Paulette Taylor
May 6, 2020Let your mind travel to a time and particular place, life situation or difficult problem where God — and you know it was Him — stepped in to correct the wrong, or simply sent what was needed. We truly have a Heavenly Father who cares so much for each of us that not a day goes by when He is not right there, caring tenderly for His children.
One of the things I so love about our Lord is that we can come to Him just as we are, nothing, absolutely nothing pretentious. We do not have to attain a certain status or hold a special position before we can meet with Him in prayer. Praise God!
When we think of those individuals in the Bible who knew how to praise God, there are many. But one of the most outstanding was Job. If you were placed in his position, after having lost every single thing you owned, including dear family members, what would be the first words you uttered?
Job 1:21 clearly shows the heart of this servant of God. . . . the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.
Or consider the insightful words of Ellen G. White on the subject of praise: “To praise God in fullness and sincerity is as much a duty as is prayer. . . . Our joy in the Lord and our efficiency in His service would be greatly increased by recounting His goodness and His wonderful works in behalf of His children. These exercises drive back the power of Satan.”
She further states, “God desired that the whole life of His people should be a life of praise” (Christ’s Object Lessons, pp. 298, 299). Doesn’t that give you a truer perspective on how we should be praising our God?
There are many, many, things for which I want to praise God. One is my Mom. He blessed me with a God-fearing mother who loved and praised Him. Many times, I would see Mom on her knees in prayer. Praise God! She has been gone now eight years and, although I miss her terribly, I look forward to the day when I will see her again. The Lord Himself will embrace her along with the other faithful saints as he states, “Well done good and faithful servant . . . enter into the joy of the Lord” (Matthew 25:23).
John sums up praise so nicely in Revelation 5:13, Then I heard every creature in Heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, forever and ever!”
My brothers and sisters, this Christian walk is not easy with its sometimes-near-death pitfalls, and occasional moments of sheer joy and elation. But, remember, the rewards are beyond anything we could ever imagine. Rejoicing and praising the Father — Himself, in Heaven! Let us pray, by His grace, to be there — together!
Paulette Taylor, Prayer coordinator, Indiana Conference
