Skip to main content

Praise God Anyway

August 9, 2012
Mary Southerland


Today's Truth

Sing to God, sing praises to His name; Cast up a highway for Him who rides through the deserts; whose name is the Lord, and exult before Him (Psalm 68:4).

Friend to Friend
I love the story of the woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and noticed she had only three hairs on her head. "Well," she said, "I think I'll braid my hair today. She did and she had a wonderful day. The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only two hairs on her head. "Hmm," she said, "I think I'll part my hair down the middle today." She did and she had a great day. The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one hair on her head. "Well," she said, "today I'm going to wear my hair in a ponytail." So she did and she had a fun day. The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head. "Yes!" she exclaimed, "I don't have to fix my hair today!" Now that's what I call having a good attitude.

Attitude can transform anything and everything – thoughts, habits, and perspectives. We can literally change our lives by changing the way we think. In Isaiah 26:3 (NLT), we find the promise, "You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, whose thoughts are fixed on you." A mind filled with thoughts fixed on God will produce a heart filled with praise – and girlfriend, praise is a powerful tool in our spiritual arsenal. Praise brings healing to our spirit. When we honestly express our trust in God, then choose to give thanks, healing begins. Praise provides a highway upon which the Father conveys deliverance and blessing. Praise invites God to take up residence in the midst of our messy lives and becomes a free-flowing conduit of God's very presence and power at work in us. God funnels infinite blessings into a life that praises Him. Stress and anxiety fade as peace floods the heart that is filled with praise.

Sing to God, sing praises to His name; Cast up a highway for Him who rides through the deserts. (Psalm 68:4, ICB)
But You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel. (Psalm 22:3, NKJV)

Don't miss the life changing truth that we can enthrone God in every situation of our lives by praising Him. Praise converts our everyday surroundings into His dwelling place. It is from that throne of praise that God dispenses victory. Praise tunes us into His sovereignty and allows us to experience the reality and power of His presence.

Praise strengthens our prayer life. Prayer is not only a remarkable privilege that we often fail to recognize or understand, it is also part of our worship to God. There is the asking side of prayer when we seek forgiveness, lay needs before God and intercede on behalf of others. Then there is the appreciating side of prayer when we offer praise and thanksgiving to God for who He is and what He has done. Our relationship with God is strengthened through prayer and praise. Now here is my favorite truth about praise. Are you ready? Praise devastates Satan and his forces. Yes! I love it! In fact, Psalm 20:5 (NIV) promises, "We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banners in the name of our God." Satan is well aware of just how powerful praise is and I suspect he absolutely hates it … which absolutely delights me! I can almost sense his fury when I choose to praise God instead of questioning Him. He hates it when I walk by faith, setting aside feelings and emotions while focusing on God's Word and His faithfulness in my life.
No matter where you are or what you are facing, God is with you. Choose to praise Him.

Let's Pray
Father, Thank You for Your power and presence in my life. Help me remember that You are with me and are more than enough for every need in my life. Please help me learn to give You praise even when I don't feel like it or don't want to. I want to walk by faith and choose to trust You and then illustrate that trust by the way I praise You.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
  • Are you known as a woman who praises God?
  • As you begin each day, take time to position your mind and heart for praise.
  • Look for opportunities during the day to praise God – then voice that praise aloud.
  • Begin keeping a praise journal in which you write your praises to God.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Acción de gracias por dones espirituales

Gracias doy a mi Dios siempre por vosotros, por la gracia de Dios que os fue dada en Cristo Jesús;   porque en todas las cosas fuisteis enriquecidos en él, en toda palabra y en toda ciencia;   así como el testimonio acerca de Cristo ha sido confirmado en vosotros,   de tal manera que nada os falta en ningún don, esperando la manifestación de nuestro Señor Jesucristo;   el cual también os confirmará hasta el fin, para que seáis irreprensibles en el día de nuestro Señor Jesucristo.   Fiel es Dios, por el cual fuisteis llamados a la comunión con su Hijo Jesucristo nuestro Señor.    Os ruego, pues, hermanos, por el nombre de nuestro Señor Jesucristo, que habléis todos una misma cosa , y que no haya entre vosotros divisiones , sino que estéis perfectamente unidos en una misma mente y en un mismo parecer .   Porque he sido informado acerca de vosotros, hermanos míos, por los de Cloé, que hay entre vosotros contiendas.   Quiero decir, que cada uno de vosotros dice: Yo soy de Pablo; y y
1 comment
Read more

Las 7 Iglesias y las presentes

Las características del sermón a las 7 Iglesias. Hoy sería a la Iglesia de Gainesville, no cabe ninguna duda que la religión ha sido uno de nuestros mayores tropiezos a nivel mundial. Se podría decir que la religión ha separado naciones enteras y ha puesto un pueblo entero en enemistad. El consejo al angel de la Iglesia fue muy claro escuchar. El que tiene oído, oiga lo que el Espíritu dice a las Iglesias. Me encanta el plural a las Iglesias ósea a cada uno de nosotros que formamos parte del cuerpo. El conocimiento y las características que tenía cada una de las Iglesias no ha cambiado en nada de esta instrucción que la puedes encontrar en Apocalipsis 1,2,3. Todos hemos aprendido algo y nos dice acuérdate de todo lo que aprendiste. ¿Para que? Si la religión me da un patrón de conducta a seguir, entonces cuál es la libertad que nos habla Gálatas que dice: “Estad, pues, firmes en la libertad con que Cristo nos hizo libres, y no estéis otra vez sujetos al yugo de esclavitud.”Gálatas 5:1 R
Post a Comment
Read more

Pablo reprende a Pedro

Pero cuando Pedro vino a Antioquía, le resistí cara a cara, porque era de condenar. Pues antes que viniesen algunos de parte de Jacobo, comía con los gentiles; pero después que vinieron, se retraía y se apartaba, porque tenía miedo de los de la circuncisión. Y en su simulación participaban también los otros judíos, de tal manera que aun Bernabé fue también arrastrado por la hipocresía de ellos. Pero cuando vi que no andaban rectamente conforme a la verdad del evangelio, dije a Pedro delante de todos: Si tú, siendo judío, vives como los gentiles y no como judío, ¿por qué obligas a los gentiles a judaizar? Nosotros, judíos de nacimiento, y no pecadores de entre los gentiles, sabiendo que el hombre no es justificado por las obras de la ley, sino por la fe de Jesucristo, nosotros también hemos creído en Jesucristo, para ser justificados por la fe de Cristo y no por las obras de la ley, por cuanto por las obras de la ley nadie será justificado. Y si buscando ser justificados en Cristo, tamb
Post a Comment
Read more