Last night God showed up in such a way as I have never felt before. I am sorry for everyone that missed it. There is nothing, nothing that compares to feeling the spirit of God move over a room where voices are being lifted in praise and worship to Him.
Last night was the first annual Power: A Night of Worship for Women. I know God smiled when He hears us singing to Him, the gift of praise and adoration we bring that He so deserves. Our praise exalts Him and humbles us. When we are singing to Him, we are thinking about His greatness, His power, His presence, and it takes our minds off ourselves. It is confessing our dependence on Him and expresses our devotion to Him. It is the melody of prayer – laying it all out and laying our hearts open before him. It is declaring we trust Him, believe Him, and honor Him above all others.
As much as God loves our praise, Satan can’t stand it. There is no greater victory than for us to bring the “sacrifice of praise” to our God in the middle of trials. Satan never wants you and me to be able to stand in pain, hardship, the unknown, and still worship God. He wants us to be defeated and when we praise, there is only victory. No defeat - except for the defeat of Satan. Our praise, lifted up to God in reverence, is a crushing defeat to him that causes him to flee. There is one-on-one intimate communication going on between us and God and there is no room for Satan.
God created us for a relationship with Him. Part of that relationship is praising Him. He doesn’t need us to praise Him, He is self-sufficient. But He desires it, and takes pleasure in it, and we need it! Praise invites Him into our lives and opens the way for Him to dwell close to us and us to dwell in Him. We should not invite Him in expecting Him to come in and change or situations and work out our problems. We should invite Him in expecting Him to change our hearts, praising Him in all things, through every circumstance.
True love for God spills out in praise, with no effort. It is a command that is not difficult to follow. Created for a relationship with Him, praising Him fulfills our purpose and brings fulfillment and joy to our lives. It brings peace and comfort in times of chaos and stills our minds and brings our focus to Him – right where it belongs.
Scripture to Claim:
Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Hebrews 13:15 ESV
Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Hebrews 13:15 ESV
