Ephesians 5:18-20
.... but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Many times we think that in order to praise our Father, we must jump and shout and be directed by some pastor, elder or other Church leader. We are told when to stand, what to say, when to sit and when to shout! But, there is a place where we can all go that is filled with songs, singing and thanks! That place is within our hearts.
You see, it is the heart that the Father sees. It is the heart that determines what kind of person we are. Yet, our hearts are not seen by men. True, they may see a reflection of our hearts through our works, but no one truely knows our hearts but the Father.
When we decide to give God praise, He looks at our hearts. Some of the best praises I've ever had have been silent. I simply reflect on the magnificence of our God and I get stirred up on the inside. Before I know it, I'm singing, I'm praying, I'm rejoicing, I'm thanking - and it's all in my heart! It's just me and my Father in communion! There is no need for external helps. He has given us all we need to praise him in an optimum way!
So, I will give Him praise today! It is my own private praise! And I will do it in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ! I thank YAH for the opportunity! Peace and blessings be upon you!
2 comments:
I love this message and I am thankful and blessed by this message. i had always wondered about the shouting and everything. i always would sit back and wonder if the person was doing it out of forced tradition or out of pure true praise. Now I can honestly state that i only wondered such things once I was saved and not prior. Prior, I would only think it was funny that the same folks get "the spirit" and every one else looked either detached or someway involved with the person being "filled" with "the spirit". I would literally look around church everytime I went to people watch. I wanted to see peoples reaction to the word of God and wondered why I never was "filled" with "the spirit"? Once I got saved God revealed to me that it was not about our outside praise, but our inside praise. I learned that true praise comes from within. Our outside praise is not wrong, but as you pointed out in the previous blog, it was nothing if it was not sincere. Sincere prayer is sincere praise! I know that some people just go through the motions and do not try to really get to know God, but I also know if they do give Him a chance, He will help them understand it is not about this earthly life with all its material comforts, it is about praising God in our hearts! Not praising Him only for the blessings He can bestow, but also because He alone is God. We need a reconditioning in the Church. We need to start making it about God and not about the temporary comforts that we can have in this life. We must worship in spirit and in truth! May God continue to utilize you to share His real Truth!
As usual, you have given some excellent and thought provoking comments. I remember the days I looked around at others too. Thanks be to God that I know that no man can tell me how to praise The Father! His Holy Spirit is my guide. It's all believers guide. Peace and blessings!
Post a Comment