Rebounding with Praise—Part 1
Words from Jesus
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Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.—Psalm 42:11
When hardship, testing, trial, or difficulties arise, you can call on My name to bring you through to victory. I know your every pain, I see every tear, and I feel your every heartbreak. When you lift your heart to Me and you offer praise for all that I am doing and will yet do in your life, My joy will be your strength (Nehemiah 8:10).
It takes a step of faith to enter into My courts with thanksgiving during times of trouble, and to lift your voice to Me in praise and thanksgiving for all that I have done and will yet do in your life (Psalm 100:4). But as you praise Me in and through everything you face in your life—the good, the bad, the joyous, and the sad—you will experience My peace, and your courage and strength to carry on in the fight will be renewed (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Expressing your faith in Me through praise and reminding yourself of My faithfulness to you—and to all who have called on My name for generations upon generations—will renew your faith to face the battles of life. As you continually offer your sacrifice of praise and love, you are acknowledging Me and glorifying Me with your lips and with your life (Hebrews 13:15).
Your choice to praise and trust Me in the midst of the storm is the bridge between your difficult situation and the faith you need to access the wonderful promises that I have given in My Word. No matter what gulf of seeming impossibilities you face, whether sickness, dire financial straits, heartbreak, or loss, nothing can separate you from Me and My love.
Rejoicing in His steadfast love
Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.—Psalm 63:3–4
As you choose to place your trust in Me during times of trouble in your life, you will see the storm clouds eventually part, the sun will shine again, and the path before you will become clear. When you lift your voice to Me in praise, your spirit will be lifted, no matter what you’re facing. Praise brings an eternal perspective to your earthly challenges as you are reminded of your eternal destiny and promised future.
So when you’re faced with a seemingly impossible situation, and you feel the waves rising over your head, choose the path of praise and hope, and remind yourself of who you are as a child of God. Remind yourself that My steadfast love for you is better than life itself and will endure forever.
As you contemplate these truths and remind yourself of them, you will find that you are better able to cope with the hardships that come your way and you will learn to give thanks in everything, which is My will for you (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Your posture of praise is a stand of faith that will stabilize you in the difficulties you face.
So when the battle is overwhelming, choose to put your faith in Me, and to express it through your worship and words of thanksgiving for My work in your life—past, present, and future. Trust that I have done—and will yet do—wonderful things and fulfill My plans and purposes in your life.
His perfect faithfulness
Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.—Isaiah 25:1
When you express your words of praise to Me and lift your arms in thanksgiving, you are choosing to set all your hope and trust in Me. Even when your heart is heavy and your praise is only by faith, in time you will see how your heart and mind receive the strength that My joy will bring you.
Praise in the midst of tribulation is a powerful witness to others. The martyrs of the early church who died for My sake changed the course of history through their final witness. They not only died refusing to deny Me, but they did so with songs of praise on their lips and My peace which passes understanding on their faces. Praise on the lips and in the hearts of those who die daily for Me is a witness to the world.
You can praise Me in season and out of season—even when you feel that you have fallen or failed. You can praise Me for how I use even your mistakes and failings to teach you valuable lessons and I always work for the ultimate good of those who love Me.
I have promised that if you abide in My Word, you will know the truth that will set you free (John 8:31–32). The truth is that you are Mine, and nothing can change that; nothing can separate you from My love (Romans 8:38–39). The truth is that all things work together for good to them that love Me (Romans 8:28). Praise is a proclamation of the truth that will set you free.
When you’re tempted to worry about events in the future, praise Me for My presence in your life and My promise that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). When you’re feeling overwhelmed, bring all your cares to Me and remember My faithfulness to you.
Surpassing peace
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.—Philippians 4:6–7
The words of the well-known hymn “Let go and let God have His way” express the peace that comes when you let go of your ideas, plans, desires and dreams and allow Me to work in your life. As you place your trust in Me and give Me thanks, you will experience that supernatural peace that passes all understanding and the joy of knowing that everything you commit to Me is safe within My hands.
Your words of praise and thanksgiving are themselves a victory, an expression of your choice to place your trust in Me. A thankful heart is a secret to a life filled with love, joy, and blessings. So praise Me with your whole heart, remind yourself of all the goodness that I’ve brought into your life, and your heart will be filled with thankfulness and gratitude as you enter into My presence.
When you give all the weights of discouragement, anxiety, dismay, and the heaviness of heart you feel to Me, I have promised to sustain you, and I will never allow you to be shaken (Psalm 55:22). Even in the darkest circumstances, you can come to Me with praise and give thanks, which will help you to rise above your grief or anguish and will be a steppingstone to victory.
Praise in the midst of trying times helps lift you above the dark clouds of doom and gloom and draws you in to the sunshine of My love, peace, and joy. So whenever you are faced with a daunting battle or trial, pour some gratitude, praise, and thankfulness into the mix and you will experience My strength-giving joy.
Published on Anchor October 2024. Read by Jon Marc. Music by John Listen.
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