An Old Reminder
I was listening to some worship music one day last week and I heard a song I hadn't heard in a long time. It was Shout to the Lord by Hillsong UNITED. I have heard this song hundreds of times, especially when I was growing up. But this time, it hit me a bit differently. I'll post the lyrics for you to read before I continue.
My Jesus, my Saviour
Lord there is none like You
All of my days I want to praise
The wonders of Your mighty love
My comfort, my shelter
Tower of refuge and strength
Let every breath, all that I am
Never cease to worship You
Shout to the Lord all the Earth, let us sing
Power and majesty, praise to the King
Mountains bow down and the seas will roar
At the sound of Your name
I sing for joy at the work of Your hands
Forever I'll love You, forever I'll stand
Nothing compares to the promise I have
In You
Praising Him
"Mountains bow down and the seas will roar at the sound of Your name". What a profound concept. Whether we seek and know the reverence of Jesus or not, the Earth literally cries out in praise. The mountains WILL bow down. It got me thinking about praising God even during the hard times. Because the earthly hard times are just temporary. The true promise is in Jesus, everlasting life through Him.
The lowest Valley
Y'all, I'm not going to lie, life is really hard right now. There is an area of my life that I am STRUGGLING with. It's a part that affects not only me, but my family indirectly. I honestly need a miracle. What I thought was the absolute will of God for my life is looking very cloudy right now. I'm filled with a lot of questioning. Did I make the right choice? If I didn't, what do I do now? If I did, then why does it seem like it's not working out? In this moment of questioning, the Lord gave me a phrase. Faith, NOT feelings. I feel like I'm failing, I feel like everything could change for the worse, I feel like I've let my family down. BUT...
But, whatever the situation turns out to be, I'm going to praise him in my low times. This is something I have always had to really work at. I don't think it comes naturally to anyone, but for me, it's a very intentional, working act that I have to pursue.
Luke writes in Acts 16:25 and 26 "And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed".
From Valley to Mountain
This is such a great example of praising God in the valley. Paul and Silas were sitting in prison. Wrongfully so, I might add. They still found a way to sing God's praises. And the act of praising Jesus literally freed them from jail. Now folks, my situation is not as dire as Paul's wrongful imprisonment, far from it. But I am heeding his lesson. So for now, during the hard times, during the struggle, and in the valley, I am choosing to praise God and hope, in faith, NOT feelings, that my situation turns around.
Want more encouragement? Click HERE to read Michael's post about Walking with Jesus
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