Sacrifice of Praise

My Prasso study lead me to give much thought to praising God. I have made a habit of thanking God and incorporating worship time into my prayer time, but then I was asking for something. I was challenged and convicted to spend less time of the requests, and more time on praise. It is often discouraging when we don't see immediate answers to our prayers, and I was actually looking for a better way.

This is another new lesson, another step of faith. I know that God is capable of changing lives ad circumstances, but will he forget if I stop asking Him continually? Of course not! So I am challenged to go out on a limb and stop asking (or at least slow it down a bit.) This is scary, but I believe that God is showing me that He needs to be first in my life, and just because I am praying and reading, doesn't prove my motives. Of course, He already knows my motives. God has been SO faithful to move me along, somewhat gently, in how He wants me to grow and learn in my faith. It is SO exciting!

I chose The Prayer that Changes Everything: The Hidden Power of Praising God, by Stormie Omartian. I have always found her books to be straightforward and easy to read. So far, this book has reached out and taken me by the throat! I am learning that God wants me to simply love and praise Him. To trust Him with my life. This means letting go of my worry and anxiety over my circumstances, and spending precious time just adoring my Savior. For anyone who knows my personality, they know that I am action oriented. I want to DO something to change my circumstances, not just wait! I can't just pray this magic combination, and have the locks come off of someone's heart. I can actually hear Charity laughing as she reads this. She is saying, "This is what I have been telling her for weeks, and NOW she gets it!" Thanks Charity, I am just a slow learner, I catch on slowly. (remember the cartoon before "The War of the Roses" that I started laughing about halfway through the movie, yeah, well some things haven't changed!)

Sorry, a little off topic, oh yes, worship. I tried this out over the past few days, and I've got to tell you, it isn't the most natural part of praying for me. But I am coming to believe that it is the most important. I quote Stormy here: "We were created to worship God. It's a state in which our soul finds true peace, rest, and purpose. But it must become a condition of the heart, a way of life, a pattern that is woven into the fabric of our being...Worship must become a lifestyle." I am comparing it to exercise. I used to hate to exercise. Lately, though, I have been running an a regular basis. I am finding that I long to get that run in now...I have discovered the benefits, and it is becoming a way of life.

Sometimes praise and worship will be the only thing you do in a situation. You will stand and praise God while the tornados of life swirl around you, and you will see God move on your behalf. And then you will understand the hidden power of praise. When you understand that concept, it will change your life.-

Stormy Omartian