Look for Reasons to Praise
Praising God leads to a positive attitude and helps us see the good in everything, even in difficult circumstances.
Mary Wilder Tileston, preaching on gratitude and contentment, encourages starting each day with thanksgiving for even the smallest blessings, leading to a shift from complaining to praising God. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing God's provision in all aspects of life, trusting in His promise to supply every need. Tileston highlights the power of gratitude in revealing the abundance of God's lovingkindness and the multitude of reasons to be thankful, even in the midst of trials and challenges.
Text
I will mention the lovingkindness of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us.
--ISAIAH 63:7
Be content with such things as ye have.
--HEBREWS 13:5
My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
--PHILIPPIANS 4:19
BEGIN with thanking Him for some little thing, and then go on, day by day, adding to your subjects of praise; thus you will find their numbers grow wonderfully; and, in the same proportion, will your subjects of murmuring and complaining diminish, until you see in everything some cause for thanks.giving. If you cannot begin with anything positive, begin with something negative. If your whole lot seems only filled with causes for discontent, at any rate there is some trial that has not been appointed you; and you may thank God for its being withheld from you. It is certain that the more you try to praise, the more you will see how your path and your lying down are beset with mercies, and that the God of love is ever watching to do you good.
--PRISCILLA MAURICE
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of Praising God
- The Role of Contentment
- The Power of Praise
- Praise leads to a positive attitude
- Praise helps to see the good in everything
- See the mercies in your life
Key Quotes
“BEGIN with thanking Him for some little thing, and then go on, day by day, adding to your subjects of praise; thus you will find their numbers grow wonderfully; and, in the same proportion, will your subjects of murmuring and complaining diminish, until you see in everything some cause for thanks.giving.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“It is certain that the more you try to praise, the more you will see how your path and your lying down are beset with mercies, and that the God of love is ever watching to do you good.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
Application Points
- Start a daily practice of praising God, no matter how small it may seem.
- Focus on being content with what you have, rather than what you lack.
- Look for the mercies in your life and thank God for them.