Praise

What have you been praying for? Have you seen God move? Has he answered your prayer? Many times we don’t praise God until he has answered our request. My best friend’s daughter has a dog that is pretty smart. She would work with her to teach her to sit or rollover and raise up on command. This wasn’t easy and there were times when I would hear her walk away because “the dog isn’t listening”. But as time went on, she started responding. As a reward she would give her dog a treat, pet her, and tell her what a good job she was doing. When you think back to how you respond to God, do you find that maybe you act this way toward Him? God is not our pet and he isn’t looking for a treat or praise for a job well done.

In Acts 16 we find Paul and Silas in prison. If I was put in jail for doing something good, I would not be praising God and being glad to be behind bars. But when we read down to verses 25-26, we find Paul and Silas praying and singing hymns to God. The other prisoners were listening. Then came a violent earthquake and the prison doors flew open. Later we see that the prison guard was saved and Paul and Silas were let go.

In my personal experience, my battle with MS has been a struggle. In the beginning I was not ready to give praise to God while I was battling a disease. Thankfully, I quickly began to realize that God hates my disease as much as I do and that He is in this battle with me. Do you want the best for you or the person you are praying for? God does also! As I continued to pray and journal my days, it became easier to praise God. How do you do this? As you are praying for your requests, it helps to include the great things that we know God can do. That prayer usually ends up being more for you than for God. When I would state things like- the only One that can do impossible things, has the power to move mountains, is able to make things new again, is able to raise from the dead, is able to heal a broken and diseased body. Those statement were for my soul more that it was to remind Him of what He can do. It was just recently that our worship team introduced me to this song titled- Remember. Here is the chorus -

And, oh, my soul
Remember who you're talkin' to
The only one who death bows to
That's the God who walks with you
And, oh, my soul
You know that if He did it then
He can do it all again
His power can still raise the dead
So, don't tell me that He's finished yet

This song once again reminded me that when I praise God, it is also reminding my soul that I serve a God that can do impossible things. God isn’t done. If you woke up this morning, God has more for you today.

On Tuesday, August 4th at 4:58pm, I received a call from the Cleveland Clinic that my insurance approved a transplant procedure to permanently halt my MS. Rooftop Prayer Warriors, the Church, and many friends have been praying for answers to my MS and seeking God’s healing. God could have chosen to miraculously heal me which would have been AWESOME indeed. Instead he is choosing people and facilities to provide this healing. That is still AWESOME because I think of all of the lives He is touching by using my journey, knowing that I will proclaim His greatness.

Psalm 34:1-4

I will bless the Lord at all times;

His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

2 My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;

The humble shall hear of it and be glad.

3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me,

And let us exalt His name together.

4 I sought the Lord, and He heard me,

And delivered me from all my fears.

Psalms 35:28

And my tongue shall speak of Your righteousness

And of Your praise all the day long.

Psalm 103:1-6

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul;

And all that is within me, bless His holy name!

2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,

And forget not all His benefits:

3 Who forgives all your iniquities,

Who heals all your diseases,

4 Who redeems your life from destruction,

Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,

5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things,

So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

6 The Lord executes righteousness

And justice for all who are oppressed.

If you want to see all of the updates that I have posted on Facebook, you can find them here.

This is just one version of the song I was mentioning above. Until next time, continue lifting up those prayer requests and praise Him!