YOUR PRAISE WILL CHANGE THE ATMOSPHERE
YOUR PRAISE WILL CHANGE THE ATMOSPHERE
A couple of weeks ago, I had a submission deadline and I was way behind schedule because something else of utmost importance had come up. My deadline was for 9 pm but everything had started to go dreadfully wrong as early as 6.30 am that morning (according to me, that is). I had asked for a helper to come by my house to assist me with the chores but at the last minute she became unavailable. The replacement I finally got was going to arrive much later because of the short notice. And I had tons of work to do including some grocery shopping.
So I told myself “just calm down”. Suddenly an idea took root in my mind. #Get your praise on! And so I surrounded myself with praise. Serious high praise. No slacking! No dulling! And wouldn’t you just know it ? Before long I was dancing , singing, dipping, moonwalking, and “you name it”! All the fear and anxiety simply evaporated. So I carried on with all I had to do but the praise was always on. In the car, in the kitchen, in the bathroom. Finally I got all my chores done and had to settle down to try and beat my deadline.
This was about 7.30 pm and I decided to find a quiet spot. Lo and behold once I put on my system and logged on, I saw an email that had been sent by my team mate (I had tried to reach her the previous day but to no avail) and guess what? She had done all the work and all I had to do was submit it. Which I did, immediately. I was elated, totally ecstatic and extremely grateful to the Awesome God who made it all possible for me to still meet the deadline.
This is my lesson learnt and I would like to share it with you. Sometimes there are situations we find ourselves in which are totally out of our control. Quite frankly if that happens, it is definitely NOT the time to worry or fret. That will not change anything. If you have already committed your way or your day to God, trust me, He has it sorted.
Why not just “Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Psalms 37: 4 KJV
I was not even praying at that time for the simple reason that I was too wound up to do so. Thus I started with praise. The praise calmed me down and took my mind off what was not working. What was also happening was that by praising God, I had brought Him into the situation. Unknown to me, He had stepped in and was making things to work out for my good. Also my mood changed and the atmosphere changed too.
When Paul and Silas praised Him, the atmosphere changed and bands were loosed.
“And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.” Acts 16:25 -26 KJV
When King Jehoshaphat was faced in battle with three nations, he sent forth singers of praise. He got the victory.
“And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever. And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.” 2 Chronicles 20:21-22
Are you still in doubt? What do you think happened in the fiery furnace that was set up seven times hotter to consume the three Hebrew boys Shadrach, Meshac and Abednego? They must have been praising God because He came down to join them and turned the furnace into an air conditioned space. We know that for certain because God comes down to dwell in the praises of His people; and in Daniel 3:24-25 KJV this is what was recorded: “Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” Hallelujah!!!
Let your praise change the atmosphere.!!
Get your praise on!!
Oluyinka Ego-Martins ©