Thanks Living: Assignment

To stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord, and likewise at evening. 1 Chronicles 23:30

To stand: present oneself before, be attentive, arise, appear

Morning:  implying the coming of dawn, and even daylight

Thank: to revere or worship (with extended hands)

Praise: to boast, to rave; to celebrate

Likewise: faithfulness, in the same manner as before

Evening: originally sunset

In 1 Chronicles 23, David makes Solomon king and gathers together the princes, priests, and Levites, to assign them their proper jobs. I like the assignment given to the Levites, to stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord—and do it again in the evening. 

Start the day thanking and praising God, and then end the day the same way. Beginning the day begun in thankfulness and praise will determine your mindset for the day. Ending the day with thanksgiving and praise will make you realize that God is working in and through you. 

How important is this assignment? Well, for David to have assigned it at all, shows that it is vital. Each and every morning and night, be attentive—specifically give thanks and praise to God. 

But what if I wake up on the wrong side of the bed, do I still have to thank and praise God? Especially on those mornings! For what better way to get an attitude adjustment, then to attentively thanks and praise God?! It's hard to have a bad attitude when thanking and praising Almighty God! 

Thanks Living is fully accepting the assignment of thanking and praising God each and every morning and night. A day that starts with thankfulness and praise will end on a high note!

Superhuman Energy

For this I labor [unto weariness], striving with all the superhuman energy which He so mightily enkindles and works within me. Colossians 1:29 (AMP)

Superhuman energy. (AMP) 

His amazing power and energy surge within me. (VOICE)

Christ’s mighty energy. (TLB)

Christ’s great strength that works so powerfully in me. (EXB)

Often I'm amazed at what I can do, when it's a God-designed assignment. In Nov-Dec 2014, my Mom was in the hospital for 6 weeks. Each day, I drove to the hospital and spent many hours there. Yet, even though my pain level increased greatly, God continued to give me strength, especially on the days I need to stay longer to meet with the Doctors. Looking back, I know that the only way that I endured those weeks, was because of God's power and strength. 

It was a good example, that when God has a specific assignment He will supply ALL the is needed to accomplish the task—especially, when it involves sharing His Gospel and teaching His Word. 

Noticing that it is a strength and energy from God is important, because reliance upon God is vital to allowing Him to work in and through me. Sadly, many times, I want to do it "myself" and time and time again, I only make a mess of things. When I step back and allow God do supply the energy and the necessary instructions, then He is glorified and I am equipped to complete His task. 

A specific assignment completed with God's superhuman energy begins when I am permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31; MSG).

Specific Purpose

"In it I became a minister in accordance with the divine stewardship which was entrusted to me for you [as its object and for your benefit], to make the Word of God fully known [among you]"

Colossians 1:25 (AMP)

A minister in accordance with the divine stewardship. 

A servant appointed by God. Col 1:25 (VOICE)

"Paul, have been sent on special assignment by Christ as part of God’s master plan." Colossians 1:1 (MSG).

In accordance with divine stewardship.

God's plan with a specific purpose. 

I went to college with the idea that I was going to teach on a "mission field". I "proudly" told God that I'd go ANYWHERE He wanted me to go—as a missionary. 

During my Senior year, God finally got though my thick-skull and worked in my heart. I then was willing to submit to God and "Be ANYTHING, ANYWHERE, God wanted." 

There's a big difference in submitting to God's will with pre-concieved ideas and ideals, and submitting to God 100% allowing Him to decide what is best.

Looking back over the past 29 years (since college graduation), I can honestly say that I would not have personally chosen all the special assignments God designed for me. But I can say, that through each assignment, God has been faithful and has taught me much about Himself and His amazing love. 

Divine stewardship. 

I have a responsibility to share God's grace and mercy. I also have a responsibility to make sure that each and every day, I am obeying my "divine orders" and living in accordance with His Word. 

In order to carry out my special assignment from God, I must be permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31; MSG).

Reverence

They were permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God. Acts 9:31 (MSG)

When the ·holy ones [ council of holy ones] meet, it is God they fear. He is more ·frightening [awesome] than all who surround him.  Psalm 89:7 (EXB)

A God greatly feared and revered in the council of the holy (angelic) ones, and to be feared and worshipfully revered above all those who are round about Him?  Psalm 89:7 (AMP)

In the council of holy ones, God is lifted high and feared; His presence overwhelms all who are near Him. Psalm 89:7 (VOICE)

I'm studying Colossians, but went off on a "rabbit trail"... and then that led to another trail.... It started with "Paul, have been sent on special assignment by Christ as part of God’s master plan." Col 1:1 (MSG). 

I wanted to study more about when God's special assignment began for Paul, so went back to Acts 9. 

Acts 9:31 stopped me.... as I read "they were permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God". 

What does it mean to have a sense of reverence for God? So, I went back to the Psalms to read about reverence for Almighty God. 

Today, I read Psalm 89. I like how Ps 89:7 reads in the Message, "His presence overwhelms all who are near Him". 

First off, am I near God? Is my heart pliable in God's hands? Am I listening to Him? And if I'm near to God, am I overwhelmed by the presence of God? 

God is to be greatly feared... He is more frightening (awesome) than any other. Do I revere God? He is God Almighty. He is a Holy God. Revering God......how is it impacting my life? 

I'm also humbly grateful that I can come boldly before the Throne of Grace to talk with my Heavenly Father. 

Permeated with deep sense of reverence for God........ my prayer is that this truth would be true of me... and that I'd live it each day. 

Special Assignment

 "I, Paul, have been sent on special assignment by Christ as part of God’s master plan." Colossians 1:1 (MSG)

"From Paul, an ·apostle [messenger] of Christ Jesus. ·I am an apostle because that is what God wanted […by the will of God]."  Colossians 1:1 (EXB)

Special assignment by Christ. Because that is what God wanted. His will. 

I like that concept... special assignment! Makes me think back to that old TV show, "Mission Impossible". They'd get an special assignment:

"Your mission, Jim, should you decide to accept it, is to ............ . As always, should you or any of your IM Force be caught or killed, the secretary will disavow any knowledge of your actions. This tape will self-destruct in five seconds. "

Christ has a special assignment for me and if I decide to accept it, unlike on "Mission Impossible", Christ will not "disavow any knowledge of me or my actions." I do like that God chose a SPECIAL ASSIGNMENT for Paul, and yes, for me too. 

So, as I go about my day, I need to remember that I'm on a "special assignment" from God. And if I fulfill my "special assignment, then the day will be a positive day!