Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day ( Tuesday 12/9/08)

What You Do'in That For?

Psalm 113:1-9 (Amplified Bible)
1) PRAISE THE Lord! (Hallelujah!) Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord!
2) Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forever
3) From the rising of the sun to the going down of it and from east to west, the name of the Lord is to be praised!
4) The Lord is high above all nations, and His glory above the heavens!
5) Who is like the Lord our God, Who has His seat on high,
6) Who humbles Himself to regard the heavens and the earth!
7) [The Lord] raises the poor out of the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap and the dung hill,
8) That He may seat them with princes, even with the princes of His people.
9) He makes the barren woman to be a homemaker and a joyful mother of [spiritual] children. Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)

My God daughter called me the other day to discuss an issues she was having. She was trying to figure out what made her look, react to and attract certain types of people. As we began to explore the subject matter, she came to some stunning revelations. She realized that she attracted a certain type of people that all fell into a particular category, but the specifics of their situation were vastly different. As the discussion progressed she realized there were certain elements that were tied to the personality of these individuals that caused a certain reaction in her. By the time we were finished with our conversation we had answered the questions that were perplexing her and we had answer some she did not know existed. There was a sense of relief and freedom because their was an understanding as to why certain behaviors existed and why she even unknowingly attracted a certain type of person.

There are times when people have problems assessing why they should praise God, especially when things in their lives seem less than praise worthy. We are caught in a cycle of behavior but not understanding why we are there. We go to church and when the praise leader or the pastor asks us to participate in praise we do it so we do not stick out like a sore thumb, but when we are alone, we rarely know the meaning of praise and why we should engage in it. We have no idea why we are attracted to but a non participant of praise in the personal areas of our lives. We have no clue that our lack of ability to find a place of praise, on our own attracts highs and lows in our walk with God and we find ourselves in a rotation of instability with God. But when we can see, when we can recognize the significance of what drives us, and what are the underlying factors of why we do and should praise God, we can evolve to find a place of praise and a place of peace. We can see God's worth and His glory. We recognize that through the vehicle of praise we can live a life that does not waiver in the face of adversity and among the winds of change.

Today is a good day to figure out where we are and whether we even know what a place of praise is between us and God. If we can see the importance of God in our lives, we will want to praise God, regardless. We will carry a spirit of praise and we will attract the attention and presence of God. It is time to figure out what we need to be doing and get it done. It's for our progression, our growth and our good!