Praise Positions Our Hearts

                                           Praise Positions Our Heart

“The LORD is my strength and song; he has become my salvation. This is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God and I will exalt him.” Exodus 15:2

God continued to use Moses to lead the Israelites through the wilderness. This is a song of praise they sang after God had delivered them once again from Pharoah. This display of His faithfulness parted the seas to give them dry ground as the Lord instructed Moses to stretch out his hand. The Bible says that Moses, “stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea returned to its normal depth. While the Egyptians were trying to escape from it, the LORD threw them into the sea.” Exodus 14:27

At the stretch of the LORD’s hand the enemy was once again defeated. So then they sang a song of praise. After they saw the great power of the LORD the people feared the LORD and believed in him and in his servant Moses. 

Praise positions us to enter the promises of God. As I read that recently I thought about these last four years. Receiving something as a diagnosis took something so unexplainable and showed me the Hand of God. It taught me to position my heart in a way that said, “I will praise you in the unknowns.” I will praise you for the outcome before it comes.” I remember early on thinking that I was never once abandoned when I turned from God and chose my own way so why would He abandon me now? The enemy will fight against us remembering this all the time. I am finding in those places of insecurities are the exact places that God shows us praise is how we defend our hearts. Declaring that our reason to praise isn’t because of what we have been given but because He who has given us things is the One in control of it all.

“Not to us, LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory because of your faithful love, because of your truth.” Psalm 115:1

I reflect back to that first Sunday after being diagnosed. Begging the doctors to push the testing to get me out in time for worship team practice. Things that happened in that week of getting diagnosed that didn’t make sense but were still opportunities to glorify His name. From the nurse that I shared with her, it had been so long since she had been to church from the doctors that just looked at me when I had that peace. From sitting in my hospital bed reading my diagnosis and knowing that before a word was said that what was going on was about to change everything . Peace in the middle of unknowns. His Hand on it and knowing that His Peace was surpassing all my understanding. 

Jesus demonstrated the posture of his heart towards us. We don’t trust God because He does what we want, we trust because He has already proven His love towards us. God’s Faithful love IS Jesus. It is an everyday saving Grace that is available every single moment of the day. 

Father,

You constantly care for us. Your hand is always upon us. When it is hard. When it doesn’t make sense. When it is increasingly harder living in this world that tells us none of this matters. Choosing your ways daily is allowing your Holy Spirit to lead us and guide us. We praise you for the outcome before it comes. We praise you for what you do in the middle of our messes. You are a Faithful God that cares for each and everyone on this earth. Help us to remember the Grace and Mercy you showed us when we look around. Position our hearts to praise you in our lives Jesus.

Amen