With the current social and political climate of today, it is very easy to finds yourself apprehensive just leaving your home. Add to the the normal stresses and issues of our individual lives, and the door is open to fear.

Fear brings torments, and steals joy, peace of mind, and calm. It clouds your faith so you no longer trust God to the degree you once did.

But there is a remedy.

Praise and worship elevates your mind. It removes YOU from the center of your focus and places God in that spot (where he should have already been).

Praise allows your mind to let go of everything that would burden you. It’s allows you to let go The the things that would weigh you down. Praise allows you to unwind. Why? Because you are not focusing on yourself. We are naturally self centered people. However, when we praise God, we let go of this natural inclination.

As you enter into praise, it may take a little time to let go of things. You mind will tend to ponder things or run rampant. But don’t be discouraged. Keep praising through this and intentionally put your mind on God. Eventually you will loose yourself in praise.

Be specific in your praise. Think of all be has done for you. All of he has delivered you from. All of the things you are expecting to receive. Just thank him. Pour it all out in your praise.

There is power in your praise.

Psalms 22:3, tells us that God inhabits our praises. This means that whenever I need God to show up in a powerful way, I just praise him. The way God shows up is always right and exactly what we need.

Most of the time we think that God needs to change the situation. However, most of the time when God shows up he changes us, not the situation. When WE are changed, the situation is always better.

Praise is contagious. It is almost impossible for an observer not to take part in some way. More importantly, the blessings of praise has a tendency to fall on those that are in close proximity.

Praise has a natural progression. It leads to worship.

There are multiple benefits of worship.

Most importantly is worship allows us to connect with God in a deeper level. It is an intimate communication. You enter into a space that is reserved for you and God alone. This is where worship differs from praise. Everything that has breath is commanded to praise (Psalms 150). But to truly worship God involves spirit and truth (John 4:24).

Flesh is humbled, must bow down, and our spirit connects to God. This means that if you do not have the Holy Spirit abiding on the inside, you are unable to worship according to John 4:24.

However, seek to receive this free gift of God. He desires to dwell in you and be your strength. He desires to give you his spirit so that you can overcome the enemy of your soul.

Once you are in worship God is able to speak to you, and you are in a place to hear and understand. In worship you find direction, correction, and instruction. God prepares you in worship. He prepares you to face everything you must in order to accomplish all that he has ordained for you.

Every believer needs this!

So give yourself a break and make praise and worship a part of your daily routine.

Be blessed.