What are you going to do?

     For anyone who woke up today with a feeling that you could not explain.  For anyone who was going through their day and felt an overwhelming, encompassing feeling of joy and comfort and you don't know where it came from.  For that person who was sitting at their computer and a smile spread across your face for no reason.  For all of these people and even more who felt the loving touch of God and felt a praise in their heart but didn't know what to do, there is something you can do.

      For the person that feels weighed down by the problems and troubles that they are going through and you just can't see your way out.  For the person in pain and turmoil with physical aches and mental woes.  For the person who has cried themselves to sleep and woke up to cry some more.  There is something you can do.  

     This won't absolve your responsibilities.  This won't make your troubles magically disappear.  This won't make everything in your world golden, nice, and clean.  What will it do then?  What is the reason?  Why should I even bother?  What will it do?  It will release angles on your behalf.  What is the reason?  You give praise to a mighty and awesome God who is more than able to heal, deliver, set free.  But even more than that, knows your story after the trial, knows the blessings on the other end. knows the triumph and victory waiting for you if you only persist.  Why should you even bother?  What have you got to lose?  There is no need to try everything else and then try God and if you have already tried everything else, then why not try God?

     My suggestion to the person that has that overwhelming joy, that urge to dance, sing, and shout hallelujah.  Do it!  God doesn't need a reason to bless you and you don't need a reason to praise Him.  Even if everything in your life is perfect and you couldn't imagine Him blessing you with anything else, look at what He has already done and praise Him.  Praise Him because you know that it was God and only God that brought you through.

     My prayer for the person that can't see a way to praise is to stop looking for a way to praise.  We don't have to search for a way to praise God.  It is already in you.  It has been us since the day we were born.  He made us to praise Him.  You don't know how to start?  Close your eyes and think about God.  Not your troubles, not your pain, not your worries.  Just think about Him.  If you don't know what to say, just say His name, say thank you.  He knows your heart.  There is no "perfect" way to praise God.  Praise from your heart.

     Don't look for the reason, don't look for the why.  Don't stop to think what may be coming your way that you should praise Him for.  Praise Him now and stop the devil in his tracks.  Praise Him now and give Him the glory He deserves.

      

Inspired by Trent Cory-I've Got a Praise-Album-My Joy

Do You Remember

     This writing is inspired by Israel and New Breed's "Not Forgotten" from the Live in South Africa Disk 1.  The song says, I am not forgotten.  He knows my name. 
     Who is it that knows my name?  My Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  The One who called and purposed me to walk this life.  The One who chose me to speak a word and be a light.  The One who has directed my steps from the day I was born.
     There have been circumstances and situations that I have been in that looking back, if I had listened to the voice of the Lord, I never would have been in but even though I tried to do my own thing and ended up in some bad ways, He never left me.  He never turned his back on me and He did not forget who I was.
     There have been times when I have tried to change myself to be more this or that or to please this person  or that person.  There have been times when I have tried to change myself so that I would like me.  But even through all of my changes, waffling, and swaying, He never forgot who I was.  I have changed hair color, hair style, clothing style, handwriting, walk this way, or talk the other but through all that, God saw the real me underneath and allowed me time to see the person that He sees and learn to love me for exactly how He created me.
     God never forgets who we are but do we?  God never forgets our name but what do we answer to.  Sometimes we allow situations or bad circumstances that only last a season to give us a name we carry forever.  What are you answering to?  Failure, disgrace, less than, not good enough, you'll never amount to anything?  Are these the things that have branded you and now the name you answer to?
     If you are answering to these things, you can't simultaneously be answering to the name God has called you.  Son, friend, conqueror, more than an overcomer.  When you look at the fruits in your life, were they born from a failure or from a child a God.  We can only birth what we identify with.  If we only see failure, we will produce more failure.  Instead, look to God and listen to His voice to hear your name again.
     I hear Him calling softly on the wind.  My child, lean to me and my call.  I have not forgotten you.  The blessings, giftings, and purpose I have for you have not changed.  Answer to the name that I have for you and watch me work it for your good.