Good people, cheer God! Right-living people sound best when praising. Use guitars to reinforce your Hallelujahs! Play His praise on a grand piano! Invent your own new song to Him; give Him a trumpet fanfare. or God’s word is solid to the core; everything He makes is sound inside and out. He loves it when everything fits, when His world is in plumb-line true. Earth is drenched in God’s affectionate satisfaction. [Psa. 33:1-5, the Message]
Holy Spirit I come today before You and request that You would inspire the Michigan Free Methodist, Michigan Nazarene’s, the Michigan Wesleyan, the Michigan Church of God, the Michigan Assembly of God, the Michigan Baptist, the Michigan Christian and Dutch Reform, the Michigan Mennonites, and the Michigan Lutherans, the Michigan Presbyterians, and the Michigan United Methodist with Your Spirit to become a hot flame in Michigan. You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. [1 Peter 2:9&10] For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: [1 Peter 2:21] Sanctifying the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evil doers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. [1Peter 3:15&16]
Do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, and evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. [1 Peter4:12-16] Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. [1Peter 5:6-9] His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. [2 Peter 1:3&4]
Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in present, and beyond all time, Amen. [Jude 24&25 (NLT)]