Odd Path to Praise

Psalm 113: ¹ Praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord, you his servants;
    praise the name of the Lord.
² Let the name of the Lord be praised,
    both now and forevermore.
³ From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
    the name of the Lord is to be praised.

⁴ The Lord is exalted over all the nations,
    his glory above the heavens.
⁵ Who is like the Lord our God,
    the One who sits enthroned on high,
⁶ who stoops down to look
    on the heavens and the earth?

⁷ He raises the poor from the dust
    and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
⁸ he seats them with princes,
    with the princes of his people.
⁹ He settles the childless woman in her home
    as a happy mother of children.

Praise the Lord.

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As I watched the plane takeoff I felt like I was going to lose my job as the partner of the company sat with an empty seat next to him that was supposed to be mine. As I watched my finger being stitched I felt the pain racing through my body due to me touching the end of my hedge trimmers. As I picked up the pieces of my totaled car I wondered how I was going to get to work that day or any day for that matter.

• There are times where I am shocked by life.
• There are times where it seems like things go wrong in my life.
• There are times when I look out and see nothing but the immediate calamity.

Problems can sometimes seem very hard and harsh. My mind starts racing and I quickly try to figure out a solution but sometimes I can’t think of one. When the problem hits I have two choices, blame GOD or praise HIM.

• GOD wants me to have a relationship with HIM where there is no blaming HIM for the way HE loves me.
• GOD wants me to understand that “blame” is one of the problems HE would like to fix within me so HE can replace it with grace.
• GOD wants me to know without a shadow of a doubt that HE always has my best interest in mind and HE does not need to be manipulated.

GOD knew every situation HE has taken me through and looking back I am very glad I went through each. My blinded eye on that I placed on the job with the partner would have left me at a place that no longer exists. My fingers are still wiggling even though they could have been cut off and the totaled car was a death trap and my roommate and I walked away without a scratch.

I have a lot to praise GOD for and I have learned over the years that the sooner I can praise HIM the better. GOD deserves my praise no matter what because HE is guiding me to a better place!

• Are you blaming GOD or praising HIM?
• Are you looking at your situation or looking at GOD?
• Are you ready to grow or has the last situation taken you down?
• Can you praise GOD today in the middle of your storm, knowing HE has an awesome plan for you?