21 Days of Praise: Day 21 - A Heart of Praise

Woohoo! We’ve come to the final day of our #21DaysofPraise series! Today, we focus on cultivating a lifestyle of continuous praise. Praising God isn’t just for special moments or certain days; it’s a daily practice that transforms our hearts and lives.

Living a Life of Praise

Verse of the Day: Psalm 34:1

“I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” — (NIV)

“I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises.” — (TPT)

Praise is a fundamental aspect of our relationship with God, and understanding its importance can deepen our worship and connection with Him. Why do we praise God?

1. Because of Who He Is:

God is worthy of our praise simply because of who He is. He is the Creator of the universe, the King of kings, and the Lord of lords. His majesty, holiness, and sovereignty command our reverence and adoration.

2. Because of What He Has Done:

We praise God for His mighty acts and wonderful deeds. From creation to salvation, God’s works are awe-inspiring. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem us, and this ultimate act of love and sacrifice is a central reason for our praise.

21 Days of Praise: Day 20 - Peace in His Presence

Happy New Week! Welcome to Day 20 of our #21DaysofPraise series! Today, we focus on the incomparable peace that God provides. His peace is enduring and perfect, calming our hearts even in the midst of chaos.

Praise for His Peace

🕊️ 

Verse of the Day: John 14:27

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” — (NIV)

“I leave the gift of peace with you—my peace. Not the kind of fragile peace given by the world, but my perfect peace. Don’t yield to fear or be troubled in your hearts—instead, be courageous!” — (TPT)

Hard times, as painful as they may be, happen to us all.

No one is exempt.

Experiencing trouble, hardship, and sometimes, heartbreak, is inevitable. But we can all have peace through struggle because God is with us.

I used to be a worrier until God delivered me of the panic attacks and anxiety, and granted me peace. Meditating on John 14:27, I felt a profound sense of peace. It was as if God was wrapping His arms around me, reassuring me that everything would be okay. That peace gave me the courage to face the challenges ahead with confidence and trust in His plan.

21 Days of Praise: Day 19 - Sovereign Over All

Happy Sunday! Today, my heart is so full. I just want to scream and dance. Let's focus on the sovereignty of God on this 19th day of our #21DaysofPraise series. He is in control of all things, and His rule extends over EVERY aspect of our lives. Hallelujah!

Praise for His Sovereignty

Happy Sunday, happy family picture. Freshly taken today. 😊

Verse of the Day: Psalm 103:19

“The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.” — (NIV)

“Yahweh has established his throne in heaven; his kingdom rules over all.” — (TPT)

There are no limits to God’s rule. This is part of what it means to be God. He is sovereign over the whole world, and everything that happens in it. He is never helpless, never frustrated, never at a loss.

Sovereignty is all about God’s divine control over everything that happens. Nothing is outside the control of His loving hand—not the schemes of the wicked (even the plans of history’s most evil dictators), not natural disasters, not the workings of demons (or even Satan), and not even my own free will. Romans 8:28 tells us that all things work together for the good of God’s children, and verses 38-39 imply that nothing is beyond the control of God’s sovereign hand.

21 Days of Praise: Day 18 - Doors He Opens

Welcome to Day 18 of our #21DaysofPraise series! Today, we celebrate the opportunities and open doors that God places in our lives. Each opportunity is a gift from Him, designed to help us grow, serve others, and fulfill our purpose.

Praise for Opportunities & Open Doors

Nwamaka 😊

Something funny happened this morning. For this #21DaysofPraise series, I usually go to my Google Photos to find a picture that best represents what I’m thankful for each day. I search for words like “creation,” “grace,” “prayer,” etc. Today, I searched for the word “opportunity,” and the picture above popped up. I froze. MediaCraft? I hesitated. But then, the Holy Spirit gently whispered, "That was a door He opened for you."

I had many reasons for my hesitation, but I’ll share two of them with you. First let’s look at the scripture. 

Verse of the Day: Revelation 3:8

“See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.” — (NIV)

“I know all that you’ve done. Now I have set before you a wide-open door that none can shut. For I know that you possess only a little power, yet you’ve kept my word and haven’t denied my name.” — (TPT)

21 Days of Praise: Day 17 - New Mercies Every Morning

Welcome to Day 17 of our #21DaysofPraise series! Today, we focus on the boundless mercy of God. His mercies are new every morning, and His forgiveness is always available to us. No matter how many times we fall short, His compassion never fails.

Praise for His Mercy & Forgiveness 

Sometimes, I can accept that God is merciful, but I think He might be a little tired of extending that forgiveness to me. I worry that as I come to him with a guilty heart, He thinks, “Again??” God will forgive me, but I feel so inadequate that I think He must not like me very much.

This is where mercy comes in. Mercy is a big topic to cover, but it’s key to understanding God’s desire to set us free from guilt and have a close relationship with us.

Verse of the Day: Lamentations 3:22-23

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” — (NIV)

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” — (TPT)

Reflecting on my journey, there have been countless times when I have felt the weight of my mistakes and shortcomings. In those moments, I have turned to God, seeking His mercy and forgiveness. Each time, He has met me with open arms, offering grace and a new beginning. 

21 Days of Praise: Day 16 - United in Praise

Welcome to Day 16 of our #21DaysofPraise series! Today, we celebrate the gift of community and the blessing of Christian fellowship. God has designed us to live in community, to support and encourage one another in our faith journeys.

Praise for the Church & Christian Community

Lovely people.

I love the church. Like, I mean, genuinely love the church. I was one of those who missed attending physical church services during the compulsory lockdown to combat Covid-19 in 2020 (the gist is here). 

