A Grateful heart bursts into Praise!
Among other things, I am grateful especially for my copy of “Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence”, as it keeps one aware of the simple but profound mechanism for staying connected to the vine by maintaining a constant awareness of His presence, and an attitude of turning one’s gratitude into praise.
We ask, what is praise, other than a deep and abiding thankfulness and gratitude based on a relationship of proven trust in the Lord, one that overflows from the recipient to the giver, no matter what the outcome?!
Ah! There’s the rub, there is the difficulty, “…no matter what!…” We are guaranteed His constant presence, but it is not a guarantee that we prevail in the world’s sense of prevailing. Witness what Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego said about the impending furnace (Daniel 3:1-30 Key Verses: 3:17,18).
“If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.”
These three young men—like Daniel, all advisors to the royal Persian court—had each experienced walking with the Lord during the time they were exiled and selected for service in the court of the pagan king, so they knew in their hearts, “our God is able”, but they also knew that God’s will for a given outcome cannot be presumed upon. Consequently, they relied upon the principle which would be revealed in Romans, “All things work to the good for those who love the Lord and are called to His purposes…”. In times like this, one must trust that the Lord sees the whole picture from beginning to the end and will take the action best for you, others and His greater purposes. In their case, they were vindicated immediately! Not so in all cases!
What about those who are not rescued immediately, as they were? For example, take Job, who had everything but his life itself removed before he was vindicated and restored?
Or, what about Habakkuk who, like Job, had an on-going one-on-one conversation with God, this time about what God was doing with His people and the nations ? God told Habakkuk that He was going to bring judgment upon His own chosen people by bringing on that “fierce and proud people”, the Chaldeans, whose “authority comes from themselves”. After the shock of God’s pronouncement abated, Habakkuk’s response was to repeat that wonderful expression, “The just shall live by faith” which was first uttered in regard to Abraham, and then were repeated in the New Testament. And finally his crowning statements, “…If the olive doesn’t bloom still I will trust in You…” and “He will give me feet like Hinds feet to walk in high places..”
And, what about today? What about what we call the “reality” of the “real world”? Are there examples of God’s people today who are living faithfully on the edge like these examples?
Absolutely!! There are many, but here are two such examples. One who has gone on to be with the Lord leaving his faithful testimony behind, and one who is still standing in joy against all that the evil one can throw at him.
First, witness the excruciatingly beautiful story of a Christian Gospel singer whose 11-year bout with cancer nearly drove him beyond his ability to stand firm, save for rediscovering the power of “praise” to sustain him during the final years as he literally went singing into the arms of Christ. (See the website Roger Bennett’s Midnight Meditations) Key excerpt: “When it begins to rain in your life, take Roger Bennett’s (and God’s) advice – Sing the Gospel and allow it take root in your heart. You may not sing your blues away, but I’ll bet you’ll feel the presence of a pretty powerful friend.”
Then, witness on-line the on-going u-tube testimony of Matt Chandler, pastor of the Village Church, who is proclaiming praise as the key element of response and treatment for an unusual strain of recurring cancer—which is now in remission. This is a selected u-tube from a year ago that illustrates the “deep and immense gratitude” Matt is experiencing and voicing in his continuing fight for his life here.
We have many examples of such strong witness here at Cumberland, who have and continue to inspire us all—too many to name. Thus, since God inhabits praise, then let us determine that our “witness” in crisis will be to follow the lead and join that cloud of witnesses who have gone or are going before us, by counting it all joy, “if” and ‘when’ we meet such testings!
Discussion Questions:
1. How do we determine “purpose” in our circumstances?
2. Who are some of the other Biblical models along the same lines as Job and Habbakuk?
3. How do we maintain an active attitude of gratitude when the same problem re-occurs over and over?
4. How does our personal witness in crisis and testing carry on the model for those behind us?
“and if not…” (king james)
love this!
thanks for living this out!
blessings,
alan