Saturday, January 9, 2016

Saturday, January 9, 2016 

"I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High." (Psalm 9:1­2)

The look on her face was the look of one who was troubled and weighed down with heavy burdens. As we talked, her eyes welled with tears, but never shed one. It was a difficult time for her and all Keesha and I wanted to do was to be there for her. One heavy matter after another sprung up from her spirit that was worn, tired, and in need of a Savior. As a man, I wanted to fix it all; but, as a believer, I knew that I wasn't able to. We had listened and listened. It was no longer a time to discuss nor a time for advice. It was time to pray. The crazy thing is that when we did pray, God led us to fill our prayers with praise!

There is something about remembering and prayerfully retelling the story of how God brought you through in times past that changes the atmosphere. Praise is like getting an intravenous injection of faith. As we thanked God for who He was and what marvelous things He had done in our lives, the burdens seemed to get lighter. The room actually seemed to get brighter! There was a "shift" in the atmosphere from solemn to glorious. It is difficult to explain, but wondrous to experience.

Psalm 22:3­4 says, "Yet you [LORD] are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel." I don't know how it works, but praise invites the presence of God into situations. Psalm 100 also connects worship and praise with the presence of God ("Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise"). A great starting point for worshipping the Lord is remembering what He has done in the past ­ the testimony ("I will tell of all of your wonderful deeds," Psalm 9:1). When we remember what God did in the past we can have hope for what God can do in our present and what He's promised to do in the future. Why? Because, He never changes (Malachi 3:6). He is the same yesterday, today and forever! (Hebrews 13:8)

When we are overwhelmed with the issues of life it is largely because we are underwhelmed with God (Leif Hetland, paraphrased). Praise changes our focus and leads us into a place where we are overwhelmed with the One Who Created Everything. It's in that place that our challenges seem to take their rightful place ­ under the feet of God. But, don't take my word for it. The next time you are overwhelmed begin to give God praise. Remember how He's moved before in your life and the lives of others around you. Shout it out and watch the atmosphere shift.