They Are All His Praises

Another day of prayer and devotion, worship and praise. It doesn't all happen necessarily in that order or all at the same time. Like you, lately my life has been a little discombobulated and sometimes I will talk to people who will ask me to pray for situations they are going through. Most times I write these down in my prayer journal but every once in a while I will just mutter a quick prayer for someone who didnt ask for it. Here's the story...

A morning sunrise in Kauai, Hawaii 2017

This morning I was out in my front yard, sweeping the grass bits left over from my husband mowing the lawn. My neighbor from across the street hollers out, "HEY LADY! How are you doing?". I in turn call out that I am doing well and I am suddenly reminded of a conversation he and I had a few weeks ago...total Holy Spirit action. You see this man, who is older in years, has served our country and continues to work; He had surgery to unclog a major artery in his leg. He had told me all about the injury that caused this condition when he was in the military, and how it is something that he has to have done every few years. As far as I know he is not a believer, maybe he is, but either way as a servant of the LORD I know what to do when a situation arises - pray. This was a quick muttered prayer, nothing I shared with this man but I did it out of obedience and love.

As I return to the current conversation we are having this morning, I asked my neighbor, "Did you have your surgery?". He said, "yes a couple of weeks ago", and proceeded to give me the details. Long story short, his surgery had gone well and he is back to work. This exchange couldn't have lasted more than 5 minutes but either way I was glad to hear his procedure had gone well and that he was doing good. He leaves with his wife and I continue to sweep my front porch...this is when God likes to speak to me, when I'm doing those things which require no thought. His Holy Spirit can speak and there is nothing that is distracting me because sweeping takes no thought, He can speak and I will more than likely hear His voice.

He says to me, "You know just because that man didnt ask you to pray for him doesnt mean that I still dont deserve the praise." BOOM! Like a ton of bricks, I literally stopped sweeping and said out loud, "You're right LORD. You deserve praise even if he didnt know I prayed for him." And so I gave God the thanks and praise for listening to my muttered prayer weeks ago for someone who had no idea.

Now if you're reading this and aren't a believer, you may say...Why does God have to be so egotistical? Why does He need acknowledgement if He's God? God does what He wants anyway you dont need to thank Him. But as a believer, the Bible (the infallible, God-breathed, Holy Spirit inspired book) says, "Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the praise of Israel." Psalm 22:3 NIV. Most translate this verse as, "God inhabits the praise of His people." In other words, as believers we should be moved by all God does in our lives and the lives of those around us - even those we pray for. Being moved to live and worship Him...because He is the HOLY ONE, there is no other.

Praise the end of the day by T. Fraser (2019)

This small exchange I had with my neighbor and with God also served a purpose for myself. Lately, I have been feeling God has been silent, maybe not listening to the prayers I have been leaving at His feet. It was His reminder to me, He is always listening, He is always answering (even if the answer isn't what I think it needs to be), He is always worthy of praise because He is Holy. He has a plan. When my muttered prayers are not only used for the benefit of others but also as a lesson to me. He inhabits the praise of His people because He loves us all.

So give Him all the praise, all the time...and as always,

Warrior On.