Day 22 Of Fast Gratitude, Praise

My flesh has thought for a few days I should write about gratitude. Therapist, 12 step programs, and all the self help books say they are good, and they can change my focus, and make me feel better. I was going to write about it to "help" someone else. As if I have anything to do with the "helping" That was flesh, and pride. I am sure gratitude list works for some, but my experience was not so good. I would compare my life with a concentration camp survivor, a parent that lost a child, or a homeless person living under a bridge. The lists I am refering to took place before I was walking with the Lord, and I was not really thanking God, I was just trying to feel grateful thus feel good. Over the years I tried to get in the habbit of daily gratitude list, most of the time it lasted a few days and I forgot about them until the next crisis. The goal of feeling better rarely happened for me. Please allow Grace as you read the thoughts of what really happened after I wrote the list:

• If I am grateful for my children God will take them to punish me
  
• If I am grateful for my children the devil will kill them because he knows how important they are to me
  
• If I am grateful for my children God will take them to "test" me.
  
• I am hopeless, concentration camp survivors have more faith, and can feel better and function better than me
  
• I will always have victim mentality
  
• I am crazy, I have all this and I can not even be happy

I do not know exactly why this would happen and cause more anxiety and depression. I can clearly see the devils lies in there.

Today at church the pastor was doing a teaching on praise

Praising the Lord instead of trying to get happy by a gratitude list is a game changer. Praising The Lord and thanking the Lord regardless of feelings, situations, or circumstances is amazing. Being grateful to and for the Lord is right.

David is an perfect example of this. He sang the Lords praises after he had committed adultery with Bathsheba, while he was being hunted down and trying to be killed, after the death of his son, while one of his sons was trying to take his power and get rid of him, David always sang praises regardless of circumstances.

What does Praise do? (thank you pastor Richie for this clear teaching)

1. Praise Changes Focus
   
2. Praise reveals our source. The Lord
   
3. Praise creates a pathway to VICTORY
   
4. Praise disarms the enemy
   
5. Praising the Lord in times of struggle is a great Witness to those around us.
   
6. Praise ushers in The Lord

2 Samuel 22:4 I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

Isaiah 25:1 O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderfulthings; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.

Psalms 150:2 Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.

Dear Lord You are so great, You alone deserve all of our praises, regardless of our feelings, struggles,or situations. Let us Sing our Praises, Write our Praises, Shout our Praises, and Pray our Praises. You are so worthy of all of our Praise. Thank You Jesus

 

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The Bible says that God inhabits in the praises of His people (Psalms 22:3). In other words, God “dwells†in the atmosphere of His praise. This means that praise is not merely a reaction from coming into His presence - Praise is a vehicle of faith which brings us into the presence and power of God! Praise and worship is the “gate-pass†which allows us to enter the sacredness of His glory. The psalmist writes, “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name†(Psalms 100:4).



be blessed....and continue to be a blessing