Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ – THE Risen Saviour…Oh – what a beautiful name! what a wonderful name! what a powerful name! Another warm and beautiful late Spring morning in the Kingdom, and I trust that you are rejoicing and gladness is filling your heart. Did you have a good weekend and Monday? Did you sense God’s wrap-around presence? Did you have some meaningful conversations with family or friends? Did you hear God’s whisper in your heart? Today I will be praying for you, asking Father to release a fresh healing touch on you…may you see answers to your prayers…may He fill you with heaven’s joy and peace.
Over that past months, before our Covid19 holiday, at our Monday noon-hour prayer gathering we have been praying for a change in the “atmosphere” in our city. I thought of one time when God changed the “atmosphere” over a city and what precipitated it. In Acts 2, as the moment of fullness for Pentecost was unfolding there was an eruption of praise and worship – so much so that the entire city was affected. I am staring to understand that if we really want God to change our city’s “atmosphere” we will need to start being more intentional and expressive in our praise and worship. God’s Word boldly declares that God’s presence inhabits…dwells in, is at home in…the praises of His people.
I believe there is another ingredient to this, and it is a word that is dear to our heart – HOPE! One of my top favourites verses says…Now may God, the inspiration and fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as you trust him. And may the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround your life with his super-abundance until you radiate with hope! – Romans 15:13 TPT. “Hope”is the confident expectation that something good is going to happen-when we dare to hope, it fills our life with joy and peace. Hope is only as strong as its source – Joyce Meyer. Hope will ignite our worship and praise…praise and worship will empower our hope. Another writer challenges us with these words…If you only carry one thing throughout your entire life, let it be hope…and hope will be the very thing that carries you through – Nikki Banas.
Hope that ignites our praise and worship comes because we have surrendered ourselves to a relationship with Jesus Christ…and the more we nurture that relationship, the more confident and hopeful we will be. Here it is we learn to praise and worship as the seasons of our lives change. Hear these words – the good times wouldn’t be as savoury if you didn’t taste the bad. You’d never know the power of His Word if you didn’t need to wield it’s power. Victory wouldn’t be appreciated if you couldn’t fail. His arms wouldn’t feel as rejuvenating if you didn’t need to be refreshed – The Divine Romance, Brian Simmons and Gretchen Rodriguez. We are “hoping” that there is something good coming our way and that hope is fuelling our praise and worship…and our praise and worship will change the atmosphere.
Something to think about — have a great day and be blessed!