Praise Your Way Through by Jacqueline D. Moore

Most of the verses written about praise in God's Word were voiced by people faced with crushing heartaches, injustice, treachery, slander, and scores of other difficult situations. ~ Joni Eareckson Tada

Scripture:
I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together. Psalm 34:1-3 (New King James Version)

Sometimes the crushing weight of the world is almost too much to bear. We get angry about our situations and often times throw up our hands in despair. But instead of raising fists of anger, why not trying lifting your hands in praise? Believe it or not, it works.

So often we are faced with situations that make us just want to give up and throw in the towel. But what we will eventually realize is that is exactly what satan wants us to do. He wants us to turn away from God instead of turning towards Him.

King David often found himself in the pit of despair, but he managed to write some of the most beautiful God inspired Psalms and continued to sing songs of praise during some of his darkest hours. Job lost everything and still found the strength and the fortitude to sing God’s praises. And Paul who is considered by some as the greatest Christian who ever lived continued to worship and praise God even as he spent many years imprisoned.

What can be learned from each of these individuals is not to hang our heads in hopelessness and despair but rather to lift up Holy hands and turn our faces towards the hills. I will lift up my eyes to the hills— From whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.

When praises go up, Blessings come down.

Be Blessed

Prayer:
Lord, sometimes I try to pray and the words won't come. I toss and turn and feel nothing. My mind is dry, my heart is dull, my soul longs for life. Hear my silent cry, my God, hear me. Breathe on us Lord renewing a right spirit within us. Even in our times of sorrow, we praise Your holy name. Lord, open our eyes and give us a discerning spirit, so that we may recognize the tricks of the evil one. Lord, we come before the throne of grace once again asking that You would forgive us for not depending on You. We come asking that You who are rock and our salvation, would help us to starve our fears and doubts and feed our faith. Lord, I personally ask for forgiveness and direction for myself. I know that sometimes, we take You for granted and in doing so, leave ourselves open to attack. Lord, we stand before You again, putting on the whole armor of God. The belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, wielding our shield of faith and the sword of the spirit, and placing upon our heads, the helmet of salvation. Lord, let us always be diligent against attack from he who seeks to destroy us. Continue to bless our brothers and sisters in Christ. Continue to anoint our leaders. Help us always to be able to call upon the name of the Lord in our times of distress. Thank You Lord, for Your faithfulness. Thank You Lord, for Your covering. Thank You Lord, that You pick us up, when we have been knocked down. We will the name of the Lord at all times, and His praises shall continuously be in our mouths. Praise his name saints of God. Glory Hallelujah, thank You Jesus, in His name we pray, Amen.