Power in Praise

 

         

      A while back, one of the men in our church did a Sunday school series on the Lord's prayer.  He went line by line, and one phrase, in particular, stood out to me.  As I thought on it over the following months, I started to change the way I pray, and it has completely revolutionized my prayer life.  As you may know, I like to think in story mode, so here's a short story to try to explain what God has been teaching me about my time with Him.

Our Father which art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name.

 

 For days the battle raged around us.  We were surrounded and the enemy was relentless.  I knew if we didn't get help soon, all would be lost.  I could see the castle of the King just beyond the enemy lines and decided to make an attempt to get through and petition for assistance.  

     

     As word of my plan made it through our ranks, several other soldiers came and asked me to take their petitions to the King on their behalf.  Willingly, I accepted their messages and placed them in my pack.  Although it grew heavy, I was determined to get them all to the castle.  The King needed to know how much we were suffering and needed His help.

 

       

    

      The enemy must have sensed my intentions because he began a relentless attack on my position.  I hunkered down in a trench while discouragement and despair bombarded my soul.  News reached me there of a dear friend lying gravely ill in our camp.  I longed to go to him but knew I was unable to give him the medical care he needed.  I could only get to the king and ask for aid.  

     An old man next to me in the trench held an open letter and tears were running down his mud-stained face.  When I asked him what was wrong, he said he had just received a letter from his son telling him he had decided to desert the cause.  I shared his grief because lately it seemed so many were giving up.  They were battle weary.  I was battle weary.  When he learned I was going to the King, he asked me to petition the king for him as well.  I assured him I would and added his to the others in my pack.

     Arrows whizzed over my head as night fell.  I tossed and turned unable to sleep.  The cares of the day chased away all peace.  I strove to be a faithful soldier for the King, but this battle was testing me to my very core.  It seemed the longer the battle lasted, the more aggressive the enemy became.  I longed for morning and yet dreaded it at the same time.  A darkness was settling over the land, so that even midday was now no more than a pale haze.  I decided to set out for the castle while the land was still covered in darkness, hoping it would hide my progress from the enemy.

     As I crept forward towards the enemy's ranks, dread threatened to force me to turn back.  My own burdens and those of my comrades seemed to weigh me down until I was on all fours crawling through the tangled underbrush.  Making my way through their encampment, every second I expected to be discovered.  Every rustle of the grass under me seemed to thunder above the roar of the battle.  When I was sure I would never make it, I crawled out from under a large, downed tree and saw the gate of the castle a hundred yards ahead across a wide clearing.  The morning light was just starting to tint the sky as I scanned the area.  The way seemed clear, but I knew the enemy was all around.  I took a deep breath, drew my sword, and jumped to my feet.  With every last ounce of strength and courage, I sprinted forward.  

     

 

     Suddenly, startled cries sounded behind me, and arrows whizzed past me on every side.  I could sense enemy soldiers pursuing me as I neared the gate.  I gasped for breath as my lungs nearly burst from the exertion.  

     As I approached the door, I saw it open just enough for me to lunge through it.  I fell back against it as it swung shut and closed my eyes in relief that I had made it.  My arms fell to my sides, and I felt my sword drag on the ground. 

I took a few deep breaths and waited for my racing heart to return to normal.  As the fear of the last few minutes subsided, I was filled once again with determination to get to the King and demand He take action on our behalf.  I opened my eyes ready to hurry to the throne and plead my case.

     "My King," I began in a loud voice as I took my first step.  My voice echoed down the hall and I stopped and looked around, finally taking in the sights that surrounded me.  I stared in disbelief at the sight I saw.  I stood at the far end of a great hall.  At the opposite end was a throne the likes of which went beyond my wildest imagination.  It sat on a raised platform, and the gold that covered it shone brighter than the darkened world I had just left behind. 

