Many of you may be familiar with a Christian group that was very popular years ago, The Imperials. As a teen, I listened to them quite often. It wasn’t until recently that I revisited their music. One song that blesses my heart and encourages me greatly is their hit, “Praise the Lord.” The words are as true today as they were years ago… powerful… poignant… a beautiful reminder of our privilege to praise our Creator, but also a well-needed reminder of who we are in Christ.

If you’ve never heard this beautiful song, please take a minute and listen to it here. I’ve posted the song and included the powerful words/ message below. I’m sure you will be blessed by both. (Have some tissues on hand!) And, if you remember, sing along and thank God for who He is and all He’s done for you! If it blesses you, pass it on and lift another heart!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJkCd0pcXgc

Praise the Lord by The Imperials

When you’re up against a struggle
That shatters all your dreams
And your hope’s been cruelly crushed
By Satan’s manifested schemes
And you feel the urge within you
To submit to earthly fears
Don’t let the faith you’re standing in
Seem to disappear

Praise the Lord
He can work through those who praise Him
Praise the Lord
For our God inhabits praise
Praise the Lord
For the chains that seem to bind you
Serve only to remind you
That they drop powerless behind you
When you praise Him

Now Satan is a liar
And he wants to make us think
That we are paupers
When he knows himself
We’re children of the King
So lift up the mighty shield of faith
For the battle must be won
We know that Jesus Christ is risen
So the work’s already done

Praise the Lord
He can work through those who praise Him
Praise the Lord
For our God inhabits praise
Praise the Lord
For the chains that seem to bind you
Serve only to remind you
That they drop powerless behind you
When you praise Him

I could listen to that song all day. What an amazing message… what a beautiful reminder!

We were created to worship our Creator! We were created to Praise! We, as believers, are children of the King. We have a beautiful inheritance and a wonderful eternity ahead… praise the Lord! We have reason after reason to offer Him our praise and thanksgiving. And, as His children, He expects us to offer our praise, but even more, He deserves our praise.

If you praise Him regularly, you know what a lift it is to your heart. If you don’t, give your heart a lift today and begin praising Him. Make praising a habit… never stop!

Sadly, so many Christians seem to get so caught up in the world that they forget to just stop and give praise to God. So many do not have an awe and reverence for the very One who created them.

So many believers, myself included, are going through rough times. All the more reason to keep our eyes on the Creator, the author of our life’s story. All the more reason to cling tightly and keep praising. He not only created us, He knows our present and our future and promises to never leave us or forsake us.

More than ever, now is the time to hold close. As the world continues to spin out of control, the dark appears to grow darker, and so many things seem upside down and inside out, we’re to continually be looking to the only light there is… our Saviour and Redeemer… the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is all we need, and He promises to hold us and take care of us no matter what we may go through.

No matter what you may be going through today or what you may be faced with tomorrow, remember to keep praising through it all. Every trial is a test, and praise is just one of many things we’re called to do as we’re going through the test. Jesus never said we would have an easy, perfect life this side of heaven, but we know His love for each of us knows no bounds.

Through every trial, through every difficulty, we can benefit. It may be very difficult, but with each painful step, we can be molded more by Him. Our hearts can become stronger, and our testimonies can shine brighter. And when we praise, it helps propel us forward and helps push us through the struggle and difficulty to the other side.

James 1:2-4 reminds of what can come through hard times if we stay positive, keep praising, and keep focused on what’s most important: “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

There are so many verses in the Bible concerning praise, which proves how important it really is. Psalm 34:1 says, “I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”

No matter what we go through, we’re called to praise.

Are you praising? Are you in awe of Jesus… the King of Kings… the very One who rescued you? The very One who gave you breath and blessing? Are you in awe of your Creator?

Are you continually praising? Do you praise God when things are going well in your life? Do you praise Him when everything seems to be falling apart around you? Do you thank Him when all seems cozy/ comfy? Do you keep praising when all seems uncomfortable and scary?

Do you have an overwhelming sense of joy knowing you belong to Him? Are you excited and appreciative of your secure eternity because of what He did for you? Are you thankful for your wonderful inheritance, paid in full because of your Savior… your Redeemer?

