Come Up Here And See

• Luke 6:46 AMP “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not practice what I tell you?

One of the sweetest times in my life is when I am obedient to God. There is joy, peace and safety in my obedience. It is no different from giving thanks to God. The Word of God tells us to give thanks to God. Many verses in the bible instruct us to give thanks to the Lord, to be grateful and to praise Him. 

This Thanksgiving the verse that caught my eye was Psalm 69:30 which says to magnify Him. Immediately I thought of a magnifying glass to appear larger. Magnify also means to extol or praise God. 

• Psalm 69:30 AMPC I will praise the name of God with a song and will magnify Him with thanksgiving,

• Dictionary.com describes Magnify as increasing the size of, as a lens does or to extol or praise the Lord. 

My thoughts were but God is Almighty God, He can’t get larger, bigger or even better because He is all of that. Quickly the Holy Spirit encouraged me that as often as I magnify God, my heart is being renewed to know the truth about God. 

Remember, when Saul was knocked off his horse, he was blinded but after he received prayer he could truly see who God is. As I praise Jesus and give Him thanks I have the correct view of God. God is great, mighty, all-powerful, all-knowing and ever-present. Only He is like that, no one else is. 

• Romans 12:2 ICB Do not be shaped by this world. Instead, be changed within by a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to decide what God wants for you. And you will be able to know what is good and pleasing to God and what is perfect.

Recently I have been studying different aspects of answered prayers. My prayers must always have the right motive. God always looks at the inside or the heart first not the outside, like religion does. Samuel found this out when looking for a new king for Israel. He saw Eliab, son of Jesse as handsome and tall and thought this had to be the new king. God told him He does not look at the outside but at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7

Jesus said that His prayer’s purpose is always to glorify God. Not only that our prayers are to be thankful at all times. If we do not magnify Him with thanksgiving meaning to continually praise and thank Him we will become unsuccessful, unprofitable, and pointless in our thinking. Verses 29 and 30 of Romans 1 state a list of wretched sins and one is disobedient to parents. Wow!

• Romans 1:21 AMPC Because when they knew and recognized Him as God, they did not honour and glorify Him as God or give Him thanks. But instead, they became futile and godless in their thinking [with vain imaginings, foolish reasoning, and stupid speculations] and their senseless minds were darkened.

I had an amazing prayer experience in December 2021. When you pray online for the church a couple of focuses are given so our prayers are intentional. This time the focus was “God deserves all the glory”. I always look up scriptures because I want to pray God’s will and His will is revealed in the Word of God.

Somehow, nothing resonated within me that this was the direction to take. I asked the Holy Spirit what do you want me to pray and I found His answer a bit strange. He said, “Pray all my different names”. Once again I responded, “Wouldn’t that be as though I was teaching the teacher?” However I knew I was supposed to be obedient. I searched scriptures for all the different names. The list I found was not complete but it did have 102 names. These names did not include the various Jehovahs I was expecting such as Jehovah Raapha, my healer. 

As I prayed these names I was fulfilling Psalm 69:30. I was singing glory to His name and magnifying His name. Veils were removed from my heart and eyes because I was magnifying, or making God appear bigger, better, overwhelming. I was obeying His Word without realizing that was what I was praying. Thankfulness was overflowing from my heart and mind for Him being God Almighty. I was thanking Jesus for being obedient to His Father and loving me. 

Not only that but as I prayed the different names of God, I was renewing my mind according to the Word of God. Any pointless thinking was erased from my mind as I concentrated on God. For example, I thanked God that He is my Great Shepherd, meaning He can keep me protected from the lions and bears that try to attack me. 

I would like to challenge you at any time of the year, day or month to praise the name of God with a song, a prayer and continually magnify Him with thanksgiving. As you train yourself to do this you will grow closer to the Lord because your heart and mind are renewed to the Word of God. 

Holy Spirit, I thank You for guiding us on how to pray. You teach us how to know You better by the Word of God and I am grateful in Jesus’ name, amen. 

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Photo Credit to Stephanie Klepacki