When Babies Praise God

Today I'm sharing one of the 100 devotions from my book Wisdom for Life called:

When Babies Praise God

I feel privileged to have become a believer when I was pregnant with my daughter. God used many aspects of my pregnancy to teach me spiritual truths. When our daughter was born, I was keenly aware of God’s miracle of new life, both physically and spiritually. 

He taught me another truth through my baby daughter’s habit of sweetly cooing while she slept. When she accompanied me to my weekly Bible study shortly after her birth, her coos were sweet background music to our prayers. 

Psalm 8 begins with praise and says the most remarkable thing: “Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger” (vv.1–2). 

I am convinced that baby coos are a form of praise to our God. 

After Christ cleansed the temple, the Pharisees were indignant because children were crying out to Him in praise. Jesus referred His critics to Psalm 8: “Have you never read: You have prepared praise from the mouths of infants and nursing babies?” (Matt. 21:16). Psalm 8 also says the praise of infants silences God’s enemies. If the praises of babies can shut the mouth of Satan, let’s do our part to do the same.
 

For Further Thought

Consider using your daily activities as praise prompts. For example, when you wash the dishes, praise God for His purity. When you drink a glass of water, thank Him for being living water to your thirsty soul. Think of activities that remind you of God’s character so you will remember to praise Him throughout your day.

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See 6 Ways to Be Infused with Joy and Practical Prayer Prompts.

If there are mothers in your life who love God's Word, Wisdom for Life would make a great Mother's Day gift and it's on sale on Amazon and Lifeway.

 

To read about the interesting background of Wisdom for Life plus additional places to order it,  see Wisdom for Life.

 

 

I'm a Recovering Pharisee

Years ago, my good Christian friend Jan told me she was a “recovering Pharisee.” I could identify. I’ve also gone through legalistic, self-righteous stages in my Christianity that I regret.

Don't get me wrong. Scripture clearly instructs us to judge, correct, and rebuke error, but we must do it with an accurate view of biblical truth. 

Self-righteous legalism breeds: 

1. Superiority—thinking we're better than other Christians because of non-essential practices or doctrines.(1)

2. Lack of compassion—blaming people for their difficulties in life.(2)

3. Unhealthy fear—worrying that the slightest insignificant detail might lead to God's wrath.(3)

Paul was a recovering Pharisee too.

He didn't keep quiet about sin. In fact, he used God's Word to teach, rebuke, correct, and train in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16).

But he recognized and admitted his own sins and had compassion on others.(4)

Love for Christ always leads to righteousness, but righteousness does not necessarily lead to love for Christ (John 14:21).

We shouldn't have a permissive attitude toward God's commands, but neither should we have a self-righteous attitude.(5) 

Recovering Pharisees want to speak the truth in love, and they pray for that perfect balance of grace and truth that fills the pages of God's Word (Ephesians 4:15; John 1:17). 

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(1) See Handling Non-Essential Differences Humbly and Biblically - Romans 14
(2) See Job's Judgmental Friends
(3) See To Fear or Not to Fear - That Is the Question
(4) Paul confesses his sins (1 Timothy 1:15-16), stresses compassion (Ephesians 4:32), and explains the true source of righteousness (Romans 3:22).
(5) To look at the other extreme, the "Judge-Not" Christians, see "Judge Not" Scripture out of Context. 

 

Lies in Disguise offers clear guidelines for appropriate and inappropriate types of judgment. 

It will give you wisdom for dealing with situations we face repeatedly. 

💙 Currently available from the publisher with a discount: Lies in Disguise. Also available on Amazon and CBD. And in the UK: CLC-UK or Eden UK.

 

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Are You Tired of Hearing About the Battle?

If you're tired of my devotions about standing firm, I understand. I get weary standing against secular lies, immoral politics, and half-truths promoted in Christian books and movies. I'd rather cuddle up with comforting Bible truths and ignore the hard things.

After all, we're living in a time in history when God's true children are hated for speaking truth, no matter how graciously we do it (2 Timothy 3:12-13). 

But we can't hide when we need to prepare. We can't remain silent when we need to speak up: 

“Prepare your minds for action...Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed...live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires...be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy...remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time here as ‘temporary residents.’” 1 Peter 1:13-17

Jesus stood firm for our sake, knowing it would cost Him His life. Let's return that love by standing firm in our faith, even if it forces us to address hard subjects when we'd rather cuddle up with easier truths. Why? Because “the one who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Matthew 10:22). 

