Praise

Praise
Written by a member of Grace Church:

Thank you Lord for my good health
Thank you Lord for my wonderful marriage
Thank you Lord for my loving family
Thank you Lord for my great job

Thank you Lord for my cancer
Thank you Lord for my marriage that is seemingly on the verge of divorce
Thank you Lord for my estranged adult children
Thank you Lord for my lack of work opportunities

Which set of praises above is easier to pray for? Which set of praises seems ridiculous to pray for? Many times we only focus on praising God for the “good things” in our lives. You know, the “blessings”!  But consider these two verses

Ephesians 5:20
...giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ

Philippians 4:6
...do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Praising God only for the blessings is like praying for someone you truly love (and like).  It’s easy. But praising God for the difficulties takes much more effort.  It’s the difficulties that God gives us that grow us, mature us in our faith, sanctify us. It makes us reliant on Him for help. It strips away our pride, our selfishness, our ability to be in control. At the same time it allows God to use us to encourage others going through a similar situation. It gives us hope that the God of the Old and New Testaments, who performed miracles and answered prayers, is the very same God who can do that for us today.  As you pray today, praise God for everything and pray that ultimately His will is done in your life.  

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