The Unexpected Power of Praise (Daily Reflections on Ps. 108:1-5)

My cousin died of pancreatic cancer when she was in her twenties. She was still a newly wed with a young baby. Her life was just really beginning when she received the diagnosis. The disease and the treatments took their toll on her body and I will never forget how aged she looked when she passed. It was a painful decline for her but her steadfastness in her faith and praise for God never wavered. 

Her pain at times was so great that prescription medications would not quell it. In those moments of greatest discomfort, she would close the doors to her room, crank up the volume to her favorite praise music, sing her lungs out and envelop herself in the praise of God. Losing herself in celebration to her Lord and Savior in full surrender and adoration dissipated the agonizing pain and filled her soul with joy.

Her cancer called her to proclaim her love for God even louder. She was able to give testimony of her faith to schools and church groups. A local popular radio station in the Chicagoland area brought her in for an extended live interview which impacted the lives of thousands. Not only did shouts of praise relieve her own pain, it shown glory on God in her life testimony.

There is something about praising God and giving Him glory that changes me. I can't say that I've lost myself in praise at home like Marci did to alleviate pain. But I have found myself in a gathering of other believers entranced in the praise of God and worship. In those moments, I've noticed that all else fades from my mind. I'm singly focused on God and His glory. I'm overwhelmed at the sensation of His presence in my life. I have no cares, no concerns, no problems. I actually feel more alive than at any other time. I've often wondered if this was a glimpse of heaven.

David expresses similar views in Psalm 108. He talks about the steadfastness of his own heart as he praises and makes music with all his soul to God. You begin to sense his own feelings of assurance and invincibility as wraps himself in the praise of God. He is overwhelmed by the glory of God and proclaims in open, rich exaltation. It's as if his consciousness becomes intertwined with God. Problems dissipate. Life challenges wane. Confidence blooms. Countenance explodes in joy.

Perhaps that's the key to pressing on through life. Instead of wallowing in the gloom of life and circumstance, that we celebrate life in God through praise and adoration, that we keep our eyes fixed heavenward on the glory of God. When the cloud of doom presents itself, we stop and break into songs of exultation acknowledging the power and majesty of God. 

Your love, oh Lord, is higher the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the skies! Be exalted, O God, above the heaves; let Your glory be over all the earth. That's my prayer.

Distressed (Daily Reflections on Ps. 131)

It's disturbing! It grips your heart! The distinctive cry of a young child in distress. On a plane, in the store, at the park, perhaps at church, when we hear the penetrating wails of a young voice it provokes an immediate response in us. Our instinct is to run to the aid, to snatch up the child and sooth their spirit. But often, our attempts to calm the child only meet with continued cries and tears and in some cases only escalate the distress. The child is not settled until they reach the loving embrace of their mother. Cuddled in their mother's arms the wails give way to whimpers and eventually calm.

When my oldest daughter was just an young child, she would sing herself to sleep as we rocked with what I called her "sleepy song." She would hum four tones in succession over and over again until she was completely relaxed and fell off to sleep. I noted that if I wanted her to take a nap all I had to do was begin singing her sleepy song as I rocked her and before long she would join me humming and her little eyes would close, her body go limp and she was out.

But I discovered it also worked when she was in distress or fussy or frustrated. I could simply gather her in my arms, begin the rocking motion, hum the sleepy song and before long her spirit calmed and all was right with the world again. As she got older, the sleepy song was less effective. The lap time became less and less. There were worlds to explore and expressions of independence. She's grown, moved away and married today, but I've wondered what would happen if she was ever in distress, came home, climbed into my lap and I started to sing the sleepy song.

We all found comfort in our mother's or perhaps father's arms when were infants. I did. Even as I was older, the gentle touch of my mother's hand to my forehead or face would calm my spirit or bring reassurance. But just like all children we must grow up. And with growing up comes our independence. We rely more and more on ourselves as it should be. We have worlds to explore and conquer. We fall down and we pick ourselves up and move on or at least that is what we're told we should do.

But sometimes it's that independence that causes us to stop seeking God. With all the pressures of life we tend to live in a constant state of stress or distress. But when circumstances become bigger than we can control, it sends our stress level off the charts and then irritability, anger, frustration play out in unhealthy expressions.  Our stress or distress gives way to desperation. Desperation isn't a good thing and often causes us to do dumb things that only get us into deeper trouble.