If you are His, you have every reason to praise. You have Him in your corner. The maker of heaven and earth… the very One who owns everything and knows your beginning and end, loves and cares about you. Not only does He promise to help you in this life, He is preparing a place for you… for all who call upon His name and accept Him into their hearts.

I realize it’s hard to focus on the future when immediate needs vie for your attention in the present. I understand clearly that we are not of this world, but we have to exist in it until He calls us home. Life can be hard, and for some, that may be an understatement. However, praising God in the midst of the storm is what helps you get through the storm. And, through any storm you may be going through today, He promises to walk with you. The Word says very clearly, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5). Our Heavenly Father is trustworthy and deserving of all our trust, our faith, our obedience, and our praise.

Praise is important. The Bible mentions it so many times in Scripture. What follows are just a few examples, some wonderful verses to think upon…

Psalm 105:1 “O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.”

Psalm 150:6 “Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.”

Psalm 63:3-4 “Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.”

Psalm 16:7-8 “I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Psalms 145:3 “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.”

Psalm 28:7 “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.”

Isaiah 25:1 “O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.”

No matter what you may be going through today, no matter what you may face tomorrow, remember to put your trust in the care of your trustworthy Father. And, as you journey, whether through bumpy terrain or smooth paths, never forget to keep praising!

spate.holly@gmail.com

littleuplifts.com (*check it out – latest labor of love!)

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God” (1 Peter 1:18-21).

As we get ready to head into the month of April, we will soon be celebrating another Easter. Although it’s fun to eat Easter candy, participate in a special meal around a pretty table, and watch children enjoy the fun of coloring and hunting for eggs, these things all pale in comparison to the deeper reason – the real reason why we celebrate.

For every believer, Easter should feel like Christmas morning. It should be a time of joy and rejoicing, prayer and reflection, praise and thanksgiving as we remember God’s amazing love for us.

We should be in awe when we think of the sacrifice conveyed in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

We should be equally in awe – our hearts bursting with unending praise when we remember Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Romans 5:9 should deeply move us: “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”

Ephesians 1:6-7 should have our hearts rejoicing: “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.”

1 John 1:7 reminds us of the cleansing power of His shed blood: “…and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

There is nothing… NOTHING we can add to what He did. His act of love was for us but did not require any intervention from us, as we literally could never save ourselves. We are saved solely by placing our faith and trust in Him alone and what He did on the cross. We rejoice because His innocent, shed blood covers all our filthy sin and washes each white as snow – every. single. one.

And after Jesus took His last breath on the cross, his body placed in a tomb, the third day came. Easter morning had come. Redemption had come.

Hallelujah… He arose!

His mission was complete. Broken, hopeless, sinful humanity now had a bridge back to the Father. The Creator had saved His creation. Jesus had paid the price we could not pay. It was a price He chose to pay out of His marvelous, incredible love for each of us. All the world now had hope. All the world now had forgiveness and cleansing of sin. All the world had a Savior and an eternity forever bright because of Jesus.

This free gift came at a great price. It came because of a great love. And it is available to all who call upon His name, believe in Him, and place their trust in Him.

Romans 10:9 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

We should rejoice on Easter and every day of the year because the greatest gift ever given came from our heavenly Father to touch a sinful, broken people. He could have left us in our sin and darkness. He could have left us in our hopelessness. He could have left us with no bright future. He could have left us orphaned. But, thankfully, He didn’t.

God sending His Son was the greatest rescue mission ever. A mission like no other – a mission that would change hearts and change the world forever.

As you celebrate this Easter, take time to give thanks for all God has done. He sent His most precious gift to earth, wrapped in the purest of love for all of us. His only begotten Son, the lamb of God. And while here, Jesus walked the earth, lived a perfect, sinless life, and willingly went to the cross. His incredibly agonizing pain on the cross, his death, his burial, and his resurrection were all a part of God’s great plan – all given so we could be forgiven of all our sin – past, present, and future – so we could have a way back to the Father.

He did it for you. He did it for me. He paid the price for all of us.

Because He Lives, we can have a bright future.

Because He Lives, we can have a very Happy Easter.

He is risen! (Matthew 28:6)

Blessings to you and yours,

Holly

spate.holly@gmail.com