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      •          1 Corinthians 4; 1 Kings 17; Amos 1

On Sunday, April 15 2018, an EF-3 tornado tore through the town of Elon in  Virginia,  causing devastation. Six tornados had carved damage paths in the area with winds of up to 150 miles per hour and a 25-mile long path of debris. At the end of it, about 26 homes had been destroyed.  Yet despite the great destruction left by the tornado miraculously no one was killed. And this was why the town’s residents who are mostly Christians chose to praise God, grateful that their lives were spared.

One of the residents, Gary Fink and his wife and five children had hid in the basement of their home during the tornado. After the storm, all that was left of their home was the foundation. Neighbors had to help pull the family from the rubble of their destroyed home.  The family knew they had escaped death only because of God’s grace. And on that remaining foundation where the Fink home had once stood, was where the neighbors all gathered together to sing praises to God.

In a Facebook live video, one of the town’s resident, a 17-year-old boy named Tre Tyree led the small crowd in the popular worship song, “Praise You in This Storm.”

“I’ll praise you in this storm,” Tyree sings in the video “And I will lift my hands. For you are who you are. No matter where I am. Every tear I’ve cried. You hold in your hand. You never left my side. And though my heart is torn. I will praise you in this storm.”

The residents of this town didn’t let the tragedy steal their joy or  praise, rather they chose to praise God. Despite all they lost, they remained grateful to God that they didn’t lose their lives.  After the storm, help came from various quarters as people and organizations rallied round to assist the community in rebuilding. And today, their homes have not only been rebuilt, but they are better and stronger than what they used to be.

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.’

To rise to the mountaintop, you must learn to praise God while in the valley. Challenges are often fuel or catalyst that propel us towards our destiny. It will either make you better or make you bitter. However, our attitude of gratitude will always determine our altitude.

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.

Praising God in the storm, which is a sacrifice of praise, moves God to act in your favour. Instead of complaining  over your health, choose rather to thank God for restoration. Rather than be discouraged over your finances, choose rather to thank God  for overflow,  thank Him that according to scriptures you will lend to many nations.

Psalm 40:2-3 says ‘He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.  And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God’

Praise will always guarantee you a raise out of any pit. When Joseph was thrown by his brothers into the pit, it looked like the end for him. However, it is interesting that it was Judah that convinced the other brothers not to kill him. Judah means “Praise”.  In other words, praise saved Joseph from death and he was delivered out of the pit.

Indeed praise raises men out of the pits of life.  Every time you praise despite the pain,  you’re making preparation for the rain. Though there may not be any sign yet, keep praising God; there is coming the sound of the abundance of rain. Indeed  as you keep praising, downpours of favor, blessings, restoration and abundance of God’s goodness are headed towards you.

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