The Power of Praise
Our lives are shaped by our thoughts. Our individual thoughts are strung together to form thought patterns and systems that frame how we understand and look at life. These frames interpret our situations and circumstances. Our perspectives then lead us into actions and emotions. Our collection of thoughts determine what kind of people we are. So, we need to take our thoughts very seriously. We need to manage and administrate our thoughts carefully. One who collects (and thinks) allot of angry thoughts is an angry person; one who gathers (and thinks) hopeful thoughts becomes a hopeful person. To a large degree, we are what we think.
Thoughts often come from outside sources – someone may speak something to us, we may read something, or a temptation or an accusing thought may come our way. These thoughts are like seeds that land on our heads. When the seed settles, we have the power to let it take root in our minds or not. We can entertain the thought and add agreement to it, or we can reject it. Thoughts that we agree with begin to take root in our thinking. And thoughts upon which we meditate and think often begin to take root in our hearts. They become motivations for how we live.
We may not be able to change our circumstances or what people say to us, but we can control how we interpret them. We can view our situation through a lens of faith or doubt, hope or fear, abundance or poverty. A good thought structure mixes accurate perceptions with biblically informed faith. It does not deny reality, nor does it allow a situation to dictate feelings of hopelessness or helplessness. God is always involved in the equation.
God has given us a powerful tool that we can use to both silence the accusatory, negative onslaught of thoughts associated with the enemy and increase our faith perspective. The tool is praise. Psalm 8:1-2 instructs us that God has ordained (ordered or established) praise as a means of strengthening our souls and silencing the enemy. This tool or weapon can be wielded by adults and children alike. It is simple, not complicated. To praise is to speak or sing of the greatness of God and His ways. It is done out loud! When we speak/sing praise, we inform the heavenly realm (and ourselves) that we believe in the sovereignty of our God in the situation. This causes faith to rise up and multiply within us, and it takes authority over the spiritual realm around us. What comes out of our mouths ultimately settles the conflict with the evil one. Either our mouths agree with the kingdom of hell or with the Kingdom of God. “The tongue has the power of life and death.” (Proverbs 18:21) Allow the Bible to inform your thought-perspectives, and employ praise as your tool of declaration. As you praise God amidst all your circumstances your faith will increase, and you will silence the negative thoughts that may try to plague you.
Praising God with you,
Pastor Tom
tgriffith@rolcboston.org
