You might be used to going to a church worship service and singing, (or dancing and shouting) to God when you have the energy and are happy and feeling like being a participant.
But What about when all hell is breaking out and you are sick , under pressure or filled with fear for your future?
Does your praise either get silent or do you just avoid it all together and do not even go to church because you would feel like a hypocrite participating in a worship service when you feel disconnected through your circumstances?
Let me tell you that when you are surrounded by fear of your future or just not into it thats when it counts the most, to you and for God.
Hebrews 13:15 says – through Him, therefore, let us at all times , Continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name.
God says to bring me a sacrifice of praise.
Sacrifice means- destruction or surrender of something for the sake of something else.
or an act of killing a person or animal in a religious ceremony as an offering to please a God.
Ok, this definition pretty much explains it all.
When we bring a sacrifice of praise to God in our times of uncertainty we are surrendering our will by saying- I am going through so much struggle right now and the last thing I want to do is praise God, in fact I want to scream God where are you? If we Praise HIM like in this way we are KILLING ourself like an offering to God while saying, even though through all this I choose to TRUST in You.
Praise does not always cost us something. We praise our dogs for fetching the ball and people for a job well done. Praise is often our response to some action that directly benefits us, and we feel generous because we extend it. We often find it easy to praise God from the same motivation. When He has blessed us, helped us, and protected us or healed us, we feel loved and grateful towards Him and it becomes easy, even natural. We can sing, worship, and talk about how good He is because we can SEE it in action at that moment. That kind of praise, although worthwhile, does not cost us anything. It is not a sacrifice.
A real sacrifice of praise is from a humbled heart or a wounded soul it is not based on our opinion of His job performance.
Sacrifice of praise involves all of you. It involves your spirit, soul and body Real praise continues regardless of circumstances it flows CONTINUALLY from a worshipful heart in good and bad times.
So we see here that if we belong to God He wants us to Praise Him in and through ANYTHING that happens to us. Remember not all things we sent by God like sickness ( I believe God is a good God and does not have sickness to send to His children like you would not put sickness on your own children) But, you can praise your way though it while trusting in His promises towards you.
If you are struggling today in any circumstances I want you to be encouraged and remember that only YOU can turn on your praise switch. Your Pastor, friend, spouse, no one else can do it for you.
Isaiah 61 :3 says – To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.Praise is my weapon of choice in any battle I am facing.
Turn on some worship music, escape from fear and enter into the presence of God, He is always there to listen and spend time with you and comfort you but, YOU must make that surrender, its a choice. Choose wisely today and enter into the peace of God through the power of praise.
While your getting dressed to face this day that God made just for you, choose the Garment of praise like you would choose to put on a garment of clothing, wear it all day and see how your day will be favorable and filled with peace!
Right now I am loving the song “Resurrecting” from Elevations church ( Pastor Steve Furtick) new CD called “Here as in Heaven”. My favorite line is “the resurrected King is resurrecting me”, so powerful!
What are some songs that are ministering to you today in your circumstances?
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