Have you ever wondered why God seems to consistently move mountains for some people while for others, it seems He is distant and uninvolved? Isn’t He a great God who can do great things for everyone?
Here’s one thing that I’ve found – if we read the Bible; if we observe the lives of others; if we carefully examine our own lives, I believe we will come to the conclusion that God is no respecter of persons; His might and His great wonders are available to each of us. But to access it, we must recognize the power of our praises!
We read in Psalm 22:3, “Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.” Put another way, He inhabits or dwells in the midst of our praises. That’s when He rises up and does His great wonders on our behalf.
As human beings, we experience various challenges. It’s easy when we are faced with difficult life circumstances to get down and despondent. It’s easy to give in to the pressures of the moment and see hopelessness and desolation. On the contrary, these are the moments, I believe, that the power of God can be most evident. James 4:8 tells us, “Come near to God and He will come near to you.” And when He comes near to you, He displays His might and power within these same difficult circumstances.
Are you going through a hard time in your life right now? Did you receive some not so good news from your doctor? your employer? Having family issues? Rather than being down and depressed about it, how about inviting God into the midst of your woes to prove His power and might? 2 Chronicles 16:9 tells us, “For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.”
Some only believe that we praise God for the good things He has done for us in the past; they see nothing to praise Him for when there is disappointment – when things seem bleak. The challenge to you is to praise Him regardless of your circumstances. When you do, He hears you and is moved to come to your aid.
You see, sometimes we think that because we find ourselves in a dark place, God has let us down. We might even lose our trust and confidence in Him and as a result we do not enter in and praise Him as we are commanded to in His Word. But, my friend, let me tell you that it is in the praises that we lift up to Him that He manifests Himself and shows Himself strong on our behalf.
When we bring a sacrifice of praise, it touches Him to move on our behalf. A sacrifice, by definition, costs us something. When we feel let down, betrayed, disappointed, yet we conjure up the energy to sing His praises, heaven takes notice and angels are dispatched on our behalf. Psalm 37:4 tells us, “Delight yourself also in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”
I don’t claim that all of this is easy; I recognize that it can be a challenge. But over time, as you walk with God, you will recognize that the times when you lose yourself in worship are the times when He proves Himself to be the strongest. The Apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 12:10, “When I am weak, I am strong.”
So, as you encounter your daily challenges, make sure you give God the praises due unto Him. He shows up in our weakest moments and shows us that He is Lord of all! Hold on to His unchanging hand and watch Him work in the midst of your every experience.
Praise Him and be blessed!
Rodrick Walters