The Miracle of Praise

First off, I apologize for being absent for these last few weeks. We have had a crazy bout with covid at our house and with our family. But...Praise God, we are all on the mend and joining back into the crazy mix of life again.

Praise God! What an interesting statement. So many thoughts, ideas, images that those two little words can bring up.

We praise Him for so many reasons. For myself this week, it has been for healthy parents who were visiting us out here in Michigan and contracted covid. For them to recover and make it back to their home on Vancouver Island safely. For the answers of prayers of a dear friend who was concerned about one of her children. For my sweet friend who underwent another round of chemo yesterday. For God providing for that unexpected expense. For the sweet warm wind that blew all around us as we basked in the glorious sunshine. For that first sip of coffee after being off of it for two weeks.

As a follower of Jesus, we find in His word that it is full of statements of "Praise God". Psalm150 is only 6 very short verses that tell us 13 times to Praise God. It is in the last verse of that chapter that states "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. This is a declarative statement. It is imperative command!

We as followers of Jesus, are called to living our lives actively, consciously, with open hearts and minds, people of praise. How do we do this? Is this something I receive when I choose to follow God? Am I born with this ability?

No. I don't think so. I know myself too well to say that about myself.

I have to choose this. Each time I have to choose to see Gods hand at work in my life and around me each day. I have to actively partake in an attitude of gratitude. I have to often start with asking Him to open the eyes of my heart to see Him in the world around me. Choosing to see the things He has provided for me moment by moment. Day by Day. Year by year. As I look at this list of ever-growing items I begin to marvel and see His hand at work. It is in this state of gratitude that my heart cry's out in this overwhelming response of praise and worship for my Creator, Sustainer, Papa and Friend.

It is here that the miracle happens. It is here in this moment that real transformation takes place.

What is the miracle that I am talking about? It is nothing less than the miracle of a heart transformed.

How fantastic that our Papa understands this so well. As we fulfill His command to praise Him, He uses that act of obedience and worship to bring about a heart that is transformed by our encounter with our Creator.

Worship and praise don't not change God. It changes me.

I encourage you to worship and praise Him today. In any way you're comfortable. In an exuberant shout from the mountain top your standing on, to the whispered awe inspired thought you have while loading the dishwasher. Never stop, be bold and courageous in how you express your praise to the One who loves you.