And let's never forget the blessings promised in Matthew 5:11-12 and Luke 6:22.

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See Keep Contending for the Faith and Our Edomite Brothers.

Lies in Disguise offers a biblical look at the things in our world that deserve our attention, prayers, and voice. 

I encourage you to let it help you stand firm in grace and truth. Click the image to read more about it and find out where to order it!

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A True Story of Joy, Sorrow, Mystery, and Opportunity

Today's devotion may take you two minutes to read instead of the normal one minute, but that extra minute will allow me to share something important from my life.

When we welcomed six-year-old Melody* into our home, she had suffered a childhood of severe neglect.

We loved fostering her, telling her about the Lord, and giving her a safe and healthy home life. For a year, we loved her as our own...until the court foolishly gave her back to her parents and they left the state to avoid jurisdiction. 

We weren't allowed to stay in touch, but on and off through the years, we tried searching the internet and social media to find her. I had almost given up hope when we reconnected with 46-year-old Melody in 2023. 

On our first phone call, she told us that her year with us was the only good year of her childhood, the only time she was loved or cared for. Her parents had told her that we didn't want her, and that's why she was returned to them. So we were grateful we could tell her that wasn't true.

Hearing her story was sad for us. And the sadness continued into her adult life with broken relationships, several years of meth addiction, and ongoing alcoholism.  

“I remember how often you told me that God loves me,” she said fondly.

Thus began our long-distance relationship with this troubled woman who God had given us to love 40 years earlier. Over the next few months, when I re-shared the gospel she'd first heard in our home as a child, she was resistant. But that didn't stop me.

For the next 2 1/2 years, I texted her at least once a week and sent her little gifts. Most importantly, I sent her a box of Scripture cards to encourage her. She didn't have the attention span to read the Bible, but she started faithfully reading a single-verse Scripture card each morning.

One day she texted me a heart emoji and said the Scriptures each morning really helped. A few days later, she died in her sleep, her body damaged by years of sin and abuse. 

I don’t know for sure, but I like to believe that before she breathed her last breath, she gave her life to Christ. And I'm grateful that God gave me a year to love her when she was six and those 2 1/2 years to remind her of His love and encourage her to make Him her Lord.

Life is filled with mystery, and we don't fully understand what happens in people's hearts. So let's take advantage of every opportunity God gives us, doing our best to share truth with our lost and dying world.

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.”  Ephesians 5:15-17

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I think you'll also enjoy the true story of my friend Jane who was raised in terrible conditions but blossomed into a wonderful Christian woman:  Shiny White Shoes - God Sent an Angel to Save a Little Girl. And check out this amazing story of a young woman's faith: Alone in a Foreign Land: "Don't Give Up!" 

* This is a picture of her, but I chose not to use her real name for privacy purposes. 

 

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Jesus Asks Us to Come, Take, and Learn

I confess that I can easily lose my peace when I focus on difficult things in my life.

Relationship disappointments are the hardest, seeing loved ones walk away from their faith and make tragic choices. These things can leave me worried, sad, angry, or depressed.

That's when I need to listen to Jesus' words in Matthew 11:28-30:

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." 

Come, Take and Learn. 

• Come to Him and quit seeking answers from ourselves or worldly sources (Isaiah 55:6-7; 1 Corinthians 3:19).

• Take His yoke by surrendering ourselves to His will in our lives, seeking His plans and purposes (Ephesians 2:10).

• Learn from Him. Let His Word be our guide (Proverbs 2:6; Hebrews 4:12). And let Him show us how to have joy and peace in the midst of our trials (John 16:33; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

If you also lose your peace at times, I suggest you read this passage daily...better yet, memorize it.

Together let’s find rest for our souls in Jesus.

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For more encouragement in this area, see Seeking Genuine Peace in the Midst of Trials. 

If you're a Bible Love Notes subscriber, why not tell one of your friends how easy it is to sign up for a free subscription. You can send them this link: HERE. 

If you enjoyed this devotion, be sure to check out the Wisdom for Life Devotional. It contains 100 one-minute devotions to challenge, encourage, instruct, and inspire your love for God's Word: Wisdom for Life. Read the story behind Wisdom for Life HERE. Check out the great sales on Lifeway or Amazon.

 

 

 

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