In great trial,the Spirit whispers, “Worship the Lord and give Him praise.” But my flesh says, “Not now.” But the Spirit’s remedy: “Come and bring a ‘sacrifice of praise.’ There is a struggle because my flesh doesn’t want to, so I spend some time ‘reasoning with God’ with some ‘wrestling’ going on, only to discover that NOW is the time, yes, now, is the time…to praise.
I turned to a song in Isaiah, in the midst of many ‘woes’, and You inspired him to sing, so I sacrifice to focus on the words in print and find they lift me from the pit in which I sit. So I choose to ‘speak’-sing the words in Isaiah 25, and I find a balm for my sores: ‘O LORD, You are God. I will exalt You and I will praise your name. For You have done wonderful things, Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.” (Isaiah 25:1)…”For You have been a strength to the poor, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat; for the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.” (Isaiah 25:1,4).
‘…And it will be said in that day: “Behold this is our God; We have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for Him; We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.” (Is. 25:9).
I don’t always have a willing heart to praise, but I ask over and over again, ” Lord, will You give me a willing heart, that the words ‘glad’ and ‘rejoice’ may again express my soul. Maybe it’s supposed to ‘feel’ like a sacrifice so that we think about You and the great sacrifice you chose to make for me. Dying on the cross after praying from Your bleeding heart, and even sweating those drops of blood, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” (Matthew 26:39).
Yes, You understand sacrifice.
Then my eyes read on the black and white pages as I confess about my heart in which You can already see, asking for willingness to offer You praise, I see Your promise of peace, for me…instructions for peace, and yes, for me. Truly Lord, You are good: “You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, For in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.” (Is. 26:3,4).
‘My eyes Lord, get focused in the wrong directions, over and over again. Keep them straight on You Lord and fill me with Your Spirit. May I ‘feed’ my mind and heart and soul on Your word that I might trust You through the storm and be ‘kept’ in Your ‘perfect peace.’ It ‘feels’ like a sacrifice, but help me trust You more, ‘for in YAH, the LORD is everlasting strength.”
So, I flip through the pages of His inspired Book and find the Psalms to give me a song. Today I choose to bring a sacrifice of praise, to You O LORD, from Your very word: Psalm 86 “Teach Me Your Way, O LORD” “Bow down Your ear, O LORD, hear me; For I am poor and needy…Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; And attend to the voice of my supplications. In the day of my trouble I will call upon You, For You will answer me…Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name. I will praise You with all of my heart, And I will glorify Your name forevermore.” Psalm 86:1,6,7,11,12).
“You, Lord, have given me a ‘willing heart’ that I might seek Your face, that I might give You praise, even as I wait…I will exalt You. You are my God. In Your presence is peace and joy, I wait on You, the Lover of my soul. ” In Jesus name I pray, Amen.”
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