Scripture Reading For Today: 1 Corinthians 3:1-7
We will be looking at the first of the love languages today from God’s perspective.
Words of Affirmation
As I write today’s devotional, I remember a rather fascinating socio-cultural experience that is peculiar to the Yoruba tribe of Western Nigeria, from which I have my heritage.
This phenomenon which is euphemistically referred to as “spraying”, happens as the high point of parties and celebrations during the musical entertainment and dancing segment; the band leader of the musical ensemble will begin to sing over-the-top, flattering praises to the celebrant and other carefully targeted, often well-heeled party guests, with the singular aim to coax them into throwing (spraying) wads of paper currency (sometimes pounds sterling and dollar notes) over the head of the recipient of the lyrical attention.
Most of the time, the singers would not really know anything about the people whose praises they were singing, other than the Intel that their runners would have collected about their “victims” at some point during the party. Their “praises” and swelling words were just nothing but empty flattery,
and meaningless, self-serving lip service, designed to get what they can for themselves!
and meaningless, self-serving lip service, designed to get what they can for themselves!
Doesn’t that sound a bit familiar to you?
Words are very powerful; words of praise and affirmation even more so. I have been to such parties as the one which I described above with friends who would have vowed that they were never going to fall prey to the flattery of the praise singers, but who would ultimately leave the party with their wallets much lighter than when they arrived at the event, after being the subject of the “praise” songs!
Man is wired to respond to praise; to words of appreciation and affirmation. You know what? God also delights in the praises of His people. He revels in the adoration and worship of His people.
– Our Thanksgiving: Affirm His goodness and faithfulness
– Our Praise: Extol the virtue and the glory of His splendour – You are beautiful beyond description, too marvellous for words, too wonderful beyond comprehension, like nothing ever seen or heard….
– We Bless Him (To speak well of God): I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be upon my lips…
– Our Faith Declarations honour Him
– Our Testimonies bring glory to His Name as we acknowledge His goodness and faithfulness in our lives.
But friend, what is the motivation for those words that you speak to God? Are they motivated purely by your love for Him; are they spoken in response to your understanding of His love language that woos you to reach into the depths of His bosom? Or are you using your words as a leverage for your petitions
and requests to be answered by Him? Empty flatteries that have no depth of love in them.
and requests to be answered by Him? Empty flatteries that have no depth of love in them.
Hear what the bible says in these verses from our scripture today:
“1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but I do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2And if I have prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.”
God’s primary love language is worship. This is our love song to God.
In our Praise and Worship of God, we acknowledge and affirm His worth to us with our words.
Instead of your litany of murmurings, complaints and doubt, let the words that proceed out of your mouth today be words of affirmation that show God how grateful and thankful you are to Him for what He has done in your life, and honour Him for who He is to you.
I challenge you to refrain from asking Him for any creature comfort today, other than to speak well of Him! Make a conscious decision to speak words of love to Him from your heart this week. That is the best and loveliest thing that can come out of your mouth.
As David says in Psalm 34:1-2:
“I will bless the LORD at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me! Let us exalt His name together!”
Can you commit to speaking God’s love language throughout today?
May God never cause Praise and Thanksgiving to cease from your mouth in Jesus’s Name.
Shalom,
Pastor Wale Ola
LIFE APPLICATION
1. What is God saying to me in today’s message?
2. What was ministered to me in the bible verses that I read today?
3. What are the changes or adjustments I need to make in my life to align with the word of God?
4. What is my commitment to the word for today?
5. What practical steps can I take to benefit from the word I have read today?
This Week’s Memory Verse: Romans 12:10
PRAYER FOCUS
Just spend time speaking well of God today.
Appreciate Him. Thank Him. Praise Him
Testify of His goodness in your life.
Share a testimony of God’s goodness with someone; affirm Him to someone today!
Song For Today: Glorious God – Elijah Oyelade