WORSHIP

For me, as a Christian, worshiping God is so easy in places like my North Carolina mountains, lakes, beaches, gardens, beautiful chapels all over the state and any natural area I did not cover, not to mention my own church. However, I have been to places that are extremely less fortunate in scenery, economic status and general upkeep - struggling there to worship.

I was convicted recently of this wrong mindset and attitude. It is right to worship The Lord in those incredible lovely places. However, no matter how dim the light might be in the other places of the world; no matter how tore-up the environment might be - God always deserves to be honored, glorified and praised. Whether I can see God in a run-down, forgotten, forsaken place or not - I should praise God anyway. To praise God, to worship God, especially in these challenged areas is to bring a whole new mindset, attitude and atmosphere into that environment. 

David in Psalm 34:1 sets a precedent, I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. Notice my act of extolling unto the Lord in not done just in the morning, nor just in the afternoon, nor just in the evening - but "at all times". The original Hebrew word, Barak (baw-rak), is a primitive root word meaning to kneel; by implication to bless God. I don't have the opportunity to kneel physically before God all the time, but I can show Him humility in my heart, mind and spirit throughout my day - every day. Also notice that there is a semi-colon after the word "times" indicating that the author is going to reword the preceding statement and David does, he says - his praise will always be on my lips. Again, the forever timeframe is mentioned with the word "always" as pertaining to how long I should praise my God.

And why wouldn't I desire to extol, praise or worship Christ my Savior at any and all times of the day? There is another Scripture that promises He will manifest His presence as we choose to do so; as we choose to praise Him. Another one of David's songs, Psalm 22:3 is that Scripture. Although it is speaking directly to Israel, believers in Christ being grafted into the promises of Israel can claim this benefit as well. David says, But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. 

The original Hebrew word for inhabitest is Yashab (yaw-shab). It means to sit down, dwell and/or remain. Imagine that! As I praise or you praise The Lord, He sits down with us, He dwells in a special way with us or causes His presence to remain (tarry) with us in a manifested way. So, when we praise Him, special blessings and anointings are available in His manifest presence. One of the blessings through praise is victory unleashed by the shout. The Christian artist Carman said it best in his song Jericho - 

Now God was putting in operation, a principal of warSetting at our disposal weaponry that drops demons to the floor
Something with tremendous power that assassinates fear and doubt
It's the high praises of victory, unleashed by a shout

When David played his songs of praise, demons fled from Saul
As Paul and Silas worshiped God, the chains began to fall
It lifts us above the circumstance and lets God's power flow
The shout of victory binds the Devil with chains that won't let go


No matter where I am, no matter the circumstances, especially in the areas that need to hear praise unto God, I choose to give Christ all my Worship.


When You Praise - Fred Hammond






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