"He turned the sea into dry land so they could cross the river on foot. Right there we rejoiced in Him!" (Psalm 66:6, CEB)
"....Right there we rejoiced...!" I need more, "Right there...," in me.
Have you ever noticed that most of the thanksgiving, praise, worship, shouting, dancing is after the "answer?" We all watch as we are praying for someone, wait to hear of someone's salvation, safe return, etc. When they are healed, when they are saved, when someone arrives home safely, then the clapping, the rejoicing begins. If not,............ Our text tells us something of a Kingdom Principle. Let the rejoicing begin before, "Right there...."
"....Right there we rejoiced...!" I need more, "Right there...," in me.
Have you ever noticed that most of the thanksgiving, praise, worship, shouting, dancing is after the "answer?" We all watch as we are praying for someone, wait to hear of someone's salvation, safe return, etc. When they are healed, when they are saved, when someone arrives home safely, then the clapping, the rejoicing begins. If not,............ Our text tells us something of a Kingdom Principle. Let the rejoicing begin before, "Right there...."
Are you in a "depths" today? If not, you probably have been, and, if history shows us anything, there is no guarantee that we may not again have to, "....cross[] through the river on foot." But even now, you and I can rejoice in Jesus. All His promises are, you know it, "Yes and Amen." The song writer put it this way: "Jesus Never Fails," never fails in His promises, never fails, period. The problem with far too many of us is that we look at how things don't seem to work out and then have some reservations on the, "....never fails," part.
Some of us "old timers" in the Renewal remember a book by a World War 2 Vet, Merlin Carothers, From Prison to Praise. One reviewer said that "this is not about a prison with bars, but about a prison of circumstances." In essence, the book is about praising our way out of depression, "unanswered prayers," defeatism, etc. In other words, praise should be the life style of the Follower of Jesus before the "answers," not just after. Praise our Lord Jesus now, give thanks now, not just "on the other side," but in the midst of the "sea," whatever that may be in our lives.
Father, in Jesus' Name, forgive my tendency to praise "after." Amen.
Some of us "old timers" in the Renewal remember a book by a World War 2 Vet, Merlin Carothers, From Prison to Praise. One reviewer said that "this is not about a prison with bars, but about a prison of circumstances." In essence, the book is about praising our way out of depression, "unanswered prayers," defeatism, etc. In other words, praise should be the life style of the Follower of Jesus before the "answers," not just after. Praise our Lord Jesus now, give thanks now, not just "on the other side," but in the midst of the "sea," whatever that may be in our lives.
Father, in Jesus' Name, forgive my tendency to praise "after." Amen.
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
