The Power of Praise
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I hadn't anticipated that what I thought would be a day of grieving turned into a week. Early last week precious memories started flooding my heart and mind. They seemed to just come out of nowhere, washing over me in powerful waves. So - I remembered, I reflected, I cried, I released things to the Lord, and I let my heart heal.
As I walked through this past tender week - remembering Floyd's "heaven day" - I was reminded yet again of something so important: the power of praise and gratitude! This wasn't something I planned or thought would be a good idea for this anniversary week. It was very much Spirit led.
Every time I thought of a loss, a disappointment, a sadness, a feeling of being left alone - I countered it with something that I have to be thankful for. The impact was amazing. The sadness became joy. The feeling of being alone was replaced by a sweet, tangible presence of the Lord. The disappointment was turned into an understanding of special blessings the Lord has brought into my life on our unexpected journey. The loss was replaced by God reminding me of all He has done during this difficult time. Every single thing, every emotion, every heartache, every pain, every tear - as I turned it into worship.....it was lifted from my heart. It was amazing. Gratitude and praise are powerful! They truly are a tool that God has placed in our hands to help us.
"I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart." Psalm 9:1
"I will extol the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips." Psalm 34:1
"Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise." Jeremiah 17:14
"Through Him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God." Hebrews 13:15
"Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God." Psalm 42:11
Praise is a powerful, restorative tool that God has provided for us. We often don't remember to use it. When we offer up praise, it brings God into the center of whatever we are walking through. It reminds us of our dependence upon the Lord.
I'm so grateful that the Spirit led me into praise during this tender weekend. It was the perfect balance for my grief. And God met me in special ways as I offered up praise. He is so good!
Yesterday was another "special" day. It would have been our 55th anniversary. It's no longer a day of celebration, but it's certainly one of gratitude. I'm grateful for 54 years with my gentle giant even though some of them were really difficult. God has been good to me, good to us.
I have kept a list all those 54 years of where we were for each anniversary. It's quite an interesting list from all over the world! Every year on our anniversary we would go over it and reminisce of how we celebrated. I even read it to Floyd each year in the hospital. I usually got a few smiles, and even some tears. It was special to keep sharing it with him. This year I read it alone, but it was still just as special. We've had a wonderful life.
This week I read a devotional by Blake Staton that was a tribute to Floyd. It meant a lot to me during this tender time. I pray that many will pick up the mandate to go to the “least, the last, and the lost.”
Blake & Tracy Staton were with us in the leadership school we led in Colorado. They went on to work with the Akha and Akeu tribes in Thailand for many years. Blake writes a weekly devotional for All Nations International of lessons they learned during those years. You are welcome to read it if you like…just click here to download. And if you would like to subscribe to it, click here.
"And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God." Colossians 1:10
May you and I each bear fruit where God has placed us!