The Blessing of Praise
By Keri Eichberger
Bible Reading:
Surely you have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence. Psalm 21:6
It wasn't too long ago. I was approaching Easter weekend, and my attitude and heart posture didn’t match the praise I knew should be filling my soul, considering I was preparing to honor the most honorable moment in history—the most honorable man in history. And truth be told, the more I became aware of the dimness of my spirit, the more it became shadowed by self-disappointment for not feeling more uplifted in light of such a praiseworthy celebration.
Have you ever felt something similar? Can you remember when you weren’t feeling as joyful as you should’ve been? Or found yourself sad for no reason? Or maybe you did have a good reason to be down, but knew you had even more reason to smile and be thankful. I get it. Some days I’m a bit blue and can’t quite understand why. Sometimes it seems to stem from something silly. And then there are moments, like I felt leading up to Easter, when I was getting ready to have a big surgery and had been struggling through lots of disappointment, but still knew in my heart that God was immensely good and deserving of so much praise.
Praise. That is the key. I’ve been down dark roads before, and offering up praise to my good God was always the way out. I just needed that reminder. I needed it then, I need it now, and I’m guessing you might need this reminder too, time and again. There really is so much blessing wrapped up in our praise of the one who deserves it all.
Life is hard, no doubt. Some seasons don’t make sense, and certain situations make us sad and sorrowful. But there is something constant that we constantly forget: God is still good. God’s goodness abounds everywhere and every moment. Even when things don’t feel good, God is good. And we will see it when we open our eyes and mouths in praise.
Intersecting Faith and Life:
I made a decision that weekend. I’m making it again now, and I want you to join me. Think of something to praise God for. There truly is so incredibly much. You can praise him for the details of his beautifully creative creation, pour out praise for the promise of eternity, and offer praise for his word that reveals his ever-present love, comfort, and care. And you extend your unending praise for his perfectly sufficient provision over your life. We can all praise him for all of that today and every day.
And as we return to a heart of praise, and continue to pour out words and reflections of thanks and gratitude, the shadows will lift from our souls, and we will find more and more songs to sing. We will continue to receive boundless blessings as we continue to praise… him.
Photo Credit: Daniel Reche/Pixabay
Check out fantastic resources on Faith, Family, and Fun at Crosswalk.com!
Related Resource: Relapse, Trauma, and the Power of Community
Caroline Beidler still vividly remembers cracking open her first beer under a big oak tree. She was 11. In this episode of Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic, host Jon Seidl sits down with Beidler—managing editor of recovery.com, author, and addiction recovery advocate—to explore her powerful story of childhood trauma, early addiction, spiritual awakening, relapse, and ultimate restoration through faith and community. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, share this podcast or follow Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
