The following was recorded live in our Facebook group, Every Day Incredible Ladies: finding Christ-centered life balance.
Good evening, ladies!
We’re off to a bit of a late start tonight, but I am excited to share with you tonight!
I don’t have a whole lot as far as announcements, I’m just very excited, still about the book release coming out March 12th! That is Learning to “Fear Not.” I am very excited about sharing the book with you! It has lots of practical information that is going to be hopefully very powerful for any of you who struggle with anxiety. Even if you don’t struggle with anxiety all the time, it’s still something that’s very powerful- just to have that message and to really know what scripture says about how we overcome anxiety and depression. It’s about how we can use our spiritual armor to protect us. I’m excited about the book coming out, and it’s getting really close! If you’re interested in reading an advance copy of that and being on the launch team, just let me know and I’ll make sure you get the information for that.
Tonight’s topic is something that we all deal with. Some days just feel “heavier” than others, and I’m sure you all know exactly what I’m talking about. There are some days that we might just feel like there’s a weight that’s that’s descending on us, so to speak, or sometimes it just feels heavier and darker. Some days we might be struggling with something, and it may just feel like you’re under attack. There are days I feel like I’m under attack, and then I have the temptation just give in to it, whether it’s bitterness or anger or any number of things that we all find to be a challenge.
Tonight, I wanted to share with you just one really simple thing that I have found to be tremendously helpful on those difficult days, and that’s praise.
When I am having a difficult day like that, if I can turn on praise and worship music or if I can just sing or hymn or praise and worship song, it’s amazing how much difference that makes. It changes the atmosphere around me and that’s something I really want to encourage you guys to start doing too. If you’re having a tough day, it might not be the first thing you feel like doing, but it could make a really big difference. Over the past couple of years, I’ve really learned that that’s true. When I’m tempted and struggling with that internal battle to focus on truth instead what feels true in the moment, turning that to praise makes such a big difference.
When we begin to praise, whether that’s speaking or singing, I want to share some amazing things that happen.
1. We’re turning our focus to God. We’re turning our focus to God and His goodness instead of inwardly at our struggles and our shortcomings. That in and of itself is a pretty big thing. so we’re focusing on who God is and what that means for us as his children instead of focusing on what we’re dealing with in that moment.
2. When we praise our Heavenly Father, we are resisting our spiritual enemies, because they’re not going to want to stick around we’re praising our Heavenly Father. It’s something that is going to push back that darkness and focus on something that is true instead of what feels true in the moment.
We’ve talked about that quite a bit here at Every Day Incredible- how so often, something may feel true in the moment, but it doesn’t match up with what God’s Word says.
3. When we’re praising God and singing songs of praise, we’re focusing on that truth instead, so it helps to shift our mindset. It helps us to align our thoughts and our hearts with those of God.
In Psalm 100:1-5, we read,
1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. 3 Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his ; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. 5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Even just reading that, it gives me chills! Just thinking about how good God is, and about how His love truly endures forever …and His love is not like the earthly love we see around us. There’s no comparison. Just to know that His love is truly unconditional- it lasts forever. When you’re focusing on those things instead of what struggle is in front of you, it makes a huge difference!
This week, what I want to encourage you to do is praise when you feel that heavy weight descending on you. Choose to praise, even if it’s not the first thing you feel like doing. Something that can be helpful in doing that is to make a list of all the reasons you can think of that God is worthy of praise: that His love endures forever, that He is a good God, think history and the things He’s done for you in the past.
We also read in scripture that we overcome by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony. One amazing way to praise is to just share your testimony with somebody. Speak those words and tell what good things God has done for you. It changes your mindset and helps you to focus on something that you know is true, not just what feels true in that moment.
You can praise God through singing, you can praise God through listening to worship music, you can quote scripture, and you can share your testimony. Anything you do that can turn that praise back to God and focus on who He is to us and what that means for us is going to make a positive impact on whatever struggle you are facing.
Your breath prayer for this week is, “I will praise you Father, for you are worthy of all praise.”
I hope that this is an encouraging breath prayer for the week, and I want you guys to share in the group when something happens and you’re praising God. Share with us so we can so we can praise with you! We have a Heavenly Father who is truly, truly, truly worthy of all praise.
I hope you guys have a wonderful week and a good evening!