Praise Him No Matter What
I don’t know about you, but I have to learn the same lesson over and over before it sticks. And even then, it only sticks for a season. I’m a slow learner.
“Start praising Him.”
“Put on worship music and praise Him.”
“Keep praising Him.”
These words echo in my mind. Words of wisdom from my spiritual mentor and dear friend. It doesn’t matter what my circumstances or emotions are, she always directs me to my God. To the healing power of praise. When life is the darkest and I feel hopeless, she reminds me to enter into His sanctuary and present an offering.
My praise.
And that’s not always easy or natural when life is hard. Why didn’t I think of that? I often think of one of my favorite Bible stories when I think of praising God no matter what.
In Acts 16, Paul and Silas were thrown in prison, stripped and flogged and put in stocks. Guards watched over them so they couldn’t escape. All for what? Pointing a slave girl to their King. For speaking life and healing over her.
At midnight, still behind bars, Paul and Silas intentionally worshipped God. They prayed and sang hymns. I can only imagine what they must have felt like. Aching from their beatings. Tired. Weak. Persecuted. Like God left them maybe. When life was the darkest and their pain the strongest, Paul and Silas chose to lift their hearts and voices to Him. The results? An earthquake, chains broke loose, freedom, and salvations. God came to their rescue in ways no one could have imagined.
All because of praise I believe.
So, where are you today? Are you on the mountaintop experiencing His presence? Or are you living out yet another midnight? May this Psalm serve as a reminder to praise God no matter what.
Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.Psalm 42:5 and repeated word for word again in verse 11.(NIV)
**I suggest reading all of Psalm 42 should you be in a dark spot today.**
Heavenly Father, Oh, how easy it is to forget to praise You when times are tough. But, oh how worthy You are of all of our praise. Today we give you our hearts. In an act of worship and surrender, we ask for You to transform our sorrow into gladness. Break away the chains. Bring healing to our wounds. Revive the dry, desert places of our hearts once again. Let the river of Your love flow deeply into our spirits. We love and praise and honor You today. You are King. Our perfect peace. You are love. You are hope. You are our hiding place. Our rescuer. Our healing physician. Thank you for loving us and for calling us to Yourself once again. May the song of our heart today be one of praise and adoration. You are the reason we exist. We love you, Lord. In Jesus name, Amen.
God bless you,
Tiffany
http://www.teawithtiffany.blogspot.com
Praise is so important in our daily lives. It really helps to focus on praising God instead of our problems.
What a great reminder for me today. I’m feeling a little downcast and must remember to praise Him. Thanks for your devotional.
Blessings,
Wanita
Just rescently I put an entry in my blog about being thankful for what I have. I think being thankful for what I have and praising God intertwine. When things get tought, in our oppinion for us, it is great to stop and think of the many things we have. When things are going good it’s really easy to stop and thank God that things are going so incredibly well, knowing we don’t “diserve” it. *smile* We truly serve an awsome God and for that I am thankful! *smile*
Harvest blessings. -me-(Mommy of two little blessings)
Good devotion. I think I will go put on some praise music right now (o:
Amen, praise Him always.
How true your words are! The power of praise to our Lord and Savior is truly amazing, He does amazing things in our hearts when we take our eyes off of our circumstances and turn them to Him and give Him praise. And in those hard times it does have to be intentional, you have to make yourself do it, but it doesn’t take long and your heart begins to be touched by the hand of our Savior, and healing begins to take place… what a precious thing, what a privilege. Thank you so much for sharing!
Blessings!
Thanks for the great reminder. And it’s amazing what good music will do to change my attitude towards life, no matter what the situation.
Amen! As one of my favorite songs says…Hallelujah Anyhow!
Praise is definitely vital to our walk with Christ. It’s a wonderful expression of our love for Him. Awesome devotion!
I so love the passages in Acts. We often find ourselves in a dark place and sometimes we just want to stay there (well it is true for me)….but when we start praising our Lord, He will break the chains of despair.
Thank you so much for the encouragement this morning.