Dawn to Dusk
Praise overflows from the heart when we understand the character of God. Understanding His character comes from seeking Him through Jesus, His Son and studying His Word. Sometimes, before I read my Bible I recite Proverbs 2:2-5:
"...if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God."
This is serious seeking. If someone hid one million dollars in your house, you would not rest until you found it. Isn't God's Word more valuable than any amount of money?
One day as I was looking out my kitchen window, I saw three little purple martins sitting on the gutter of my house. They all had their mouths open wide for the mama bird to feed them. Sure enough the mama swooped down and dropped food into their mouths. Their mouths were open wide but just as soon as they received their portion they started squealing for another bite. They hungered for more.
This scene reminds me of Psalm 81:10:
"Open your mouth wide and I will fill it."
God satisfies the hunger of our heart. As fledglings opening their mouths begging for more, let us hunger for more of God.
Sometimes as I am seeking God in His Word and hungering for more of Him, I transition from reading to praising Him. This is a heart of praise. The Holy Spirit empowers the believer to have a heart of praise.
What about those times we do not feel like praising? It is a discipline to praise when you feel like grumbling or complaining. This is when we choose to praise and ask the Holy Spirit to help. As we mature in Christ, it becomes more natural to praise than grumble. As we walk in the Spirit, the Spirit guides us to turn our eyes on Jesus and praise Him through the difficulties. In the book of Acts chapter 16 Paul and Silas praise God through song at midnight while wrongfully imprisoned and beaten. Acts 16:25-26:
"But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and prisoners were listening to them; and suddenly there came a great earthquake so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were unfastened."
Verse 33 tells of the jailer and his household being saved and baptized. God's presence rests upon the praises of His people. Miracles happen when we praise the Lord.
Learning this discipline will serve you well in life. We never know what tomorrow brings. In May of 2019 my son, David at the age of 28, passed away in the middle of the night from complications of open-heart surgery. His surgeon said his surgery was textbook perfect. He was on his way to recovery. I dreaded his recovery knowing he would suffer but never once entertained the thought that it would take his life. Could I praise the Lord on such a tragic day? I praised Jesus for dying on the cross so David could live forever. Over the next several months I chose to listen to worship music, sit in God's presence, and read His Word. At first it was hard to concentrate, so I would read small portions of Scripture, but as the months passed, I found myself running to the Word to know God better. In Scripture, Martha, the sister of Lazarus and Mary, sat at the feet of Jesus. I was becoming a Martha. Life could wait. I just wanted to be with Jesus. Praising and worshiping Jesus brought joy to my broken heart. A joy this world cannot give.
There is nothing more important than loving Jesus and giving Him praise. Praising Him throughout the day becomes natural when our hearts are fixed on Him.
"From the rising of the Sun to the place where it sets, the Name of the Lord is to be praised." Psalm 113:3.
Author: Tonia Nolen
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