I’ve been on a journey to find more REAL Christianity in my life. What do I mean? Well, to me REAL Christianity would mean REAL POWER. Michael Card says in his song, Things We Leave Behind, “Freedoms not found in the things that we own, It’s the power to do what is right.” That is what I want. Freedom to do what is right. But that will take some mighty power. Old habits of sin easily beset me. So, I’m on a journey to find more REAL Christianity – REAL POWER.
In that journey I’ve been finding one source of power from a source that seems unrelated. PRAISE. Instead of praying, “Oh Lord, help me”, my prayer has has been shifting to, “Lord, I praise You, because You are strong, even though I’m weak, You are wise, even though I’m foolish. I just praise You for the victory You are giving me!”
I’m discovering that praise is one of the most winsome forms of faith. Faith that He does care. Faith that He will deliver me from my inherited and cultivated tendencies to evil. Then yesterday my wife shared with me this amazing quote.
We do not pray any too much, but we are too sparing of giving thanks. If the loving-kindness of God called forth more thanksgiving and praise, we would have far more power in prayer. We would abound more and more in the love of God and have more [victories & blessings] bestowed to praise Him for. You who complain that God does not hear your prayers, change your present order and mingle praise with your petitions. [Now notice this conditional promise] When you consider His goodness and mercies you will find that He will consider your wants. – {5T 317.1}
Powerful!! This quote verbalizes what I’ve been experiencing. Try it in your own experience and see how transformational praise can be in finding God’s power in your life.