Praising God regularly and often can change us.
And sometimes, a life of praise can change our circumstances.
Cindy Jacobs mentions in her book The Power of Persistent Prayer that many years ago her husband lost his job at Trans World Airlines and, despite great effort, he couldn't find another.
They were driving home to Los Angeles from Arizona feeling discouraged when she began speaking words of praise to the Lord. Her husband Mike picked up this idea and began singing songs of praise.
Before long, they were praising the Lord with full hearts. When one began getting tired, the other would step in and take over. They continued praising God all the way to Los Angeles.
The experience changed their outlook on their circumstances. And soon after, Mike Jacobs found a job.
That reminds me again of the story in Acts 16 of the apostle Paul and Silas in the Philippian jail. They had beaten and thrown into the jail for preaching Jesus Christ.
Instead of cursing their jailers, they began praying and singing songs of praise to the Lord. There was an earthquake, their fetters were broken, and they were in a position to break free. Instead, they stayed and led the awestruck jailer and his family to faith in Christ.
Paul urges us to live a life of praise and thanksgiving. In Philippians 4:6, he says: "Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done."
And in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 he says: "Be thankful in all circumstances for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus."
Such a life is not normal. I admit I am not a good example of being thankful and praising God in all circumstances. But when I do, my heart lightens.
Leanne Payne, author of Listening Prayer, suggests we should make a concentrated effort to praise the Lord, making it a habit.
She keeps a list of praise scriptures which she reads frequently, meditating upon them. She spends time going deeper into her readings about Jesus to soak in his presence.
She notes that Paul says in Romans 13:14 that we are to "clothe" ourselves with Jesus Christ. That is an action we must take.
In Colossians 3, the apostle goes further, outlining how we are to do it - putting on humility and compassion and other virtues. This is not to appear better than we are - it is to rely on Christ to bring about these changes within us as we step out in faith, believing that Christ is doing this through us.
There are many stories like Cindy Jacobs' account of the drive from Phoenix to Los Angeles. People are healed emotionally - and sometimes physically - as they praise God.
As Psalm 22:3 suggests, God makes his presence felt when we turn to him in praise.
And sometimes, a life of praise can change our circumstances.
Cindy Jacobs mentions in her book The Power of Persistent Prayer that many years ago her husband lost his job at Trans World Airlines and, despite great effort, he couldn't find another.
They were driving home to Los Angeles from Arizona feeling discouraged when she began speaking words of praise to the Lord. Her husband Mike picked up this idea and began singing songs of praise.
Before long, they were praising the Lord with full hearts. When one began getting tired, the other would step in and take over. They continued praising God all the way to Los Angeles.
The experience changed their outlook on their circumstances. And soon after, Mike Jacobs found a job.
That reminds me again of the story in Acts 16 of the apostle Paul and Silas in the Philippian jail. They had beaten and thrown into the jail for preaching Jesus Christ.
Instead of cursing their jailers, they began praying and singing songs of praise to the Lord. There was an earthquake, their fetters were broken, and they were in a position to break free. Instead, they stayed and led the awestruck jailer and his family to faith in Christ.
Paul urges us to live a life of praise and thanksgiving. In Philippians 4:6, he says: "Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done."
And in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 he says: "Be thankful in all circumstances for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus."
Such a life is not normal. I admit I am not a good example of being thankful and praising God in all circumstances. But when I do, my heart lightens.
Leanne Payne, author of Listening Prayer, suggests we should make a concentrated effort to praise the Lord, making it a habit.
She keeps a list of praise scriptures which she reads frequently, meditating upon them. She spends time going deeper into her readings about Jesus to soak in his presence.
She notes that Paul says in Romans 13:14 that we are to "clothe" ourselves with Jesus Christ. That is an action we must take.
In Colossians 3, the apostle goes further, outlining how we are to do it - putting on humility and compassion and other virtues. This is not to appear better than we are - it is to rely on Christ to bring about these changes within us as we step out in faith, believing that Christ is doing this through us.
There are many stories like Cindy Jacobs' account of the drive from Phoenix to Los Angeles. People are healed emotionally - and sometimes physically - as they praise God.
As Psalm 22:3 suggests, God makes his presence felt when we turn to him in praise.
