The power in praise!

*Okay so this post is kinda long, but I kept finding more things to add/share with you! I hope you guys enjoy it in spite of the length!*

Lately I've been reading a new devotional, called One Minute of Praise. It has a scripture for each day, a short story from the author's life, tied into her own journey of learning to praise God throughout life's circumstances, and then ends with a prayer and journaling section to help you praise God "for one minute a day."

When I first started reading it, I thought it was a one-minute devotional, and that that might be a good thing for me :) I've been trying to find something I can do consistently to get my thoughts centered and start my day with the right priorities and perspective. So far I've found that when I do this shortly after I get up my entire day seems to go so much more smoothly, I'm able to better handle normal ups and downs, and the entire day turns into one big conversation with the Lord, rather than just a few short prayers here and there.

Turns out this book is not only a really good way to get myself in the right frame of mind, it also has been teaching me a lot about the power that exists in praising God.

You are probably familiar with the scripture that "God inhabits the praises of His people," but if you were like me, you didn't really know what that meant. How can God inhabit, or dwell in, our praises?

As the author Darlene McCarty explains, "Praise is something He can work with. Praise gives Him something to inhabit in order to change a situation... Praise releases the very presence of God Himself. When the presence of God comes to dwell with me, my enemies have to retreat. Every weak area in my life had to flee when it was faced with my joy-lifted praise."

Psalm 8:2 says "You have taught children and nursing infants to give you praise. They silence your enemies..." Darlene quotes a translation that translates the same verse as, "When the saints of God praise God, the devil has no voice." I love that!

She then begins talking about how praise is the key to victory in our lives. She says, "The most powerful tool that I have, though, is praise. My Heavenly Father walks with me, talks to me, encourages me, tells me I can make it, and promises me He will never leave me--and He has kept His word."

Since I have started reading this book and applying the principles it talks about (praising God everyday, no matter how I'm feeling or what my circumstances are; praising God for even just one minute straight, without any requests or complaints, only praising and giving glory to Him), I have noticed a definite change in my attitude and my outlook. It is much easier to see the positive in things, and even to see the silver lining around what previously only looked like storm clouds. I began with only a minute of praise at a time, and now I find myself spontaneously praising God many times throughout the day. It is a great way to put an end to a bad mood!

One of the biggest changes I've noticed that has really affected how I pray is that instead of telling God what I see as problems in my life and asking God for things, I find myself praising and thanking God for bringing about a positive outcome, in ways I have not yet seen. This helps me to believe that God does do what he said he will do, that he will work all things together for good, and it helps me to believe that through him I will have victory.

Praying in this way has increased my faith and helped me to stay positive rather than dwelling on the what-if's. I hope that you will try some of the ideas from this book. Praising God is a powerful way to invite God into your circumstances, to gain a more positive outlook and be able to see past the obstacles to the victory that is waiting.

If you do challenge yourself to praise God everyday, to thank him for what he is doing and will do in your life, you will notice a change! And I would love to hear about it!! I'll leave you with this final encouragement:

"The next time the devil tries to brainwash you with failure, turn him back with your powerful weapon of praise. Lift your voice, your hands, and your heart to God and shout your praise until it lifts the roof. Your willpower will strengthen, your decision-making will improve, and your self-worth will return. You will be so proud of yourself because you have become an overcomer!"

Take care!

Welcome!

Well, I've finally done it! For many months now a few different friends have suggested repeatedly that I start a blog. I think it's because I have so much to say, and they want me to have another outlet besides them... :) But for whatever reason I have taken their suggestions to heart and am, finally, starting a blog of my own.

Starting a blog seems sort-of normal to me because I am a journal-writer. A journal-er, you might say (not to be confused with journalist!). I have been keeping a journal for many many years, starting back in high school I believe. I go in spurts, sometimes writing pages at a time, and other times not opening a journal for weeks or even months. What I love about journalling, however, is that I can look back, days or even years later, and read what I was thinking about, dealing with and pondering at that point in my life.

I particularly love seeing the ways that God was working in my life at any given time. I cannot tell you how many times I have looked back at a journal entry and been amazed at the way that God has worked in my life since then. Sometimes it is in specific ways when he answers a particular request, but most of the time when I look back what I see is that, even though I didn't know it at the time, God was already working in me and in my circumstances. Hindsight is 20/20, they say, and by keeping a journal I have a record of all the times that God, in his amazing wisdom and love, has stepped down into my life and brought about blessings and answers in ways that I did not even comprehend at the time.

Now, by keeping a blog, not only can I look back at my life and see the ways God was working in me and in my circumstances, but so can you! I am always encouraged by seeing and hearing the ways that God works in the lives of others, and I hope that in this way my blog can be a blessing to you! I know that God is working in me, and that he has his hand on every aspect of my life, even if I don't necessarily sense it at the time. This blog is one more tool I have to remember and to share those blessings with others.

And just in case you are starting to think that my blog is going to be all serious and full of deep thoughts, I want you to know that I am also really excited to have a place to discuss the fun and frivolous parts of life, sort of a cyber-girl-time.

Since I got married I have been living on my husband's family's farm, which is out in the country and keeps me much more isolated than I would normally choose. Buuuuuuut I do think that giving our (future) kids the opportunity to grow up in the country and have tons of room to run and play and get in all kinds of messes and scrapes...is worth it. Some days I have to remind myself that it's worth it. And then there are the days when I must keep reminding myself that it is worth it...

Days like the ones when I wake up and the first thing I smell as I step out of our bedroom is a lovely eau de skunk from the family of skunks who has decided to bunk up under our house. Or days when the washer overflows the too-small drain sink and floods the entire floor of the laundry room. Or days when I realize on the way home that I am running low on gas, milk, bread, or any of the other necessities of life, and must turn around and drive back "to town" in order to pick it up, since there are no gas stations, grocery stores or, sadly, coffee shops out by our house.

But then, right when I am getting so fed up with the inconveniences of living where I do, I drive home and pass 3 deer walking in the orchard alongside my driveway. I see the view of Mount Hood from my front yard, hovering in the sky above the small pond filled with ducks and the long green pasture with beautiful pine trees bordering it. I hear the sound of the creek-fed water fountains, masking any noises from surrounding civilization. So...maybe I'm pretty lucky. I don't know, what do you think? Sometimes we get so fed up with the small irritations in life that we are blind to the benefits of our specific situation, benefits that are so obvious to everyone else.

Enough rambling for now, and I hope that you, like me, will try to keep your eyes open to see the benefits and blessings that are all around. Until next time, take care!