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Here's
Your
Standing Ovation
by Elaine Hardt
©1996
When was the
last time you got a standing
ovation? Was your name in the society column or in the
business section of the newspaper under "bright new achievers"?
Have you done anything notable lately? Olympic athletes are
cheered on by screaming spectators. Cheerleaders lead rousing
chants to urge their team to victory. Meanwhile at home,
parents toil into late night hours, just to catch up on
household chores. Working long hours or two jobs to make ends
meet, who notices their effort and sacrifice? If you were part
of a successful sales team for a big corporation you would be
rewarded with bonuses. If you were on an athletic team you¹d
have a coach training and encouraging you.
Who cares enough to cheer for you?
The good news is:
God our Heavenly Father sees and
knows. He notices your good works, your conscientious efforts.
He sees the intents and desires of your heart. He not only
cares about you, He loves you. Psalm 35:27 tells us He delights
in the well-being of his servant. When nobody else has a word of
encouragement or cares enough to help, read the love letter your
Heavenly Father has given you. The Bible lifts our weary
spirits, broadens our horizons, gives practical help and advice.
Not only do the very
words of Scripture give us renewed hope
and cheer,
the Holy Spirit comes to interpret, speak, and apply the Word of
God to our hearts. He even prays for us. God wants the very best
for you. Talk to Him. Tell Him what¹s on your mind. Then
listen. He will answer those who call out, who seek the truth,
who have a teachable spirit. There are no time clocks, no work
quotas with God. You don¹t have to work for your eternal
salvation. It¹s free. God so loved you and gave His only Son
to die for your sins, shortcomings, inadequacies. Jesus paid
for your sins.
When you receive Jesus Christ as Savior
you begin an exciting new life of love, joy, and peace.
He is interested in your success.
Look at this verse from Romans 8:32 NIV, "He [God] who did not
spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all ‹how will He not
also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?" Holding a
newborn, what parent does not hope for the very best in life for
that precious child? God feels the same way about you.
Discouragement and trouble come from the enemy of your soul.
But God allows it for your testing. He wants you to grow
strong in faith and obedience. "Trust in the Lord with all your
heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways
acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs
3:5-6.
Yes, there is a cheering section calling
out your name: God the Father,
Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Go ahead, take your
standing ovation!
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Hardt Ministries International, Inc. 4700 Scout Way, Prescott
Valley AZ 86314.
This
article is copyrighted by the author. All Rights Reserved. No
part of this article may be reprinted without permission of the
author.
©Copyright 2004
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