When I was a teenager, I remember my dad preaching an amazing message called “I Will To Sing.” It always ended in an “explosion.” My goodness could he preach. He mostly teaches now, but when he was my age, he could “throw down.”
I remember him telling the story of David at Ziklag. David and his men were off fighting and the Amelekites came and burned everything to the ground. They come home to this scene of everything burning, and their wives and children gone. They wept until they “had no more power to weep.” David’s men were so grief stricken, that they talked of stoning David. The Bible says David was greatly distressed, I would’ve been too.
The is says David encouraged himself in the LORD his God. When he had built himself up, strengthened himself, David calls the priest, asks for the linen ephod and asks God if he should pursue.
He willed himself to praise. In the face of adversity, overwhelming grief, and fear, he did what he did best, he worshipped, prayed, sought God.
I thought of this message when I read this quote,
“There is psychologically no difference between thinking of yourself and being miserable,
The cure is to think of something beyond yourself.”
Dr. Jordan Peterson
There is nothing greater, or more beyond ourselves to think on, than our wonderful God.
David wrote,
“I will bless the LORD at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: The humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt his name together.”
Psalm 34:1-3 KJV
The way we trade the spirit of heaviness, is by putting on the garment of praise (Isaiah 61:3)
The best way to change your state, get out of temptation, side step anxiety and panic, bypass worry, is to praise. Praise takes our focus off whatever is happening around us, and puts it where it rightfully belongs, on Jesus.
“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.”
Philippians 4:4-9 NLT
Try this. The next time you are in a situation where you need things to change internally, emotionally, or mentally, begin to praise. Not just childish style either. Put some faith behind it. Whatever faith you can muster, that’s the perfect amount to put into it. See what happens
-Jared
jareddoran 