Praise the Lord - anyway!

“You’re feeling overwhelmed, aren’t you?” Bev asked me.  I just looked at her mute because  even talking required too much effort at that moment given the various frustrating and difficult challenges that were weighing on my mind. Later as we lay down to sleep, she took the lead and committed the cares of life to the One who cares for us.  I joined her in prayer, handing my Father the problems and promptly fell into sound sleep.  I still must apply myself to finding solutions and helping people through their crises, but I am not alone, nor will I live in despair.

Are you juggling multiple responsibilities, wrestling with life’s issues, wondering if you want to ‘do life’ today?  Maybe it is not some huge crisis that is weighing on you. Instead you are feeling the pressure of the ordinary stuff of living – finding resources to pay the bills, another thing that needs repaired, a conflict that just will not find resolution, disappointment.  The long, dark, cold days of winter always tend to amplify the voice inside of me that whispers  about fear and failure.  If you are burdened, if you are tempted to listen to that voice of doubt, there is a better choice:  praise, singing songs in the night.  It is not just happy talk or positive thinking.   

We find joy when praise changes our perspective.

Peter, a man who knew about failure, who led the Church in a time of many troubles, reminds us to hang in there!  “Praise the Lord anyhow,” he says, “because Heaven is assured and all this stuff has a purpose.”  Well, he is much more eloquent than that.  Read the passage slowly.  "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls." (1 Peter 1:3-9, NIV)

We offer a sacrifice of praise, sincerely grateful for the gifts that sustain us in our trials. What are they?

New Birth.  We are no longer dead men walking, headed for destruction. We are alive in the Spirit.

Living Hope.  We look at the Resurrection and realize anew that we are eternal beings, on our way Home.

An inheritance that is incorruptible.  Nobody and nothing can steal or ruin what God has prepared for you and me.

A shield of faith.  We do not save ourselves! God’s power is working on our behalf, right now.

Peter says that when we bring these things to mind and choose to praise Him, our faith grows and the trials take new meaning.  They refine us, making our lives truly beautiful, beings of great worth that will make the angels sing in awe when Jesus brings His Kingdom into full revelation.  And, last, but not least, we need not just try to make it through the day.  Instead, because of Christ’s power and promise, we " love him … though you do not see him, you trust him; and even now you are happy with a glorious, inexpressible joy." (1 Peter 1:8, NLT)

So, what are you going to do today? Praise the Lord, anyway!

____________________

10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)

The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning,

It's time to sing Your song again.

Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me,

Let me be singing when the evening comes.

You're rich in love and You're slow to anger,

Your name is great and Your heart is kind.

For all Your goodness I will keep on singing,

Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find.

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

O my soul,

Worship His holy name!

Sing like never before,

O my soul,

I'll worship Your holy name.

And on that day when my strength is failing,

The end draws near and my time has come.

Still my soul will sing Your praise unending,

Ten thousand years and then forevermore.

Worship Your holy name,

Lord, I'll worship Your holy name.

CCLI Song # 6016351

Jonas Myrin | Matt Redman

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