Recently something happened that made me really mad. Primarily because it involved my youngest child being hurt, confused and upset through the behaviour of someone else. I’ve realised I am like the Mama Bear who is highly protective of her cubs – you don’t want to mess with her babies. I for all intents and purposes am quite a mild, easy going person until it comes to someone I love and especially my children – mess with them and you kinda better watch out.
However I also know that God is sovereign and that He is ultimately in control of everything. Plus He will only allow us to be pushed so far before He comes in doing His Papa Bear thing. At times when circumstances and people are pushing my buttons and limits I am often told to be silent, to wait and to trust and be still.
There’s moments to stand, fight, and speak and there are times to walk away; to remain silent and simply leave people and circumstances alone and keep running our own race.
This morning after one of those Mama Bear weekends where I just wanted to get in and “fix” some things I heard God speak and tell me to focus. Actually His exact words were, “Focus, focus, focus, it’s all about where you focus. You can sit on your anger and resentment or look at me and let my goodness and grace flood through you”.
There are times when anger and disappointment can feel like sludge in our souls and we need God to move in our lives so He can remove any mess from the hidden places and corners of our soul and renew and improve our focus. We don’t have to struggle and stress for that to happen, because as I discovered this morning there is a great antidote to sludge and negative focus. It’s called praise. Praise will flood our souls and spirits with God’s light and goodness and cause rivers of living water to turn our bitter into sweet.
Praise silences the enemy. Praise reminds us of God’s goodness. Praise brings perspective that God is far bigger than any problem, person or circumstance. Praise invites God on the scene because He inhabits the praises of His people.
Praise activates our spirits and helps remind us of God’s promises and that, “all things work together for our good and that no weapon formed against us will prosper”. Praise helps us focus on the good and to let go of the bad.
Today praise worked and as I focused on God’s goodness and His promises praise began to flush out the sludge that had been sitting in the corner of my soul and I was able to focus on.
Praise is powerful. Try it and let God turn your bitter into sweet and cause you to rest in His promises today.
“Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.” (Psalm 8:2 NIV)
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” (Psalm 8:28 NLT)
Prayer: Lord thank you that you know all about me. Please help me to focus on your goodness and to know that all things work together for my good. I ask for your light to shine into every corner of my life and to turn my bitter into sweet and my mourning into dancing. In Jesus name Amen.
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