      I gazed in wonder as I stepped forward drawn by the majesty of the King.  He sat in royal splendor, and His glory filled the room.  Instead of bombarding Him with my demands, I heard my own voice shouting praise to Him as I saw Him as He truly was.  And as I gazed on Him, my strength was renewed.  I lifted my sword back into its sheath and felt my faltering steps regain their confidence.  I reveled in all that the King had done for me in the past and marveled at His strength, honor, justice, and love.  The longer I dwelt on His character, the greater grew my own strength and courage. When I finally reached the throne, I knelt in humility and shared the burdens of the day's fight with the One I now knew held the final victory in His hand.  When I finished, I stood to my feet.  I bowed in honor to my Lord and turned to head back to the fight, renewed and refreshed and ready to stand against the wiles of the enemy.

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      I find it interesting that the first thing Jesus taught us to pray was to honor God's name.  I think too often we forget where we stand when we pray.  I know for me it seems like I often go barging into the throne room of the eternal, immortal, invisible, only wise God with my lists of requests (aka demands and expectations) without stopping to realize who it is I am addressing.  Then I rattle off my requests and march back out without the peace or confidence I long for.  

     For the last several months now, I have made a conscious choice to begin my prayers before going to sleep at night (because that's when all the cares of the day seem to catch up with me) with a time of reflection and thanks to God for all that He is.

  The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous
runneth into it, and is safe. (Prov. 18:10)

No matter what I face, You are my strong tower. 

I can find safety in You.

I am the LORD, I change not. (Malachi 3:6)

No matter how much my world is spinning out of control,

You are my stability because nothing changes You.

God is not a man that he should lie. (Numbers 23:19)

No matter what others say or do, 

I can trust Your Word.

God is love. (I John 4:8)

No matter how alone I feel,

You will always love me.

Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Hosts. (Isaiah 6:3)

No matter how sinful the world grows,

You remain holy.  There is no

evil in You.

He is full of compassion, gracious, longsuffering, and

plenteous in mercy and truth (Psalm 86:15)

No matter how unworthy I am,

You are sympathetic, patient, and forgiving.

He fills heaven and earth. (Jeremiah 23:24)

No matter where I am,

You are there with me.

He is the true God, the living God, and an everlasting King. (Jeremiah 10:10)

No matter what other religions claim,

You are the one true and everlasting God.

       And the list goes on and on.  In fact, many nights, I have found myself drifting off to sleep as I thank God for all that He is before I even get to that long list of cares.  But that is alright too because instead of disquiet, my heart is settled in Him, and I know everything is in His sovereign hands. 

       I have found those times of prayer to be times of refreshing and renewal.  We are in a battle, and the trials we face, the uncertainties we encounter, and the evils we wrestle do wear us down.  As we bear one another's burdens as well as our own, there are times it can seem overwhelming.  So many people are hurting and in need of prayer.  

      As we spend time in conversation with our Father and King, we are reminded that we are not facing those battles alone.  When we really start to grasp, as much as our frail human minds are able, the character of God and how resting in those truths gives us strength, we can't help but thank and praise Him.  We find our strength in the character and promises of God.

Be strong and of a good courage,

fear not, not be afraid of them:

for the LORD thy God,

He it is that doth go with thee;

He will not fail thee,

nor forsake thee.

(Deuteronomy 31:6)

       I realize that there are times in the midst of the battles we face that praise seems nearly impossible.  Many of the Scripture verses about praise sound like a joyful celebration, and in the heat of trials it can feel like there is nothing to celebrate.  That is why in those times, I am reminded of Hebrews 13:15 that tells us, "By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks unto His name."

     A sacrifice is something that costs us something.  It is something we give up.  So when I offer a sacrifice of praise to God, I am choosing to focus on who God is instead of how I feel.  I give up my right to be fearful, disappointed, resentful, angry, defensive, or doubtful and replace it with a declaration of faith in who God is.  

     The amazing thing is that the times that I have intentionally done that, I have found my fear replaced with peace, my disappointment replaced with hope, my resentfulness replaced with forgiveness, my anger replaced with contentment, my defensiveness replaced with security, and my doubt replaced with trust.  All from a focus on God rather than my situation.  The problem may still be present.  I may still feel grief but not despair, loss but not abandonment, pain but not defeat.  Praise gives us the power to trust God for His strength in every situation.

      

      If you don't already, I would highly recommend committing a portion of your prayer time to thanking God for all that He is.  I think you will be grateful you did.

Our Father which art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name.