“Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful.” – Psalms 33:1
REFERENCE:
Global trends are constantly changing: fashion changes with the seasons, people’s tastes in movies, arts, and music change, and new slang forms before you try to learn them. One thing that will never become outdated is praise in the mouth of God’s saints; praise will always be necessary, relevant, and ever-pleasing to God. No matter what happens, hold on to praise as a master key.
Sometimes, the enemy comes at you with all he’s got and ‘knocks the wind out of your sail.’ Misunderstandings, disappointments, hurts, or even one bad report can numb you and weaken your resolve to pray. In those times when prayer becomes difficult, try praise. Do not let praise leave your mouth come rain or shine, good or bad, and hell or high water.
When you praise God, you magnify Him above all circumstances and show that you believe His report/truth above the facts around you. Praise in your mouth is a powerful weapon (a double-edged sword) that releases the manifest presence of God into any situation (Psalm 22:3). It can turn every trouble into triumph, frustration into freedom, and drought into abundance.
If you want to turn God off, get into complaining, murmuring, and griping about your situation. We feel justified to do these because the condition warrants it, but no. When Paul and Silas were in jail, they decided to praise. They would be justified if they complained because preaching God’s word got them jailed. However, their praise brought God into the prison; He caused an earthquake, broke their chains, and got them out of jail. And open the prison doors.
Praise is a garment that God wants you always to wear. It looks good on you, and it is beautiful in His sight. It is like Joseph’s coat of many colors that attracted his father’s love. Praise triggers joy, which releases God’s strength in you; it right-sizes the mountains that confront you. You must always choose to wear this garment, no matter how you feel. It is your identity badge and passcode into God’s throne; it signals angels to take over your battles.
PHOTO QUOTE
ADDITIONAL STUDY:
Nehemiah 8:10b, Psalm 34:1-2, and II Chronicles 20:21-24
PRAYER POINT
+ Ask God to help you become a person of praise and joy and that His joy will be your strength.
+ Commit to Him that you will not give room for murmuring and complaining again.
