Hand clapping, toe tapping, hand lifting, dancing, jumping, shouting, waving, singing, playing skillfully or not so skillfully on your musical instrument – these are all acceptable forms of praise. If you don’t know how to play any of those other instruments, you can at least play the ten-stringed one, your palms… clapping, with your fingers serving as the strings. Lol.
You see, praise is a good way to stay connected to the Almighty because He lives in the praises of His people. So each time you praise, you create the right atmosphere and God invades your space. And when He shows up, light takes over while darkness and its associates flee.
Praising Him for who He is builds your faith and your confidence in Him, His character and ability, and makes you better able to receive from Him the wonderful things He’s promised. Praising Him for the things He has done takes you down memory lane as you recount the mercies and miracles you’ve experienced. Once again, your faith is built and you begin to think like Tye Tribbett sang ‘If He did it before He can do it again; same God right now, same God back then‘.
If you’re wondering why building your faith is so important, it’s simple. James put it this way: If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.
I find that I’m often joyful after praising God and this isn’t surprising when you consider the fact that there is fullness of joy in His presence. (Psalms 16:11) That joy is what we need to draw water from the wells of salvation (Isaiah 12:3) – to draw from God those things that are necessary for our survival.
So praise will equip you with faith and joy, two ingredients that’ll help you access God’s supply for your sustenance in every season. If you are not maximizing this resource yet, you can start now.
Happiness is a choice. I’ve known that for a long time now but I was reminded of that this past week when things didn’t go the way I planned. I invested valuable time in an activity that turned out to be an exercise in futility. It hurt so much and I mourned the loss of my time. I could have achieved so much more.
That was a low moment for me, so low I made the mistake of saying out loud ‘I am so sad right now’. Terrible! That should never come out of anybody’s mouth, and guess what? A few moments later, I became really sad, so sad everyone noticed, and for ever happy me, that was an anomaly. Our words really shape our future. Some outcomes are long term but others are short enough for us to see and realize that we’re reaping the fruit of our lips.
Well, I’m sure you all know being sad isn’t fun. It’s such an awkward expression – head bowed, no smile, people begin to pity you and wonder how they could help, and people become uncomfortable around you. Yuck! Awful. Naaah. No way was I going to let that linger. I said to myself, SNAP OUT OF IT! And I did a quick turn around in my mind, went to a secluded area, sang a good song and danced it off, then came back out and spent the rest of my day in joy.
Seriously, happiness is a decision and we have to choose everyday to maintain that joyful atmosphere around us. It produces good returns, like water that refreshes and revives. Find your own happiness restoration strategy and use it as often as required.
For the rest of today and every other day, I choose to be happy and I hope you’ll do the same.
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