The Power of Praise

This was written a looong time ago. And, though I would word a lot of things differently now, the testimony is still the same. May it be a blessing to you. Enjoy! ~L.S.

Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for me. I cried aloud to him, and he was extolled with my tongue. Psalm 66:16-17 NRSV

I struggled with a minor setback at one time that sent me into a serious tailspin. I can say minor now only in hindsight, because at the time it was devastating. I was actually depressed for months and couldn't seem to pray my way out of it like I normally can. I didn't want to commit suicide, but if I died through other means it would have been a welcomed relief. Anyone who knows me knows that I live for my son, so the fact that I was willing and ready to go, leaving him behind, meant that I was at a record low.

I prayed constantly, read my Bible, listened to taped sermons and gospel music day and night. Literally going to sleep with the sounds of inspiration and worship playing in my headphones as I drifted off at night. I attempted my usual candlelit aromatherapy bubble baths, which I swear by for a mental vacation, and I went before my church at the time and had the whole congregation pray for me right then and there. They laid hands, touched, agreed, anointed me with holy oil, the whole works and I felt better for about a day and then that feeling of hopelessness came right back and I felt lost all over again.

Day in and out I barely spoke to people unless I needed to and I just went through the daily motions of taking care of my family like a robot. In body I was there, but in Spirit I was in a distant and horrible place. To top it off, you know how the devil does, you start out upset over one thing and before you know it the floodgates have opened and you're being reminded of the millions of other things, past and present, which are quite uncomfortable to deal with. I'm talking about childhood issues, bad decisions long since passed - everything that I thought I had in good perspective was making its way back to haunt me all at once. It had been difficult enough going through each of those lessons independently, but having to relive them again, all at once, was unbearable. What had started as me being sad over one situation had soon grown into a full-blown depression over events spanning my whole life. Overwhelmed, I cried every day I opened my eyes and every night as I shut them for a night of restless slumber. If there is such a thing as hell on earth, I can assure you that I was there at this time.

One day, I had been out running a few errands with my friend and was in my usual despondent state. We barely spoke as I couldn't even focus on conversations at all anymore. At his wits end after several months of my never ending glum, he just took me everywhere I needed to go with barely a word between us. Finally, after lugging me around for a day, he dropped me off at home. As I reached the front door, tears were welling up in my eyes and I felt as though I couldn't even steady my hand enough to slide the key into the door. I remember having this feeling of uncontrollable panic that I wasn't going to be able to get in the house and that I was going to break down right there on the doorstep while my friend sat in the car, eyes fixed on me, watching that I made it in safely.

Finally, somehow I managed to get past the front door and, before I could even hear it slam shut behind me, I collapsed on the floor and just began howling the most incredible, gut wrenching sobs that I have ever heard come out of another human being. My purse was still on my shoulder, the papers I had carried in with me were scattered all over the floor and I was on my hands and knees weeping as though everyone that I had ever loved had been taken from me at once. My mind was telling me to get up-- to fight it, but I couldn't move from that spot and the tears felt as though they were literally choking the life out of me. I don't recall how long I carried on like this, but at some point, from the corner of my eye, I spotted my Bible on my living room table. From far across the room, it seemed as though that was the only clear thing that I could see in a space blurred by my tears and otherwise occupied by my nearly insane wailing. I swear to you that, at that very moment, I heard a voice literally speak to me and say "Praise me now".

Convinced that I had nothing to be happy about, I responded with asking what did I have to offer any praise for? The voice didn't speak again, but something inside of me just took over and I began verbally, choking out, "Thank you, Jesus...Thank you, Father" over and over again still sobbing uncontrollably, but still speaking the words like my very life depended on them.

Though right away I couldn't clearly identify what I was thanking Him for, I just remember feeling thankful for Him. Looking back, I'm very mindful of the words of Ephesians 1:4-7 NIV According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

I couldn't articulate my thoughts towards that at that moment, but I could feel the joy that every word of His grace, salvation and promise represented in my heart. I want you to know that instantly I began to feel that fog that I was living in lift from me. It was an inexplicable, invisible, but heavy burden that I literally and physically began to feel lift from my Spirit. I continued, laying right there on that floor, mesmerized by the sight of my Bible and knowing that His visitation in that one directive, "Praise me now" was saving my life as I continued to praise Him in unabashed and unerring obedience. As I was tarrying in the experience of His awe, I began to realize that He brought me to this place for a reason and He was revealing something else to me in my rescue. I had always been mindful to praise Him when things were going well, but He was delighting in my acknowledgement of Him when I was at my lowest. When I didn't feel like it and when I felt that I had nothing to praise Him for, He was teaching me how to worship my way through despite it all.

Mind you, I've been through a lot in my life...molestation, rape, beatings, bad breakups and many other things which had all taken me to hell and back. I had cried tears before in my life, but those tears had become my friends; they made me strong and created a resilience in me today that few people can match. None of those past experiences though, not a single one, could compare to what I was feeling during this time. I had never felt so low in my entire life and He was reaching down a mighty long way to rescue me in those moments.

After I finished praising Him though, still on my hands and knees, I literally crawled across the floor to the Bible and I don't even remember what I read, but I recall a complete feeling of peace when I was done with the entire episode. I couldn't explain it, nothing had changed visibly, but something had definitely changed Spiritually within my circumstance. I had a modern day Acts 16:25 NSRV experience: About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were unfastened. My shackles of depression had been loosed by my praise of the Most High God!

That very next morning I arose with new hope and a new conviction that God was taking me on a fresh journey and, though I still couldn't see the path ahead of me, I was anxious to meet it with the expectation that good things were going to come forth from the fog. I sat at my computer, which I had previously lost all interest in, and decided, out of the clear blue, to look for a new job. That very same day I found one and within a few days began working for a Christian women's organization where I was able to be of service to other women trying to come in off of the battlefield. Through my own bout with the enemy, I could stand as a testimony to others of what God can do when we lean completely on Him. Even when we can't see a way, He's still made a way for us. My experiences there led me on a deeper journey of self-discovery, friendship and servitude which has all contributed to what and who I am today. In short, God brought me full circle and through it all taught me the power of praise.

Now, I liken praise to pressing Control + Alternate + Delete on your computer. You know, when your system's acting up and seems like you're stuck, we've learned that pressing those simple keys will clear everything and help us start over. I look at praise the same way. Praise helps us regain control, by affirming that our Father is in control and that we're trusting Him no matter what. It helps put our mind on an alternate pattern of thinking. Instead of being stuck on the problem, we are focused on the author of our solution when we praise Him. All of this deletes the enemy's power. He hates to hear us praise our Lord. When he hears praise, he knows he is defeated and that we are now focusing on our Lord who will rescue us from every situation he has tried to hinder us with. So, praise helps us take control, get on an alternate pattern of thinking and delete the enemy's power all while delighting our God who is worthy of all the praise we can muster.

I now know the truth of Philippians 4:6-8 NSRV Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

People often think that I'm without problems or that I'm not easily moved. It's not me at all that's responsible for what they see though. See, I've learned the power of praise and I rely on it in every situation. Yes, I'm a living testimony that He will give you crazy peace and guard your heart and mind in Him just by using the simple, but effective, power of praise.