DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
---------------------------------------------------------
Praise Him!
HTML https://praisehim.createaforum.com
---------------------------------------------------------
*****************************************************
DIR Return to: Music, Poetry, Essay, Misc. Images, and Notable Quo...
*****************************************************
#Post#: 6245--------------------------------------------------
Reflecting on the Great Power of Praise
By: Psalmist Date: March 24, 2015, 10:32 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]
HTML http://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large/reflections-on-swinging-bridge-lake-adam-shevron.jpg[/center]
[center][font=arial black]Reflecting on the Great Power of
Praise[/font][/center]
[font=trebuchet ms]In Psalm 42, David is feeling the torment of
those who taunt him; they scoff and demand, "Where is this God
of yours?" David is weary and depressed, even feeling "floods
of sorrow." As the deer pants for water, so David longs for his
God. In a deep, dark valley, David cries to God for help, yet
feels forsaken.
But then . . . he remembers past times of joy when he led a
great procession, all singing and praising God with wild
abandon. He reminds himself to hope, for he will yet praise
again, and receive God's Help.
Depressed and gloomy, David meditates on God's kindness to the
land surrounding him--where the Jordan River flows and where
Mount Hermon and Mount Mizar stand. David's battle wages, and
his sorrows are great. Yet . . . he does not turn from God, but
he remembers: " . . . day by day the Lord also pours out his
steadfast love upon me, and through the night I sing his songs
and pray to God who gives me life." Despite appearances, David
knows that the Lord pours out His love unceasingly, and David
responds in songs of praise and in prayer to the source of his
very life.
It is said that God inhabits and dwells in the midst of our
praise. Psalm 22:3 says, “But You are holy, Enthroned in the
praises of Israel.” He is there--here!-- when we praise and
worship Him.
When we are feeling overcome, when joy has fled, it is pointless
to look for God in the midst of our trials, in the midst of all
the mess, the yuck, and the circumstance. Stop trying to find
God in all of your mess, in the world's mess--that is not where
He dwells--and begin worshiping Him, instead! Then you will see
the miracle, for He will find us!
Praise is a magnet that draws God; God enthrones Himself on the
praise of His people! Have you never felt that distinct lift in
spirit when you have sung songs to God, that sudden rush of
strength and courage to face whatever you must, suddenly
understanding that His hand covers you, that His eye is upon
you? That He has come running in this very instant that you
have called Him in praise and worship?
Take the story of Jehoshaphat: The Ammonites and the Moabites
were coming to seize the kingdom of Judah. A worship leader came
and told Jehoshaphat, “Thus saith the Lord, Don’t be afraid.
Don’t be dismayed. God is going to fight the battle for us.”
King Jehoshaphat says, “Alright, forget the military; bring me
the choir.”
Forget the military! Bring me the choir! (I love that!!)
Then what happened?
“And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those
who should sing to the Lord, and [shadow=yellow,left]who should
praise the beauty of holiness[/shadow], as they went out before
the army and were saying: ‘Praise the Lord, For His mercy
endures forever.’ Now when they began to sing and to praise, the
Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount
Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated.” ~2
Chronicles 20:21–22
Praise is the most powerful thing we can do! We mustn't let it
become a lost art, like the writing of good old-fashioned
letters. We can bicker over interpretations, we can bemoan
division and denominational differences, we can focus on
ourselves, on others, our supposed goodness, their supposed
goodness, our flaws, their flaws, on the problems that plague
us, we can try to solve every mystery of the universe. Or . . .
we can focus on praise and God will enthrone Himself among us.
It's that simple! Awesome, isn't it?!
God is looking for people who will worship Him in the middle of
their crisis!
If I have learned one thing over the past few years, it is that
God is not wanting fair-weather worshipers; here lies the test;
God wants our worship, our praise ALL THE TIME! When the mess
and the yuck enter in, when the enemy presses hard, when we are
brought low, when the candle flickers, when we feel the pain and
must crawl instead of walk--it is even more important to sing
our praises, thus calling God to action.
God responds to those who love Him and call on Him. He will be
there, right in the midst of any crisis. He guides and leads us
through. He fights this battle, every battle for us! And the
war is already won. (Remember that! The war was won on the
cross.) God will not be defeated, nor will His children, and
though it is a long road home, we will arrive, ideally singing
praise, even with our final breath upon this fallen world--for
we are NOT fallen, but are being raised up and will be raised
up, even as our God and Savior is raised.
Remember to meditate on the good God has done in days past.
When it is darkest, speak, as did David, thus to your soul:
"O my soul, don’t be discouraged. Don’t be upset. Expect God to
act! For I know that I shall again have plenty of reason to
praise him for all that he will do. He is my help! He is my
God!"
Praise must be an unending river that flows to all edges of the
universe. Perpetual adoration! Every knee should bow!
Can they hear you? Can HE hear you?
Let them taunt, let the enemy jeer: "Where is this God of
yours?"
God will not be mocked.
We may be broken, but we are NO LONGER fallen!
God is enthroned on the praise of His people.
Hallelujah! [/font]
*****************************************************