us to many hardships, for which they are responsible, but when we sin we have only ourselves to blame.–HDS