Praising in the Storm

Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

I once read the story of a woman who went to China as a missionary. She contracted smallpox during the days where there was no cure; this was considered a deadly disease. She had to be quarantined in her room and the smallpox covered her body from head to toe. Since she didn’t know what else to do, she began to seek God. He spoke to her and said to praise Him for His faithfulness and to keep His Word. God showed her a vision of two baskets. One basket represented the trial; this basket was full. The other basket represented her praise; this basket was half full. The Lord told her that she needed to fill her praise basket so that it would outweigh and overshadow her tests. He said to her “When your praise basket is full, your healing will be manifested.” She began to fervently seek and loudly praise The Almighty God, not for her healing, but for His faithfulness. No one had any hope or faith that she would live through this disease but still, she praised! She praised Him for all that He had done and all that He is. She thanked Him in advance for her healing. What was the result? God removed every mark of smallpox from her body and she was completely healed.

 

 

Praise is the cure to get you through any storm! When you can’t see your way through a storm, praise gives you vision. When you think you just can’t go on, praise is what will give you the strength. When the enemy comes against you, praise will make him flee! When the Israelites arrived at the enemy’s camp, not one of the enemy soldiers was alive! If the Israelite army can offensively march out against the enemy in praise and then God finishes the battle, how much more will He fight your battles for you? The Israelites knew that God was going to do just what He said based on what He had already done for them. We can take a great lesson from this. Think about the things that God has done for you up to this point, and reflect on the promises that He has for your future. God allows battles in our lives to increase our faith.

 

The amount of your praise determines your breakthrough! Remember that the battle is not yours – it belongs to God! Be fully persuaded that God has power to do what he has promised (Romans 4:21). Stand firm on His word believing that He will fight every battle and bring you through any circumstance. Praise Him not only when the battle is over but when you are going through it. Don’t wait to praise Him after the situation changes. Praise Him to change the situation! Don’t praise Him because of the circumstance; praise Him in spite of the circumstance! Praise God in faith because of what He is going to do in your life. Praise is the cure for everything so take your position!

 

“And once the storm is over you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure in fact whether the storm is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the storm you won’t be same person who walked in.” - Haruki Murakami