Posted on Sun, Aug 31, 2008
Praise will extinguish the fire of fear, and flood you with comfort and victory. When you and I begin to take stock of our daily triumphs and favors, then, God will become the object of our unceasing love and worship; and the center of our unbroken praise. Then would we know how to devote our hearts and souls to Him in worship, and praise Him with a positive attitude, even when things are seemingly bad.
Have you ever stopped to reflect on your existence? What power is behind your ability to talk, take breaths, sleep, walk, or eat? From where do they come?
Our tendency is to amass whatever we can – wealth including houses, monies, lands or gold. And when we have gotten a few, we still want more. Have you stopped for a moment to reflect on the condition of the sick? Have you recently or in the past seen the sick? (We should always pray for the sick). Nothing matters to them but how they can regain their health! Some have been sick for weeks, months or even years. Dear Reader, your situation might be different. But have you stopped to thank God for His mercies for you? In His grace, God is continually providing for us, even in our disobedient sinfulness. We must yield our bodies to God as instruments of worship and praise and not vessels of unrighteousness. We were created to worship God.
When you and I take stock of our daily triumphs and favors, then, God will be the object of our unceasing worship, love and unbroken praise. We would know how to devote our hearts and souls to Him and praise Him with a positive attitude, even when things are bad. We are, simply, to praise God because He is God, and good. We, basically, must praise God because He is faithful to fulfill all His promises, despite our shortcomings. I challenge you to ponder on your existence today, and you will be amazed at how unappreciative and ungrateful you have become. God is your creator. He gave and continually sustains your life, even in this unpredictable world. King David said “Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fullness thereof. Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein:” Psalm 96:11-12. Briefly, he concluded that everything that has breath should praise God.
Praise will extinguish the fire of fear, and flood you with comfort and victory. Think of the examples of Paul and Silas while they were in Philippians prison. Their account is recorded in Acts 16: 20-35 .
In their circumstances, they prayed and sang praises unto God. Paul and Silas did not concentrate on their plights. Instead, they resigned their fates to God and steadfastly trusted in Him to do with them as He deemed fit. And God proved His limitless might to the prison guards including the magistrates who had imprisoned them. Paul and Silas relentlessly praised God amidst their pain and suffering. They moved God’s merciful face towards their dilemma. What were the aftermaths of their praise? 1. Salvation of the prison guards, 2. Release from jail and 3. God-glorifying testimonies. Was God happy? Certainly, He was! Can He do the same for you? Certainly, He can!
Therefore, let us now unshackle our chains of ungratefulness and put on the garment of praise and worship. Then, we too, can shift the mighty hands of God towards us in life’s adverse situations. “The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.” “ I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden. Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD” Zephaniah 3:20
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