MOVING THE ANCIENT BOUNDARIES

                                   THE SACRIFICE OF PRAISE

I flopped down on the couch this morning, my mood as gray and heavy as the stormy sky. This week has been filled with problems—serious, heart-wrenching family problems. I’ve been reading through the Book of Psalms and today was the 66^th Psalm which began:

“Shout joyfully to God, all the earth; sing the glory of His name; make His praise glorious.  Say to God, “How awesome are Thy works!”

Shouting joyfully to God had not been my plan this morning. My words and thoughts would have been classified—whining and murmuring. I read the psalm over again and, remembering several other psalms, knew this wasn’t a suggestion. My mind shouted all right—How? How can I be joyful about anything today, God? You know my heart is breaking.

But the words on the page didn’t change.

Then my mind asked—Why? Why is this imperative statement repeated over and over throughout the psalms?

“Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise.”  Psalm 100:4

“O sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done wonderful things.” Psalm 98:1

“Shout for joy to God our strength; shout joyfully to the God of Jacob.” Psalm 81:1

“I will bless the Lord at all times. His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”   Psalm 34:1

That still, small voice in my soul whispered “because to come any other way says, you don’t trust Me.” I sucked a deep breath and heard, “Oh ye of little faith. In all of your sixty-nine-years have I provided for you, protected you, and proven that I am at work in all things in your life? In all of your trials, sorrows, or problems have I ever left you alone?”

I lowered my head, “I’m so sorry, Lord. Yes, You are always faithful. Please forgive me and I will offer You the sacrifice of my praise.”

A bubbling of joy gurgled deep in my soul and shattered the shroud of gloom that had consumed my heart. I reread the words of Psalm 66 and agreed with God that He was indeed an awesome, magnificent, and mighty God. Throughout the morning I sang “What a Mighty God We Serve.” His peace filled my heart because I chose to obey His Word.

The essence of His joy changed my thoughts and feelings all day. Have the problems vanished? No, they haven’t. But in those quiet moments this morning, I gave them to Jesus. They are too heavy for me to bear.

How about you? Are there burdens suffocating your joy? Wringing the last particle of endurance from your spirit? Burdens you need to relinquish to Him? He’s ready to listen and to act when you come  singing the glory of His name. Offering Him the sacrifice of your praise. Trusting His faithfulness to work all things together for your good and His glory, when you belong to Him.

That doesn’t mean all things are good. Joseph spent twenty years in prison. I’m sure those prison bars didn’t seem good. But God was at work. Even when Joseph didn’t see or understand what He was doing.  Read the account of Joseph’s life in Genesis 37-50. And remember, God hasn’t written the final line of your story yet. You can trust Him because He never fails.