Return Changed

“The Shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had seen and heard, which were just as they had been told.” (Luke 2:20)

The shepherds did not stay after Jesus was born, they returned to their fields. They returned to their ordinary work. They did not return the same but, was changed after experiencing the nearness of God. They returned to their ordinary lives praising and glorifying God. Encountering Jesus does not change our situations but, our lives are transformed carrying a new song into the mundane work.

The shepherd’s praise was grounded in what was told to them. That God would be faithful to his promise. It was not emotional hype. Real praise comes from remembering what God has said. It fills the heart and pours out into our mundane lives becoming moments of praise of worship.  There are several promises in the bible that we can remember and transform our lives. That God will never leave us or forsake us, He is with us until the end of the age, that he loves us.

Even in our darkest moments when we feel like we are alone we can hold onto the promises from God and praise Him for He is worthy of our praise. When we praise him, our hearts are transformed and we can turn mundane work into times of praise and worship.

Heavenly Father, may you continue to transform our hearts and lead us to praise.

Walking with you,
Stacy Watkins