Exodus 15:2 - “The LORD is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
This verse was uttered by Moses as he marveled at how the Lord rescued his people from their captors. They'd just watched the very Red Sea that stood still for them sweep away their pursuers in an instant. I can't fully comprehend the awe Moses must have felt to see how God fulfilled His word to set His people free from slavery. Yet, I can imagine why Moses called the Lord the source of his strength, his salvation and called Him his ultimate defense.
Moses had been marching, leading the Israelites across the Red Sea's floor. He had to turn around to see what God had done to cement their victory from Pharaoh and his army. Similarly, on Tuesday, we looked back to see how God got us through the impossibilities we've faced. We too can therefore praise God and exalt Him.
Today, I call on you to do what Moses did by speaking Exodus 15:2 out loud. Align with it. Don't stop there, however. Begin praising the God who you have proclaimed is your strength, your defense, and your salvation. We do this because we have been called to praise and worship the Lord and also because according to His word, we were created to worship Him. Isaiah 43:20-21 - The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.
We've discussed so much this year and the Lord has taken us through a variety of subjects, many of them complicated and requiring weeks to grasp. And sometimes, God wants to remind us of the simple things that He needs us to do and to understand. That simple thing is to declare who God is to you and praise Him.
I therefore pray that you will join myself and other Peppers as we honor the Lord and focus on exalting Him for His greatness.
See you at Noon EST when we'll rejoice that we serve a God who is the be all and the end all. We shall worship Him for all He is and then we shall prayerfully intercede for other people, focusing on their needs, not ours. The Lord will bless us and ensure we do not leave fellowship the way we came, IJMN, Amen.
Lord, I thank You for making me and preserving my faith.
I am Your special creation, holy and chosen.
"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy." (1 Peter 2:9-10).
Because You love me, please give me joy and help me to behave properly and treat people with love, especially in the relationships You've given me. Let me truly blossom into the character You have created me to be. Please comfort me and confirm Your answer to this prayer soon, in Jesus name I pray amen.