Hold the Praise
Scripture: Psalm 113
Count your Blessings.
In the late 70’s there was a
series of books on Praise by Merlin Carothers. “Prison to Praise” “Power in
Praise”, “Praise Works” and “Answers to Praise”. I read them, and applied them
like a panacea to a canker sore. I was walking on cloud nine all the time; I
was living proof that praise works.
But I also know that praise
doesn’t come so easily all the time, especially when the world is threatening
to do you in and cut you off. David, who
performed most of these psalms, had himself been in many sticky and treacherous
situations, and yet he gives a clarion call to praise the LORD.
Praise affords us opportunity
to declare, in no uncertain terms, to ourselves, to our problems, and to
whomever we assume caused them, whom we believe to be in charge— THE LORD GOD
ALMIGHTY. It allows us to anticipate with joy, what God’s meddling, if you
will, can bring about.
One thing is for sure, it is
a humbling process. I have found that often the proud and foolish are unable to
praise. The first because they think they did it all, and the latter because
they are not attentive enough to their lives to see the many times God has
“meddled” to arrange their fortunes and misfortunes to a good end. That is why the song writer calls on us to
“count our blessings, name them one by one”.
Counting allows us to name those blessings and be specific and
intentional in our praise, for no generic hallelujahs would do. This season,
with the newness of Spring, hold the praise until you have counted. Prepare to
be surprised by God.
Prayer: Dear Lord, When I'm tempted to praise
just emotionally, teach me the value of pausing to count, that I may praise
more thoughtfully as well. Amen.
Dr. Esther Acolatse
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