When God says, "You are marvelous!"

It's 6:00am on such a beautiful Sabbath morning. I'd like to share a devotion I read. I found it to be very inspirational and uplifting. It's really great to go to God early in the morning before you face the hectic day ahead although Saturdays are never for me. Read and enjoy!

And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." - Matthew 3:17

A university professor once said, "I worked with all my strength for many months, sometimes into the early hours of the mornings, sacrifice family time, and gave my best to fulfill the project but I didn't even receive a single appreciation for my sacrifice and devotion."

Do you feel unappreciated? Has it been a long time since you heard a word of recognition? Is it difficult to remember when you were last told you did an excellent job? An employee was once asked how things were going at work. He quickly replied, "Well, I guess, since I haven't heard anything."

If you are a manager and have others under you, how long has it been since you said a word of recognition to your employees? How do you behave as a husband or wife? As a parent? According to psychologists, every human being needs to be praised at least four times a day. Honest compliments can help raise one's poor self-esteem to attain a better life. Any type of encouragement makes every person feel alive. Very few persons can last forty-eight hours without some kind of encouragement and still feel alive. There are those who go through almost all their lives without a single word of recognition but they are wounded by criticism and scorn. There is a lot of pain and unhappiness  on the earth due largely to the lack of encouragement from those who are in a position of authority: parents, teachers, civil authorities and business administrators.

Do you have children? Do you congratulate them on their achievements however small they may be? Do not be sparing with words of praise for them. I believe that God's word in today's text are holy praise for His son Jesus. Jesus lived to please His Father and God recognized and praised that fact. Do the same thing with your children.

God compliments you, too. He says, "You are my beloved child. I am pleased with you. You are marvelous! I am pleased with all your efforts to please me. Thank you."

-  Juan O. Perla,  Always Joyful: Experiencing God's Love

I pray that today you encourage someone.
Yours Truly, Tiff