Praise God and Thank him!

 

TUE Evening Prayer Reflection 090820 (Psalm 47,48 ; Acts 14: 1-18)

Psalm 47 is a great place to begin when one wants to praise God. Do we praise God in our day to day lives? I thought it would be a good exercise to recall the benefits of praising God. The Psalmist realizes how important this is and proceed to remember all the great things that God has done. As I read Ps. 47, my imagination woke up to accompany this praise: “Clap your hands, all you peoples; shout to God with a cry of joy. For the Lord Most High is to be feared; he is the great King over all the earth.” After realizing the profoundness and generosity of which, God dealt with many of my situations, I can safely agree with the Psalmist in asking the world around me to praise God with me, because God rules over the earth. During the war, a baby was brought to us because someone found him crying still attached to her dead mother’s back, close to our family residence. They were thinking we might know her if she took refuge close to our house. We took the baby for about two weeks and later on people did come to claim the baby. We were in the middle of our prayers, when our lives crossed with this baby… I am convinced that God does miracles in the midst of our praise and worship. Good things happen!

The Psalmist continued with his praise: “For God is King of all the earth; sing praises with all your skill. God reigns over the nations; God sits upon his holy throne.” Never doubt that God is in control, though it may seem to us that the evil deeds of the wicked prevail, God is ultimately in control. This means that whatever situation in your country that seems revolting, troublesome, or out of control is just one reason for us, Christian believers to create an environment of praise and worship which is a sweet aroma that ascend to God in prayer to unleash God’s saving power. I simply cannot find words to express to you the level of intensity a human being prays with when real killers are standing on the front door of your house. You pray like you have never done so, you realize how vulnerable you are and how any attempt to respond seeking mercy or even to challenge the offenders can and often does result in tragedy. Praise God and worship God at all times! Tell God what He means to you! Learn what pleases God in His word!

Ps 48: 6 says: “We have waited in silence on your loving-kindness, O God, in the midst of your temple.” Countless of people come at different times in the church to pray. To just sit in silence and wait for the Lord to act powerfully in their lives. Those people know the real benefits of praise and worship. They know that praising God is both a gift and an offering to God, it is a sacrifice of our hearts. Get to know what pleases God! Pour out your heart to God when you can. Let God know that He is the best hope that anyone can ever have. We might rely on other things in life, but the truth is that without God none of those things would work. Problems do shrinks when we praise God. Paul said: “Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things. Col. 3:2” They also know to expect miracles while in praise and worship: “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly, there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. Acts 16:25-26.”

After Paul and Barnabas preached in different cities with such a formidable opposition, many Jews, Greeks and Gentiles came to Christ that day… God was acting while other people prayed. Acts 14: 27 tells us that: “When they arrived, they called the church together and related all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith for the Gentiles.” They told their story of how God was thoroughly involved in their journey, saving them and bringing results to their ministry. This is teaching us a great deal to praise and worship our God by telling each other how God has been instrumental in our lives, how God healed you or your family. How God healed your relationship, how God helped you overcome the addiction, or a serious impediment to your health and life. Praise God in your request to overcome if you are still struggling...Praise God at all times… Praise him…

Ps 145 says: “I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.”

Be blessed today and forever! Amen.