Living With Chronic Pain – Spiritual Fitness – What’s So Neat About Praise
Though I’m not pain-free by any stretch, praise, for me, still remains as an integral expression of thankfulness to God. I think some people truly miss the mark when it comes to praising God.
Here’s what I simply mean…
Edmund Soper writes, “Praise is the highest duty that any creature can discharge. Man’s chief end is to glorify God.” But how can we honestly praise God when pain and poverty hover over everything else in our lives?
We can praise God accordingly when we really understand what praise represents. Praise is this…
When we confidently know about our spiritual conversion, the inner part of us instinctively celebrates the reality of heaven – in terms of our past, present and hopeful future. Praise starts on the inside of man and then is expressed outwardly. In contrast, if we start to praise God by shouting, singing, lifting hands, speaking in tongues, etc., and then expect change and healing to occur because of our praiseworthy efforts, then this is a far cry from the intent and nature of praise.
With praise, the hardcore reality of election (being a believer of Jesus Christ) overrides the demands for personal prayer petitions.
Praise expresses the truth about salvation, knowing that spiritual breakthrough and personal expansion exceeds the “idea” stage about faith. Praise honors God for His sovereign participation with salvation and the fullness of life freely given to the believer.
Praise is powerful, even against the shouting voices of painful hardships and spiritually bankrupt souls. Praise reaffirms the inner transformation of man through faith. The inner man sings praises of the Redeemer. The inner recognizes the eternally new heart given to him by faith in Christ. The inner parts of man shout praises to God, realizing that a new citizenship exists in heaven. Praise is all of this.
That is why I can praise God even though chronic pain tries to spoil the party.
Keep me on your favorites. For more about living with chronic pain and spiritual fitness visit me at .www.gordonselley.com