Before we reach that level we need to come back and visit Psalm 131 again. It's a short Psalm, only 3 verses, but with a powerful principle to remember especially when we're facing tough stuff. King David talks about the importance of our dependence on God. He says that we need to put things in perspective and notes that some things are just bigger than us. In verse 2 he paints the picture of being like a small child that calms his spirit by climbing into his mother's arms and lap and finding contentment there.

Maybe we all need a sleepy song. In times of distress we climb into God's arms and hum with Him our sleepy song. God created us with the gift of independence, but He also created us with a desire for Him. Being independent doesn't mean that we reject or run from dependence on God. In fact it's because of our independence that God gives us the opportunity to choose. Choosing dependence upon Him is the right choice, unless we want to live in constant distress and turmoil. I have found that it takes a real man, a real woman who is willing to admit that they need help, especially God's help and then relinquish things to Him.

God, I'm not that bright, yet for some reason I find myself trying to take all matters into my own hands. I know I don't have the answers, especially when things are completely out of my control. I know that nothing is too big for you or out of your control. Yet, once again, I wrap myself up in all of it and the distress overwhelms me. I need you to sing me my sleepy song to calm my spirit. I know that means coming to you and climbing into your lap and putting everything in your hands. I need you to calm my spirit and bring me your peace and contentment.

I Feel Awful (Daily Reflections on Isa. 41:8-20)

I feel awful! As I pen these words I am nauseous, my head is pounding, all the energy seems to have left my body, I can't breath, my body aches and I am probably running a low grade fever. I am having difficulty concentrating so if I drift off somewhere or suddenly my words don't make sense, you will know why. No it's not a cold or the flu or so says my doctor. A battery of blood tests only gave way to another battery of blood and various other tests. This stuff has gone on for the last two years that I have been in Oklahoma. I say this stuff, actually I have had to face a variety of health issues that I have never had before since I moved here two years ago January. Two bouts with the flu (which I hadn't had in 20 years), several sinus infections which turned into upper respiratory infections, severe allergies, vertigo, Bells Palsy, bouts with orthostatic hypotension, severe arthritis in the neck, precancerous skin lesions and a broken tooth from eating a piece of fish. That on top of the general malaise that I've been fighting for the last two-three months. It's about to wear me out.

If that weren't enough, the church I'm serving has been in decline for a number of years. It has struggled with internal divisive issues, lack of leadership development, no unified direction, an aloofness to the Great Commission and hasn't demonstrated a heart for the community. The environment has been one of general apathy for the things of God and an attitude of negativity or perhaps depression is prevalent. I cannot remember a week in the last two years that somebody hasn't complained to me about something or someone. To say that that isn't taxing, would be a misrepresentation of the facts. 

I confess, I'm really spent. I'm drained. I got nothing other than a long list of people who are angry with me about something and a pile of doctor bills. My energy is gone. My enthusiasm is gone. My optimism is waning. My emotions squeezed out. My spirit low and I'm flat out tired. I feel that I'm coasting on the proverbial fumes. I know I'm a weeny. I'm definitely not the Apostle Paul who was able to keep going like the Energizer Bunny. But I do feel some of the pressure he talks about in Corinthians.

Then, I come across the lines in Isaiah 41:8-20 and a breath of fresh air begins to fill me. God's words begin to ring out, "My Servant," "I've chosen you," "I have not rejected you." Wow, I'm glad somebody hasn't rejected me. Reassurance comes…"don't be dismayed, I will strengthen you and help you."
Help? I need help. God then paints the picture of Him coming to the rescue, fighting the battles. He talks about retooling us and bringing victory through us.

Then He begins to encourage us further with images of water flowing from barren places, wells springing up in the desert, trees and bushes come bursting forth from the wastelands. He does all this so that everyone can see and understand what the hand of the Lord has done.

God, I'm parched, gassed, beat up, defeated, drained, empty, depressed, worn out, frustrated, tired, exhausted, broken. I could use a taste of some of your fresh water flowing in my desert. I need your hand on me. I need your power in me. I need your presence, your strength. Simply take over. I feel awful. I know that you can raise the dead. I've watched you heal the sick. I surrender! Will you do that for me! Raise my dead heart. Renew my spirit. Lift me from this mire and set my feet on higher ground.