Psalm 34:1
I will bless The Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth…
DAILY READING — Matthew 13:24-58; Leviticus 19; Proverbs 29
One of the greatest stories in the Foxxe’s Book of Martyrs is the story of Polycarp. After the account of St. Stephen’s death in acts of the apostles, the story of Polycarp is the next oldest existing factual account of martyrdom as recorded in the year 156AD.
Polycarp was an important leader in the early Church, a disciple of St. John the Apostle and later appointed bishop of Smyrna (in modern-day Turkey).
According to history, Polycarp was betrayed by a servant,, arrested, and led before the proconsul and a crowd that had gathered in the stadium. Upon being ordered to curse Christ, Polycarp responded, “I have served Him for eighty-six years and He has done me no wrong. How can I blaspheme my King and Savior?” The proconsul, at the urging of the crowd, thereupon ordered him burnt at the stake.
When being burned he praised God amidst the flames. And as he praised God, miraculously the flames refused to touch him. The men who watched could not believe that this “strange man” would not burn. So instead, at the proconsul’s orders, an executioner pierced him through with a dagger. It was said that such a great quantity of blood came out that the fire was completely extinguished.
When we read such amazing testimonies of early Christians we should indeed wonder and ponder. Imagine a man being burned at the stakes and he chooses to praise God instead. He chose to use his last breath to praise God. Those early Christians walked in the very reality of God’s Presence. They therefore saw every discomfort or pain as an opportunity to offer a sacrifice of praise unto God.. In the same vein, today, we should in all things give thanks to God, seeking for ways to constantly bring glory to His Name. This is what we are called to do as Christians. Though we will not be burned with physical fire, yet there are fires of afflictions and trials that sometimes come to try us. When face such fire of trials, we should see them as opportunities to give God worthy praise. Indeed we should bless The Lord at all times. And when you praise, you will be raised out of such fires. In acts 16, when Paul and Silas despite their pain chose to praise God, they were delivered out of imprisonment. Praise will always guarantee deliverance out of every captivity.
1 Peter 2:9 says ‘But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light’.
God called us out of darkness into light to offer Him praise, continually. When we understand this purpose, then we like David can declare, ‘I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth.’
In an atmosphere of continual praise, there are no pressures, only pleasures. In His Presence is fullness of joy and at His right hand pleasures forever more. So what is that battle you are faced with? What is that challenge? Cheer up and give God worthy praise. In your praise is your victory!
PRAYER: Lord, please help me to bless You at all times, despite any challenge I may face. let nothing ever stop the continual flow of your praise from my mouth in Jesus Name.
QUOTE ; Praise always guarantees you power for a raise, learning to praise God in season and out of season is key to fulfilling destiny. – WORDBITE 222.