The power of praise changes things

It began one night when the young adults in my church gathered to pray last week. The Holy Spirit moved mightily and we began to pray for each other. The pastor prayed for some of us as well. As I was the projectionist-on-duty that night, I thought I wouldn’t be prayed for so I sat alone and just worshipped the Lord. To my surprise, the pastor came towards me and prayed. She said, “God wants you to write three articles, ‘the power of praise changes things’ and ‘the Word of the Lord is a fire’”. She did not mention the third but I knew what it was. It was the article I have written before this: ‘Five loaves and two fishes’.

This was the first time God used someone else to tell me the topics He wanted me to write. And it was challenging because I would try to relate almost everything I see or hear or feel to the topics. However, God showed me so clearly what He wanted me to write. And this, I give thanks.

Last Tuesday, I suffered from menstrual cramps which were common every time I had my period. However, the Lord was gracious and He said, “Praise me”. And so I did. I began to sing, “Worthy, worthy, worthy to receive all praise. Holy, holy, holy, You’re the Son of God. You are awesome, God of power, God of glory, come and fill this place…” I was following the song led by Paul Wilbur and I played it again and again. Nothing changed. The pain was still there. I began to tear and told God, “God, I don’t want to do this anymore. It’s too painful”. God once again showed me His grace and said, “Praise me”. And I obeyed. I continued to sing. And the pain got better.

The next day, I thought because I praised God, all the cramps would be gone. However, the pain was still there, yet there was something different this time. Each time I’d have my period, I would have diarrhea and menstrual cramps and that’s double the pain. And more often not, I would be too weak to move. This time, the power of praise changed this pattern. I did not have diarrhea and I found strength in God. This is the power of praise.

The same day, another miracle happened. I was offered two jobs. For the past few days, I was looking for a holiday job but to no avail. When I began to praise God, He provided. And when He provides, it is always in abundance. This is the power of praise.

The next morning, as I was doing my daily devotions, and Leviticus 3:14-16 struck me.

“From what he offers he is to make this offering to the Lord by fire: all the fat that covers the inner parts or is connected to them, both kidneys with the fat on them near the loins, and the covering of the liver, which he will remove with the kidneys. The priest shall burn them on the altar as food, an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma. All the fat is the LORD’s.”

I wondered why the Lord took delight in the fats burnt in fire and I did a research on ‘fats around inner organs’. I found out that the fats around the inner organs such as the liver and kidney is highly active and continuously releases poisonous substances into the bloodstream. Then, I understood why the Lord wanted all the fat, or rather; all the fat belongs to Him.

The fats around the organs are harmful to the body and that relates to moments when we are in horrible circumstances such as illnesses, financial difficulties, broken relationships and the like. When fats around the organs remain there for a long time, it suffocates the blood vessels and harms the body. Similarly, when these ‘fats’ or problems remain in our minds and hearts, we will feel even more depressed and discouraged and at some point, suffocated. That is why God wants us to remove these ‘fats’ and turn them into praises. We burn these fats as an offering to God, which means we surrender to God all of us. This is the essence of praise. It is an act of offering that delights the Lord.

In verse 16 it says, “All the fat is the LORD’s”. This means that God deserves all the praises, not just when we are in good situations but also when we’re in the valleys. This isn’t easy at all. And that’s why God takes delight in our praises. By removing the ‘fats’ through praise, God removes the harmful effects on our body, which could be detrimental to our spiritual body as well. In bad circumstances, we are usually in our spiritual low. Hence, praises lifts our spirit man and edifies our spirit. This involves a shift in focus from our problems to God.

When we offer our praises to God, the offering becomes holy. And this can be seen in all the offerings recorded in Leviticus. God is holy, and He is a consuming fire. When our offerings become holy, all that is within us changes simply because the Holy Spirit within us consumes all our problems. We find strength in God through praise. And this delights the Lord.

Therefore, I challenge you my dear ones, to praise Him not just when you’re doing well, but when you’re down and crushed. For He takes delight in this; it is a pleasing aroma to Him. Praise, because the power of praise changes things.

Got it? Or, rather, done it?