Praise

Yesterday morning people stopped and stared when they walked past our house, and some wore a big grin. Why? Because the night before a wind took down half of a very large old ornamental pear tree in our front yard, and they recognized the chore that it will mean. It happened within a week of finding that our clothes dryer is irreparably broken and the air conditioner in our car has failed while it is 100+ outside. It was not quite a “perfect storm,” but it felt like one.

“The Lord is my strength and my joy; my heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise Him.” (Ps.28:7) “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth. . . For He spoke , and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm. . . The plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations.” (Ps. 33; 6,9,11)

Praising God in my thoughts at a time of adversity refocuses my spirit from dismay to hope. It grounds me in confidence and a strength that comes not from me, but from the One I’m praising.

Praise at such a time reminds me that underneath the adversity there is another reality that pervades our lives, a reality that promises good and blessing and help. It’s not as if praise is a code that unleashes the power of God to solve my problems, but that it reminds me of this other reality, one not of stress and angst, but of joy and peace: “You who fear the Lord, praise Him! For He has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; He has not hidden His face from him, but has listened to his cry for help.”

“Yet you, O Lord, are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.”(Ps. 22:3)

Many of David’s Psalms express undying praise for the God he knew so well. Many of the Psalms concerned times of severe adversity; indeed, life threatening adversity, and some of these have the sweetest message: “Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt His name together.”(Ps. 34:3)

Praise brings people together in the presence of the Lord. It is a fellowship to be sought after between a human being and a holy invisible God. Praise provides the strongest footprint as we work our way through car repairs and dryer replacement and missing a tree. When we “ exalt His name together”, we “enthrone” our God.

Love in Him,

Prue