Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls — Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer's feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills (Habakkuk 3:17-19).
Praise is the language of faith. When life turns sour, turn up the praise! James tells us to count it all joy when hard times arrive. Paul tells us to rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice!
Praise brings a manifestation of the presence of God that will give inward strength and that will attack the problem and bring a solution. Enemy armies had surrounded the people of God in 2 Chronicles 20. King Jehosophat and the people began to seek the Lord.
Through the prophet God told them that He would fight their battle for them. All they needed to do was to send the praisers to the front line of the battle and God would do the fighting for them.
They obeyed and the praisers began to sing praise the Lord for His mercy endures forever. As they sang, the presence and power of God manifested and the enemy were slain before they could lift a sword!
God will undertake to bring you out of the hard place if you will choose to put on the garment of praise. There is no feeling in this, it’s a total act of faith! When your flesh is screaming at you and the problems pile up, the best thing to do is to praise. Paul and Silas were set free from prison because they chose to pray and to sing praises to God while sitting in a dungeon.
Stop the complaining and begin to praise God in the troubles of life. God is not partial. He helped His Old Covenant people and fought for them. He will do the same for you!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
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Amen! Indeed He inhabits the praise of His people! When I don't feel like praising Him is when I need to do it the most. Once I start praising Him, my emotions follow. Remember the thoughts control the emotions. So, no matter the circumstance, deliberately choose to focus on reasons to praise Him. How about: He took our place on calvary, gave us His written word, sent His Holy Spirit to indwell us, gave us the keys to the kingdom to bind and loose, gave us His ministering spirits(angels), already met every need we will ever have according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus, already gave us the victory for every battle we are called to fight. If that doesn't light your fire, your wood is wet!
ReplyDeleteAmen to that!!! I am reading "The Power of Praising God" by Charles Spurgeon... He writes " Tough the winning of souls is a great thing, though the edifying of believers is an important matter, though the reclamation of backsliders calls for earnest attention, yet never, never, never may we cease from praising and magnifying the name of the Well Beloved. This is to be our occupation in heaven. Let us begin the music now and make a heaven of the church, even here below."
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