I have found there is no better medicine for what ails you than praising God.
My problem is I tend to forget that this medicine is always there for me. I spend too much time worrying or upset. But when I take this medicine, it isn't long before my mental, emotional, and spiritual health improves.
David said as much in Psalm 34:2: "My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice." The afflicted - those who are suffering in some way - will rejoice as people praise God.
There are good reasons for this. It's obvious that as I praise God, I'm not thinking about myself. I'm thinking of my God who created me, redeemed me, loves me just as I am. I'm thinking of the God of the miraculous. I'm thinking of God who is working out his plan in my life. I'm thinking of God who has all time and eternity in his hands.
As I praise God, I begin to let go of my problems. I realize that nothing is too big for him. I understand that, in the end, everything will work out for my good.
Several writers have said that praising God is the highest form of prayer.
Paul E. Billheimer, author of Destined for the Throne, said: "Praise is the highest form of prayer because it combines petition with faith. Praise is the sparkplug of faith."
When I praise God, I begin to understand that anything is possible for God.
Monday 27 February 2012
Tuesday 21 February 2012
Keep at it
Steve Stewart, our pastor, said in a recent sermon that he decided a short time ago to pray persistently for three things that were on his heart.
Within days, he had an answer for one of those prayers. He intended to continue praying for the other two.
His comments reminded me of how important it is to "keep at it" when I pray. I should not stop just because the answer doesn't come immediately.
It's easy to get discouraged when God doesn't instantly answer the way we wish. But, as God says in Isaiah 55:9: "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." He has good reasons why he answers when he does.
A good example is Zechariah the priest in Luke 1. Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth had clearly been praying for a child for many years, but both were now old. So Zechariah was astounded when the angel said he had come in answer to that prayer and that his wife would have a child. He had evidently stopped believing God would say "Yes" to their prayers.
But God had great plans for Zechariah and Elizabeth's son, John the Baptist. He was born to herald the coming of Jesus.
When I think of persistence, I think of George Muller, a man who built a string of orphanages in Britain in the 1800s and fed thousands of orphans without making a single public appeal. He prayed.
In his book George Muller: Man of Faith and Miracles, author Basil Miller says that Muller started praying in his 20s for the conversion of five young friends of his. In the following decades, each became a believer - the last at Muller's graveside.
Within days, he had an answer for one of those prayers. He intended to continue praying for the other two.
His comments reminded me of how important it is to "keep at it" when I pray. I should not stop just because the answer doesn't come immediately.
It's easy to get discouraged when God doesn't instantly answer the way we wish. But, as God says in Isaiah 55:9: "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." He has good reasons why he answers when he does.
A good example is Zechariah the priest in Luke 1. Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth had clearly been praying for a child for many years, but both were now old. So Zechariah was astounded when the angel said he had come in answer to that prayer and that his wife would have a child. He had evidently stopped believing God would say "Yes" to their prayers.
But God had great plans for Zechariah and Elizabeth's son, John the Baptist. He was born to herald the coming of Jesus.
When I think of persistence, I think of George Muller, a man who built a string of orphanages in Britain in the 1800s and fed thousands of orphans without making a single public appeal. He prayed.
In his book George Muller: Man of Faith and Miracles, author Basil Miller says that Muller started praying in his 20s for the conversion of five young friends of his. In the following decades, each became a believer - the last at Muller's graveside.
Sunday 12 February 2012
Working with God
When we pray, we are joining with God in carrying out his
plan for the world and the universe.
That’s what John Piper was saying in the short video I
referred to in my last blog post. His view is supported by scripture.
For example, Jesus outlines the tremendous power of prayer in Matthew 18:18-20. Whatever we bind or loose on earth will be bound or loosed in heaven.
For that to happen, we must pray in “Jesus’ name” – that
is, in the character of Jesus or as Jesus would. In other words, we must pray as God wants us
to pray in our circumstances.For example, Jesus outlines the tremendous power of prayer in Matthew 18:18-20. Whatever we bind or loose on earth will be bound or loosed in heaven.
When we pray in this way, God works his will on earth.
The apostle Paul tells us 2 Corinthians 6:1 that we are
“God’s fellow workers” and one of the ways we work with God is through prayer.
Amazing, isn’t it?
God wants us to join him in his great work through our prayers.
Thursday 9 February 2012
Prayer changes things
Like me, you may doubt at times that your prayers mean anything. Is God listening? Is he acting? Is praying worthwhile?
When that happens in my life, I go back to the Bible. I think about Jesus who prayed regularly, seeking the Father's guidance and the power and strength of the Holy Spirit for his mission of preaching, teaching, and healing. If Jesus felt prayer was vital, shouldn't I?
And the apostle James said: "You do not have, because you do not ask God." (James 4:2) James knew that God works through our prayers.
Recently, I came across a brief three-minute video by the renowned preacher, pastor, theologian and author John Piper who said it all far more passionately and memorably than I could. Check out what he said here:
As Piper says, prayer changes things.
When that happens in my life, I go back to the Bible. I think about Jesus who prayed regularly, seeking the Father's guidance and the power and strength of the Holy Spirit for his mission of preaching, teaching, and healing. If Jesus felt prayer was vital, shouldn't I?
And the apostle James said: "You do not have, because you do not ask God." (James 4:2) James knew that God works through our prayers.
Recently, I came across a brief three-minute video by the renowned preacher, pastor, theologian and author John Piper who said it all far more passionately and memorably than I could. Check out what he said here:
As Piper says, prayer changes things.
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