Encouragement for Today - May 13, 2005

May 13

Encouragement for Today

“Praise Him! Praise Him!”

Wendy Pope, Proverbs 31 Speaker Team Member

Key Verse:

Psalm 7:17, “Oh, how grateful and thankful I am to the Lord because he is so good. I will sing praises to the name of the Lord who is above all lords.” (TLB)

Devotion:

As a long time choir member and lover of music it is not any wonder that both my children love music. They have been exposed to music since they were in my tummy. My taste in music has changed over the years. I love many different types of music but my favorite is Praise and Worship.

When my daughter was young I bought all the Wee Sing tapes. We had the tapes memorized we played them so much. There were times we listened to “Mommy’s music” but most of time it was Wee Sing – until my son, Griffin, grew to have an opinion. He liked “Zaccheus” and “Father Abraham,” but after being exposed to “Mommy’s Music,” his passion is now Praise and Worship. The real stuff: “Sanctuary,” “Shackles,” and “Trading My Sorrows,” just to name a few of our favorites. It is wonderful. We praise and worship God through music as we drive, as well as when we are at home. He wants to praise all the time, even when I don’t feel like it.

It never fails. When things have not gone well during the day, when I am rushed to get somewhere and a person is going too slow, Griffin wants to listen to an upbeat praise song. When I am feeling down, the enemy seems to be closing in, Griffin suggests “Press On.” Better still if I am tired and feeling sorry for myself, Griffin asks to listen to “Sorrows,” as he calls it. He makes me praise the Lord sacrificially. Because of him I have to sacrifice the “right” to be in a bad mood, to have hurt feelings, or to feel sorry for myself.

God’s Word tells us to praise Him in all things. Griffin has it right. God has used Him more times than I can count to adjust my mood and change my focus from the unimportant to the important. Praising God when things aren’t going exactly as you planned is a choice. Praising Him changes your attitude and gives you a new perspective on your situation. Praising Him can take you directly into the presence of the Living God and make you forget you have problems at all.

Dust off a Praise and Worship CD and listen to it today. If you don’t have one, go by your local Christian bookstore and get one. Or, better yet, choose from one of the three links below to order Gwen Smith’s CD. The effect that worship can have on your life is indescribable. It is something every believer must experience for themselves.

My Prayer for Today:

Lord, it is my desire to turn every blessing you give me into praise. I have so many reasons to sing your praises. I want to live a life of praise and thanksgiving. I stand in awe of you. You are a great and mighty God and deserve my highest praise.

Application Steps:

For one week, start your prayer time with praise music.

For one week, listen to only praise and worship music.

In your journal, document changes in your responses, reactions and behavior.

Give Him the glory for changing your life.

Reflection Points:

What keeps me from praising the Lord?

Do I have any “sorrows I need to trade?”

What is my normal response when encountering people praising the Lord - to turn away or join them? Explain your answer.

Power Verses:

I Chronicles 16:25, “For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all Gods.” (NIV)

Psalm 33:1, “Let ALL the joys of the godly well up in praise to the Lord, for it is right to praise Him.” (TLB)