Saturday October 2, 2010

Read Psalm 89:1-52

...I will sing of the Lord's great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.

I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself.

You said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant,

Ethan was able to sing and to praise God because of what God had done in His nation, for his nation and through his anointed King. Ethan was able to look at God’s promises and covenant. Ethan was God focused and zooming in to look closely at God. If you read the Psalm carefully you would have noticed that a major shift happened in vs 38. This verse starts the presentation of the current situation. In no way is it rosy or ideal. Ethan and his people are suffering and are somewhat distant from the precious place that the nation held before exile. But he is still able to be God focused and filled with adoration and praise. He can still sing out the joys of the Lord from the depths of his heart.

I don’t know what situation you are currently in. Maybe there is ache in your heart. Maybe the dull pains of loneliness fire up in the quiet of the night. Maybe financial strains cause angst and worry. Maybe you’re being attacked by those you thought loved you and supported you. Maybe you’ve seen inside yourself and have come to hate yourself.  The modern pop psychologist would cry out, ‘Who can praise God in such times? For what can we praise God? Where is God when it hurts? Why am I hurting?’

But take the approach of the Psalmist. In a dire situation, in a nation that has been set adrift from God, He looks intently at God. In your struggle, look intently at God. Seek Him. Read the Scriptures and find out afresh how faithful and loving He really is. Focus on God and let the praises ring forth. Pick an attribute of God and spend time telling God how wonderful He is. Read promises of God that relate to your situation and praise Him.

As you prepare to gather for church tomorrow this aspect is vital to understand. No one wants you to put on a veil and to pretend tomorrow. Praising God is not pretend. Praising God is not lying through our situation. Today, acknowledge your situation before God. Tell Him about your struggles. Cry out to Him from the depth of your heart. But don’t leave it at that. Do what the Psalmist did. Look for God. Seek Him. Find reasons to praise Him. Search the Scripture for reasons, for promises, for blessings to cry out ‘Hallelujah!’ Tomorrow as you gather for ‘worship’ don’t pretend! Honestly and openly and joyously seek God with your brothers and sisters.

Prayer:-

m Spend time praying for tomorrow’s service. Pray that everyone in your congregation will be able to attend. Pray that God would work powerfully among your congregation - bringing healing and wholeness, freedom and release. Pray that there will be great joy as you all focus on the Lord together.

m Pray for those who worship in secret in North Korea. Ask God to bring great joy to their worship. Pray that God would be near them and use them to powerfully grow their kingdom. Pray that fellowship will be able to take place in such a persecuted place.

Get Into It!

Think of 50 reasons why you can genuinely praise God right now.

When you have 50, spend time praising God.