MARCH 9, 2024
Seven times a day do I praise thee. Because of thy righteous judgments. Great peace have they which love thy law: And nothing shall offend them. Psalms 119: 164-615
Is it strange that we are talking about praise during Faith Week? It shouldn't be. Praise is one of the ultimate expressions of faith.
When we choose to praise God, we are communicating that we know He is bigger than whatever challenge we are facing. When we choose to praise God, we are turning away from the issues of our lives and placing our focus on Him. And when we choose to praise God, we are demonstrating that we love and honour Him for Who He is, and not just for the things He does for us. Intentional praise is a very high expression of faith!
Faith is not always about "getting" things from God - it can be expressed in trust and praise, even in the face of difficulty or even when the issues we are confronted with have not yet been physically resolved.
The mystery is that when we offer up the sacrifice of praise God in faith, we are actually inviting His very presence into our situation.
Often when we are in the middle of difficult times, we may not feel like praising. But praise is not about feeling - praise is a sacrificial act of faith that we perform according to Hebrews 13:15 "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name."
The mystery is that when we offer up the sacrifice of praise God in faith, we are actually inviting His very presence into our situation. We know this because the Bible promises us that God inhabits the praises of His people (Psalms 22:3). So you see that praise, far from being passive, is a dynamic spiritual force of faith invoking the presence of God Almighty Himself.
Can you take a break from asking today, and instead just praise God without reservation? Let your focus be on Him and not on the challenges you are facing. And as you do that, He will inhabit your praise and minister to you as only He can.
Song of Worship
I praise You, I praise You. Oh Lord (2X)
In my life, Lord. I see what You're doing
One more time Lord,
I life my hands in praise of Your Name (2X)
Prayer – Lord, I choose to praise you today. I lay aside every burden and turn my back on every distraction to just focus on You - Your greatness, Power, Mercy and Love. I praise because of Who You are. In Jesus Name. Amen
Bible in 1 year: Deuteronomy 13-15
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