The blessing of pressure

Pressures and  blessing

Paul said he prayed 3 times for a thorn in the flesh to leave him, and God spoke," Your strength is made perfect in weakness". Pressure makes diamonds I am told. James says, “Count it all joy when you fall in to many kinds of temptations.” Really James! What part of that pressure is full of joy? Then he points us to what this produces in our lives. Pressure is producing something good in us as well.

I have been having pressure coming at me from many different directions lately. Concerns for loved ones, friends overwhelmed, another friend committed suicide, counseling situations that are way beyond me. Help Lord!

I can tell you I wanted to run and bail out. But the God of grace came and strengthened me. I still don’t have the answers, but I know who does.

Deep inside of me something good is happening. At the end of myself I am finding a cry to God for help. I am seeking God’s face with a greater intensity and passion than ever before. I am pruning crap out of my life that is keeping me from seeking Him and worshipping Him. (These aren’t gross evil, just distractions for me right now.) (time-suckers!)

And then I am meditating on Psalm 63, which I am now calling, the psalm for God-seekers. Interestingly enough, David may have written this psalm in the wilderness, experiencing the pressure of Saul chasing him to kill him. In spite of that, he sings.

Here are several things I am discovering in this song to God: 1.) As we seek Him we will see Him in His Sanctuary. And we will discover His power and Glory. 2.) As we seek Him we will discover that His love is better than life. (This will cause us to praise and glorify Him even more.) 3.) Seeking Him causes us to praise Him as long as we are alive and lift our hands in worship to His name. 4.) As we seek Him, we will find Him and He satisfies our innermost being (soul) completely! (Which causes us to praise Him with singing.) 5.) Finally, even on our beds at night when we think about and meditate on Him praise will flow out of us because we trust in His help and the protection He gives us.

My challenge to you is to set your heart to run after Him. Follow close. Praise Him morning, noon and night. Saturate your life with loving God. Cut out some things in your life that keep you from pursuing Jesus whole-heartedly. There is a strength that comes in His presence that enables us to patiently endure any pressures that might come to us. He truly becomes our Strength, our Rock!

The Power and Importance of Praise

It seems that there are seasons where God focuses my on renewed emphasis.
For a month God has been reminding me of both the power and importance of daily, heartfelt praise.
I dont think this has anything to do with the musical abilities of the worshipper. It's all about a heart of gratitude and honor.
I'm reminded of 1 Thess. 5:15-18 where Paul reminds us that 'this is the will of God', to give thanks always. Too many things rob us of that focus. Interestingly enough several friends of mine have died lately. Too young in my opinion, but then God doesn't consult me on the plans for everyones lives. (for which I am thankful.) but all of these men where God-seeking, men of faith and it reminded me that I have to trust God and live a life of faith if I am to praise Him and give thanks, even when I don't understand His plan.
Well, I recently re-read a book that impacted my life 30 plus years ago. It's in my mentoring booklist that I give the young guys that God puts into my life to pass on what God has graciously deposited in me. It's called "From Prison to Praise" by Merlin Carothers. It reminded me of not only how praising God for everything, like Eph. 5:20 says is biblical, it also releases the power of God to work in our circumstances. Amazing! Such a simple truth and yet so foundational. It first helps our attitudes. It humbles us to trust that God is big enough for any problem. Secondly, it keeps our heart positive and faithfilled as we focus on the solution, the person of Jesus, instead of the problem or circumstances.
Finally, as we truly worship him, we are drawn into a present reality of his presence and receive strength and grace for enduring whatever is going on.
I have been so stirred, I have been making time every day for personal worship. It is impacting my life. One of the things I have doing as well is surrounding myself with worship! I am a great love of many kinds of music. But for a season I am going to listen to and sing only that which glorifies God.
I am soaking myself for a while I guess. I can already see the impact as I minister to others.
I have discovered on youtube that many of the great worshipping churches have videos available for free. SuzY Yaraei, Anthony Skinner, Bethel Church in Redding California, Morning Star Ministries with Leonard Jones and Potter. If we want t be worshippers, there is no kind of music that isn't avilable from sancticfied blues to hymns to rap. Whatever our taste is there is music available that the spirit will be lifted in and the words will be life-giving.
so I put out this challenge: To what are you listening? Are you taking time daily to minister to the Lord in Psalms, Hymns or spiritual songs.
try it, it will change your life and release the flow of ministry though you.