To Be Praised
- Dr. Teresa Allissa Citro
- Jan 29, 2018
- 4 min read

“From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
the name of the LORD is to be praised.”
Psalms 113:3
The world knows my love of sunrises and sunsets. If I could, I would watch every sunset and every sunrise. I know why I love both so much. It’s not only because I’m just a romantic at heart. I watch both with some thoughts and questions in mind. For every sunset I think about my day, all that God did, all that I was allowed to accomplish, all the “Why God,” questions, and my never-ending hope and trust in the God who never fails.
Even if I might be disappointed by the things that might have or not happened that day, it is a reminder I made it despite my circumstances. I can still thank God for the day. He gave me one day of life, and I think about what I did with it. Sometimes, I don’t feel like I accomplished all I had wanted too, but God still blessed my day, no matter how I might think or feel about it.
Sunrises are my favorites of the two. It’s a brand new day! New opportunities, new thoughts, ideas, works to be done, impact to be made, and for me, it’s all about the tiniest thing to the most grandiose of all. It’s represents life to be lived to the fullest with great purpose and expectations, impossible dreams, and visions to be given by a God that dreams big.
During these sunrises, I’m in prayer, submitting myself to God and His will, not mine but His. Sometimes, God has clearly shown me, “This thing your planning is not of me. I’m not in it. Don’t do it.” Many times He’s given me words of encouragement and surprises, things he brought to my mind that blew me away, projects He birthed into my heart, and prophetic words He gave me for others. Regardless, it represents new beginnings, new opportunities, new outcomes, and a new day to change whatever needs to be changed, reminding me I’m not alone. The God of the universe woke me up another day to fulfill all His purposes, plans, and dreams for my life.
So, I ask you today, “What are you doing with your 24 hours today?” You don’t need a sunrise to ask yourself this question. Tonight, “What did I accomplish this day?” You can rest assure God is there with you, waiting for you to ask Him His purposes and plans for your life.
With all due respect, God doesn’t want you to wallow in self pity. Whatever circumstances you find yourself in there’s great hope for you, hope in a God who doesn’t fail, and who doesn’t hate His creation and loves you with an everlasting love.
If God could design such beauty for us to enjoy, don’t you think His greatest creation of all matter to him? YOU matter to Him, and that He wants your life to make a huge impact like that? Your life wasn’t an accident. It was created by the great God. You matter. You have purpose, and you are loved.
Dr. Teresa Allissa Citro
INSIGHT: Thank God for creating you because you are wonderfully made complex! "Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous--how well I know it." (Psalm 139:14) You're not ordinary, but you are extraordinarily designed. YOU ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP, flaws and all! You have been designed with purpose and significance, with talents and abilities, and special gifts. Do you truly know you are His workmanship? You are His handiwork, His masterpiece. Your life was designed for greatness, to be successful in the eyes of God, doing what He has called you to do, and to be all He created you to be. What are you doing with what God has given you already? God has designed you to do great exploits, to be successful in Him, in His ways. "...but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action." (Daniel 11:32) What is God calling you to do? Or what do you believe God may be calling you to do? Are you ready to go forth with any marching orders He gives you?
MEDITATION: "So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. (Ephesians 5:15-17)
It is important how you live when you are with others and when you are not with others. God did not design you to waste your life away and He did not design you to squander your life away on frivolous things. He created you for greatness, to reach out to others by being an extension of His hands. He places a high value on your life. Because God values your life, you too should value your life as He does. You were bought with a price, the price was the blood Jesus shed for you on Calvary.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for creating me, Your workmanship, Your masterpiece, wonderfully and fearfully made complex. Your work is marvelous, and my value comes from You. You have made me valuable. You are my Creator. You are the Potter, and Lord, I am the clay. Abba, have Your way in my life so that I might fulfill the purposes You have created me for. Use me for Your glory. I surrender my will and my life before You that I might be counted successful in Your eyes as I am seeking You and Your will for my life. Thank You for Your continued work in my life and for all You are going to do. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Linda A. Knowles
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