Verse of the Day: Hebrews 10:24-25

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” — (NIV)

“Discover creative ways to encourage others and to motivate them toward acts of compassion, doing beautiful works as expressions of love. This is not the time to pull away and neglect meeting together, as some have formed the habit of doing. In fact, we should come together even more frequently, eager to encourage and urge each other onward as we anticipate that day dawning.” — (TPT)

Today, I’m genuinely thankful for the church community that God has placed in my life.  

Each week during services, I look around and see people I love, people I’m proud to know as my church family. There are those who are always faithful and joyful – no matter what, and others whose faith has grown through hard times. I see beautiful children who were ‘miracle babies’, born with little chances for survival, but praise God they are still here and doing well! 

I see people who have overcome traumatic experiences, personal set-backs, financial hardhips, and broken relationships. Other people come with consistent hope that their spouse or other loved ones will come to know the Lord. Some have overcome cancer and other serious illnesses. Sadly, others are the survivors of those who did not receive physical healing here on earth, but received eternal spiritual healing instead. Lord, thank You for these people.

21 Days of Praise: Day 15 - The Living Word

Welcome to Day 15 of our #21DaysofPraise series! Today was quite a struggle for me. However, “I will praise the Lord no matter what happens. I will constantly speak of his glories and grace. I will boast of all his kindness to me. Let all who are discouraged take heart. Let us praise the Lord together and exalt his name.” Psalm 134:1-3 (TLB).

See how that suits right into the moment. That’s God’s Word for you. It is a living, active force.

Praise for His Word

Today, I celebrate the incredible gift of God's Word. The Bible is not just a book; it is a living, active force that guides, comforts, and transforms us. Through His Word, God speaks directly to our hearts, offering wisdom, encouragement, and truth.

Verse of the Day: Hebrews 4:12

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” — (NIV)

“For we have the living Word of God, which is full of energy, and it pierces more sharply than a two-edged sword. It will even penetrate to the very core of our being where soul and spirit, bone and marrow meet! It interprets and reveals the true thoughts and secret motives of our hearts.” — (TPT)

Have you ever wondered what the world would be like without the Bible? Have you ever wondered what your life and hope for the future would be without the Word of God? Why do you study the Bible? And, must you?

I believe that without the Bible, it would be much harder to guide society—both for good and evil. The Bible provides a blueprint for living, sharing morals within a community, and teaching parents what values to pass on to their children. Without it, something else would need to fill that role.

A world without the Bible would be very different. Personally, without the Bible, my life would have been full of worries and tensions.

21 Days of Praise: Day 14 - Growing in Grace

Welcome to Day 14 of our #21DaysofPraise series! Today, we praise God for the spiritual growth we experience through His grace. As we walk with Him, He transforms us, molding us into His likeness and deepening our understanding of His love and truth.

Praise for Spiritual Growth

After hours of “tongue-ing” together..

Verse of the Day: 2 Peter 3:18

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.” — (NIV)

“But continue to grow and increase in God’s grace and intimacy with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. May he receive all the glory both now and until the day eternity begins. Amen!”— (TPT)

Reflecting on my life, I can see how God has been at work, growing my faith and shaping my character. He does this in different ways using three catalyts:

1. People
2. Circumstances (especially pain)
3. Spiritual Disciplines

People: It seems just the right people come into my life at just the right time to mentor, support and invest in me. Shout out to The Women at the Well Ministries who came into my life just when I was navigating singlehood.

Pain: God uses heartbreak to bring me to a place of total dependence upon Him. When things are going great and all is well, if I am not careful I soon forget that I need God and can develop a “self-dependent” attitude. But when I am faced with trials and trouble, I get to the place where I desperately need Him. And because I need Him, I rely on Him, abiding in Christ and receiving all the life-giving resources I needed all along. I celebrate my pain (a little too much) because there in lies my growth and victory!

21 Days of Praise: Day 13 - Each New Season

Welcome to a brand new week! It’s Day 13 of our #21DaysofPraise series! Today, we praise God for new beginnings and the fresh starts that He grants us. In His infinite wisdom and love, God constantly opens doors for new opportunities and experiences in our lives.

Praise for New Beginnings

Each birthday is a celebration of a new beginning!

I am so grateful that we have a God who is always there to give us hope and encouragement, constantly offering us a fresh new day, week, year, and, most of all, a new life. We are so blessed to have a God that is a God of new beginnings.

Verse of the Day: Isaiah 43:18-19

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” — (NIV)

“Stop dwelling on the past. Don’t even remember these former things. I am doing something brand new, something unheard of. Even now it sprouts and grows and matures. Don’t you perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and open up flowing streams in the desert.” — (TPT)

Every day is a new beginning. You don’t have to look far to recognize new beginnings in day-to-day living. We recharge our phone, use the redo/undo an option on our device frequently, replace a broken plug to give an appliance a second life, retrace our steps to find a lost item, reconnect with a friend or family member, and rethink a question from a new perspective. We watch our bodies regenerate broken nails and bones, heal bruises and scar, and even regrow to fix that bad hair. 😉

21 Days of Praise: Day 12 - Great is thy Faithfulness

Welcome to Day 12 of our #21DaysofPraise series! Today, we celebrate the faithfulness of God. 

Praise for His Faithfulness

God is too faithful!

Verse of the Day: Lamentations 3:22-23

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” — (NIV)

“The Lord’s loyal kindness never ceases; his compassions never end. They are fresh every morning; your faithfulness is abundant!” — (TPT)

Throughout my life, God’s faithfulness has been a constant source of comfort and strength. His unwavering love and mercy are renewed every morning, and for that, I give Him praise.

Reflecting on my journey, I can see countless instances where God’s faithfulness has carried me through, especially from being single to married. I have really come a long way - from crying over heartbreaks upon heartbreaks to being married to Kachi. I am in awe of how my life has become so much better every passing day. God has faithfully kept His word; He has never failed me yet.