Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the rams horn – shout for joy before the LORD, the King. Psalm 98:4-6
In this season of prayer we have been learning and practicing many different forms of prayer. One form of prayer we have just touched on is Praise.
God desires our praise. He is worthy of our praise. My experience teaches me that when I spend time praising God for who He is I am reminded of who I am in Him. I am reminded that God is beyond my full comprehension. He is so much bigger than I can imagine and loves me so much more than I can every understand. There is power in praise.
Have you ever come to the LORD feeling deflated and empty? I am certain you have. It is a common occurrence for many of us. How do we refill our spiritual tanks? We are completely unable to fill our own spiritual tanks. God must do it for us.
One of the ways He does that is by filling us up with His Spirit in response to our Praise. When we take time to recognize Him as Almighty God, Creator of all things seen and unseen, Provider, Faithful One, Redeemer, Savior, Lamb of God, Father, Bread of Life that sustains me, Living Water that refreshes, renews and restores…and so much more…our spirits are filled up.
Praise is like eating the Bread of Heaven and drinking deeply from the Living Water. There is no better nourishment for our own soul. We find the strength to continue on because we are reminded that He has already laid our path and set aside our provision for today. It will be made available to us at just the moment we need it to complete the work He invited us to do with Him today.
Have you ever offered a prayer to the LORD…the same one again and again according to His word and wondered if He would answer?
He always answers, sometimes it isn’t answered the way we would have liked or thought best, but He always answers in a way that will bring about His best.
I received an answer to prayer yesterday. The answer was so much more than I ever could have hoped or dreamed! I literally did a happy dance right here in my office. I spent time Praising God who never fails and always provides at just the right moment. The answer was a revelation and confirmation of God’s blessing on the ministry to which I have been called.
This morning I am still singing and dancing…mostly on the inside now. It will break out again today I am certain as I am able to share the story with others who had been praying with me.
Abba Adonai ~ Thank you for the gift of prayer. Thank you for the gift of praise. You are honored in both as we lift our hearts to You. We simply come to You with arms lifted high, our voices raised in song. Sometimes we cry out to You seeking comfort, direction and ease of the strain. Other times we shout out in praise for Your greater revelation of who You are. Your name be praised!
You are on Your throne. There is no other god beside You. Your brilliant light consumes the darkness in me and in the world. Your righteousness and truth are supreme and cannot be denied. Your love, grace and mercy humble my spirit before You. May Your name alone be praised today!