Morning Thoughts - by Elder Philip Conley

Morning Thoughts

Psalm 44:8, "In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah."

This morning, there is quite a bit of boasting going on in the world. People are making grand spectacles of things that are really not important in the long run. Many people even boast of things without meaning ill because of it. Some boast of carnal things, and some boast of spiritual things (other than the Lord). Some boast of themselves, money, power, etc. Others boast of their preacher, their church, and its numbers, finances, etc. In all these things, the boasting is vain and without edification. Paul said that no one on earth could boast in the flesh more than he, yet he counted those things as loss that he might win the excellency of the knowledge of Christ.

The Psalmist tells us in this verse that there is only one thing in all the world that is worthy of boasting about: the Lord. His righteousness and His power alone are worthy of our boast. Not only is He the One who is worthy, but it should be without ceasing. Notice that we boast of this all the day long. The praise of the Almighty does not have moments of relapse.

While we (in action) are seeking His kingdom and righteousness first (not only), our actions, thoughts, and steps in all that we do should redound to His honour and glory. We may not always be prostrate on our knees in prayer, we may not always be gathered with two or three in His service. But, we have no excuse to ever let our thoughts run to evil, to allow our carnal affections to govern our actions and follow after ungodliness. Do we do these things? I know that I fall short every day, but our goal at the start of every day should be to boast of Him at every moment.

Job said that the Lord's words were more important to him than his necessary food. While our bodies require attention, our families require our love and nurture, our jobs must be tended to, and we are required to provide for our families, the Lord is still the only one that we boast of. His name ONLY is to be praised. There are many preachers I respect and admire. There are men who have taught me much in life, but their name is so far down the list from the Lord's. He is the Lord, and His glory He will not give or share with another.

In Hope,

Bro Philip