IDOK DEVOTION FOR THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2007

We lift our hands in the sanctuary;
We lift our hands to give You the glory;
We lift our hands to give You the praise and we will praise You for the rest of our days…
We will praise You for the rest of our days.

Yes, lets Praise Him for the rest of our days!!

If you have not read Psalm 74 and 75 today, I urge you to do that. Verse 1 of Psalm 74 begins with a cry of one who “feels” that God has abandoned him.
O God, why do you cast us off forever? Why does Your anger burn and smoke against the sheep of Your pasture?
Yes, sad but true sometimes God’s people (the sheep of His pasture) come to “feel” like He has forgotten them – maybe forever. NOT SO!! (you can change the way you “feel” if you change the way you think.)
And as you continue on in reading the 74th you will hear the “feelings” of this one who is depressed and beaten down but keep reading. In his depression, he begins to recount what God had already done — that is a very good practice, I highly recommend it; I think Father does too!
Then we get to verse 1 of the 75th and it reads:

We give praise and thanks to You, O God, we praise and give thanks; Your wondrous works declare that Your Name is near and they who invoke Your name rehearse Your wonders. When the proper time has come [for executing My judgments], I will judge uprightly [says the Lord]. When the earth totters, and all the inhabitants of it, it is I WHO will poise and keep steady its pillars. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!
Yes, pause and calmly think on that and you will begin to feel better.
Notice that when your world is shaking and it appears to you that it is about to crumble it is Father who says it is I WHO will poise and keep steady its pillars.
Even if you “feel” your world shaking .. Daddy God is keeping the pillars steady.
One more thing and I close (this comes from my Journey Magazine): Working through depression may be one of the hardest things a person will face. If you think you may be suffering from depression, get in touch with a good Christian counselor as soon as possible. If you know of someone in this situation, be faithful to lift him or her up in prayer. Seek the Lord and ask for His help. He’s waiting to make you whole. Amen.
Father, in this world I know depression abounds, You know I have been there, done that and nearly “bought the farm” but You My Father delivered me mightily… Thank You. And I pray for those who may now be suffering that they will see that You are their deliverer too and that they will seek those avenues of healing that You are opening for them; I pray they will have the WILL to be whole and will touch You for indeed You WILL make them whole. I ask Your blessings upon my people today, each and every one of them and not only upon those to whom this goes directly but to all those to whom it goes indirectly that You will step into their lives in such a way that they will be strengthened to believe that You are FOR them and not against them; that You really do love them, that You really can be trusted even when things don’t “feel” like it. Thank You Father, thank You for allowing me to work in Your Kingdom and thank You that You take what I offer and You do the work; You are so AWESOME and I love you and I desire to love you more today than I did yesterday for Jesus sake. Amen and amen.
Father, thank You. You are still answering this prayer! And this morning in 2007 we have more requests.
Emma has a prayer request and it reads: My husband’s little 89 year old Aunt Mattie is very ill. She has been a heart patient for a while now and had a pace maker put in last year. She now is having choking spells which causes her to “panic” – thus, panic attacks. She ask that we pray for her and so I’m asking that you put her on the prayer request list.
So Father, we bring Mattie and pray for Your intervention on her behalf and not just for Mattie but for these too. Thank You for Emma’s good news that Jonathan is home for Christmas and when he returns to service he will be only hours away and not thousands and thousands of miles. Thank You. And for our IDOK Troops who are so far from home today, protect them Lord from all harm; help them Holy Spirit trust You for peace and safety and security and yes even joy; keep them all safe and bring them home at the appointed time. Bring a successful end to this war, Peace to Israel, Repentance to America, the election of Your Choice for President, and we pray for George W as he continues these next several months, give him wisdom and protection. Thank You loving us and forgiving us; for providing for every need; help us raise our hands, our hearts and our voices to Praise You today.
The Peace of Israel Mattie. Mr. Smith. Charles and Renee’. Dall T. Dylan. Taylor. Mark, Margie & Duncan. Marsha’s grand-baby. A care-giver for Emily Grace. Kathy N. Kyle A. Jason, Vicki. Joseph Toomey and Family. Wheeler Family. Mary Ann. Mr. Nash. DeLois. Terri. Leah O. Patsy B. Kim T. Krystee. Rachel B. Kevin and the children. Lisa’s Mother. Janie B. W.C. & Family . Vickie. Lisa W. John Thomas. Cole. Taylor & family. Anita. J Lloyd and family. Janet and Steve. Cathy. Toy and family. Katelyn. Caleb and family. Bay and family. Jennifer B. John and Carolyn. Larry and Claudia and family. Jeanette and Earl and family. Libby and family. Callie. Madie. Ruth. Martha F and Bob. Rev and Mrs. Carpenter. Allyson and Glen and family and Kaitlyn. Brittney and Kersten and family. Sharron and girls. Frankie and girls. Sheila and Andy. Carrie and Rachel and Jacob and family. Billy and Gina and boys. Lance and family. Grace and family. Tressa and Brad and family. Cindy K and family. Chuck. Jessie L. Windy and Jared and families. Helen and Dan and family. Jen and Larry and family. Chad and Brittany and family. Mollie and family. Jenny. Julia. Bobbie. Tj. Zack. Phillip. Jessica. Larry. Kayla. Trey. Jacob. Ashely. Lance. Candance. Laura and family. John and Sandy. Bill and Judy. Adam & Family.
Every IDOK and every IDOK son and daughter and grandchild.
Every IDOK Pastor and Family.
Every IDOK church.
Revival in America.
IDOKs Military Families.
IDOKs Troops – Ethan. Christopher. Raul. Robert. Billy. Josh. George. Buddy. Mark. Josh W. James. Bryan. Nick. Hawk. Brant W. Lyndon A. Christopher R. Travis N. Joshua M.
IDOK Troops leaving shortly for foreign soil: Justin G. Albert R III.
Serving Stateside: Jonathan. Jasmine B. Tommy T. Shaun. Bay. Danny. Tim. Lee.
Injured and brought State side: Anthony. Hector
Injured Stateside: Edward J.
Hospitalized outside USA: Corpl. Light
Military at home adjusting – Mack. The 226. Troy. Drew. Brad. Tommy. Desi.
Civilian in Country – Mike. Lee.

As I post this it is 47°F and clear in Al Asad, Iraq & the time there is 3:40 PM AST – on December 20, 2007