Psalm 34:1 ‘I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.  My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.’

DAILY READING      Matthew 6:19-34; Exodus 35:1-36:38; Proverbs 16

The Washington Times recently reported that Christian persecution in China is at its highest level since Mao Zedong’s rule ended in 1976. Documented Chinese government persecution of Christians has increased fivefold since 2017. But imprisonment and the threat of torture couldn’t keep one Chinese pastor from singing loud about his faith. Recently Pastor Yang Hua was released from a Chinese prison for state crimes associated with his Christian faith. Yang Hua who is a pastor at Huoshi “Living Stones” Church, in China’s southwest Guizhou province was first imprisoned on December 9, 2015, after Chinese authorities raided his church. In January 2017  the 41-year-old pastor was sentenced to two years and six months in prison and was released on 19 June 2018 after completing his sentence. At his release, he was in poor health as a result of his prison stay and in addition he also faced an accusation of owing the government more than $1 million in fines as a result of his church collecting church offerings which the government termed “illegal donations”.

Yet despite all his challenges, Hua left prison singing loud worship songs. He was thankful for life. Leading up to his trial, Hua had received  threats of torture and harm to his family, The government prosecutor had told him they could turn him into food for pigs. But despite all these, he would not let anything steal his joy or his praise. And at his release despite all he seeemed to have lost he remained  grateful to God that he didn’t lose his life.

Psalm 34:1 says ‘I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.  My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.’

Indeed Praise will always precede the victory. Your attitude of gratitude will always determine your altitude. To rise to the mountaintop, you must learn to praise God while in the valley.  In 2 Kings chapter 3, there was serious drought in the valley. It hadn’t rained in a long time, and there was not a cloud in the sky. And yet the prophet Elishah instructed the people to dig ditches in the valley in preparation to catch the water from the rain that was coming. It was a strange command that ditches should be dug in a desert place, where there was no rainfall, nor river at hand from which the wells could be supplied. But Elishah was following a spiritual principle; he knew that if you want to see rain, then you have to dig the ditches first. And when the people dug the ditches, the next day they were filled to overflowing, the drought had ended!

When we offer sacrifice of praise it is like digging ditches in the desert. Every time you praise despite the pain,  you’re making preparation for the rain. In the scripture rain represents blessing, favor, increase. Around you there may not be any sign of these right now but keep digging the ditches, keep praising God, there is coming the sound of the abundance of rain. When you can offer the sacrifice of praise, you can be assured the Almighty God will work in your life. You may not see anything happening, but behind the scenes, God’s getting it all lined up, and at the appointed time, things will change in your favor.

When Paul and Silas were put in jail for preaching the Gospel, they had a choice; either to praise God or to  complain. Bloodied and bruised, they chose to praise God rather. And God came down in an earthquake and delivered them from prison. Today, you may be in a season of drought, but just keep giving God praise. Shake off the complains and just keep thanking God that you’re free, thank God for His goodness and thank Him for His favor. The good news is that rain is coming your way. Downpours of favor, downpours of blessings, an abundance of God’s goodness is headed towards you. Today, if you’ll do your part and dig the ditches, then God will do His part and bring the rain.

PRAYER: Lord, I know You are always good and faithful. No matter what happens around me, I know You are in perfect control of my life. Please grant me the grace to always give You worthy praise at all times  in Jesus Name.

Quote

Your attitude always determines your altitude in life. –WORDBITE 222.