7 Days of Praise

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Here is today's communion meditation. 

Today I have a challenge for us... 7 Days of Only Praise coming out of our mouths with no complaining or criticizing. 

My mom once told me the story of a woman who had raised several foster children from very bad backgrounds and every one of them turned into an amazing person. She said her secret was to praise each child for something they were doing well each day. My mom asked if there was ever a kid, they had a hard time finding things to praise. The woman said there was one kid who was a mess and was constantly in trouble, but they liked the way he combed his hair. So, they started praising him for his hair and he began to turn. 

Complaining and criticizing others doesn't make them want to change, it's only grace that makes people want to change. Our challenge is to only have praise coming out of our mouths for 7 days to God, about ourselves, and toward others. Proverbs says that he who has a bountiful eye will be blessed. When we focus on things to praise and be grateful for it gives us a bountiful eye and keeps us in the light.

This is not denying that there are things to complain about, it is simply choosing to focus on the things to praise instead. Often much of our complaining and criticizing comes from our own rules and expectations we make in our minds. This is where a little mindset shift is often needed, as we expect nothing from others and are therefore grateful for any help or nice thing they do. This shift can also happen in our relationship with God, because we don't deserve anything from him, so anything he does for us is purely gain and a gift of grace to be grateful for. 

In today's communion we are thanking God for all he has done in our lives and asking for his help to walk this out. This challenge is hard to do on our own, but with him nothing is impossible. 

I am praying for you. 

Daniel