Whatever we think, say and do has a direct influence on the power that works for us… Our thanksgiving, praise, trust and gratitude towards God can cause the power of praise to work for us. The scripture says, “May the nations praise you, O God. Yes, may all the nations praise you. Then the earth will yield its harvests, and God, our God, will richly bless us.” Psalm 67:5-6
It’s easy to go around being negative about what has not worked out or how things have been tough… But you can do it differently; get up in the morning and say, thank you Lord that I’m alive today. Thank you that I’m surrounded by your favour. Thank you, that goodness and mercy are following me. Lord, I thank you that you have made me invisible to the enemy” It will put the power of praise at work in your life.
Pay attention to what you always think, say and do. You can’t complain and see breakthroughs. You can’t go around talking about problems, how it’s not going to work out, this challenge is too big and reach your potential. The negative things you say and think can stop your victory.
The scripture says that “God inhabits the praises of His people.” (Psalm 22:3) He hangs around the people who praise Him. It doesn’t inhabit complaints. It doesn’t say that God inhabits frustration, or worry; “Why is this taking so long? These children are getting on my nerves”. That doesn’t get God’s attention.
But when He hears you talking about His greatness, praising when you could be complaining, declaring His promises when you are up against giants, thanking Him that He is working when nothing is changing, that’s when God says, “Let me step in. Let me fight that battle. Let me make a way. Let me bring promotion, healing, and favour.”
The New Living Translation says, “God is enthroned when we praise Him.” When you are full of praise, you are building a throne for God to sit on. When you go through the day being grateful, focusing on what’s right, spring on your step, smile on your face, and being good to people, that’s not just having a positive attitude, you are inviting God into your life or your circumstances.
David said, “Magnify the Lord with me.” (Psalm 34:3) Not magnify your problems but magnify your God. Thank Him for who He is. “Lord, I thank you that you are the all-powerful creator of the universe. God, I thank you that you are the great I am. You are my provider, my healer, my protector, my deliverer, my waymaker.”
That is what causes God to show up. Not begging Him, “God, you have to do something.” Not complaining, “It’s not fair”. Not worrying, “What am I going to do?” That is attracting the wrong things. Switch over to the power of praise. That is what attracts the most powerful force in the universe to respond on your behalf.
Some flowers attract bees because of the aroma they have… There is something called nectar that the flower produces, it brings out an aroma that draws the bees in. These bees go after the flower because of that specific smell of the nectar. So, they could pass over several flowers just to come to these specific flowers because of the aroma.
The scripture says, “For we are the aroma of Christ to God” (2 Corinthians 2:15) When you give God praise, you are putting up that aroma that attracts God. God can smell praise. Yes, your praise attracts God. He will pass over person after person and then, He comes to you and smells that sweet-smelling aroma.
He hears you thanking Him, going around with a grateful heart, talking about how blessed you are, and declaring His promises; “This is another day the Lord has made. I am going to rejoice. I’m going to live this day happy. Father, thank you that as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
The scripture talks about “…making melody in your heart”. (Ephesians 5:19) Some people are rather doing the opposite; feeling sadness, thinking about what they have been through, what wasn’t fair, what they lost, and it’s drawing in more sadness, more discouragement. Other people are replaying all the negative thoughts over and over again! I say switch to something better.
Start having a song of praise in your heart. Instead of “These children are so much trouble”, “Lord, thank you for blessing me with children”. Instead of “it’s a pain to go to work”, “Lord, thank you that I have this job”. “Business is slow, “Lord, thank you that you are my provider” I don’t think I will ever get well”. No, “Lord, thank you that you are restoring my health”.
AROMA OF PRAISE
In the middle of that challenge, send up an aroma of praise. Send up faith, send up hope. “Lord, thank you that there is nothing too hard for you. That what you have purposed for my life will come to pass; no person, no sickness, no disappointment, no forces of darkness can stop what you have planned for me.”
The scripture says “Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!” (Psalm 150:2) You may be limited but God is unlimited. We are natural, but God is supernatural. When you don’t see a way out, you will be tempted to complain, but you have to turn it around and praise Him for who He is.
Sometimes, we are waiting for the circumstances to change, then we give God praise, and then we have a good attitude, but that’s not good enough. You have to give God praise first. You need to have that song in your heart when nothing is changing. Seems like it’s never going to work out but you are still thanking God that He is making ways where you don’t see a way.
In the scripture, the Israelites along with two other armies from Judah and Edom had been travelling through the desert for days. They were going to sneak up on the Moabites and attack them. They thought there would be streams or wells along the way, but they couldn’t find any water for themselves and their animals.
They didn’t know if they should continue. So, King Jehoshaphat, King of Judah asked if there was any prophet around, so they could ask God what they should do. They said, “Well, Elisha is nearby.” Elisha didn’t want to have anything to do with the king of Israel and Edom because they were not honouring God. He was annoyed by their attitude towards God. However, for the sake of King Jehoshaphat, he agreed to do it.
Elisha said in verse fifteen, “Bring me someone that can play the harp.” Elisha knew he couldn’t hear from God in that kind of atmosphere. He was upset and irritated, he had to change the atmosphere through the power of praise. The scripture says, “While the harp was being played, the power of the Lord came on Elisha and he began to prophesy.”(2 Kings 3:15-19)
It’s amazing what God will do if you will create the right atmosphere around you. Put away the doubt, worry, and frustration that’s keeping you from seeing the goodness of God. As Elisha did, bring in the harp, turn up the praise, and create the atmosphere of faith, hope, and expectancy. That’s what causes God to show up.
And this shouldn’t be something we do once in a while. It should be a lifestyle. David said, His praise should continually be in our mouth (Psalm 34:1) . All through the day, under our breath, we are making melody in our hearts, thanking God for His goodness. Grateful for what He has done. Talking about His greatness.
Just like bees are attracted to the aroma of a flower, God is attracted to the aroma of our praise. My question is, what kind of atmosphere are you creating around you? Worry, doubt or complaining? No please, God is looking for that sweet-smelling aroma. You may be in a difficult situation with things coming against you. Keep declaring that you are coming out.
If you will stay full of praise, I decree and declare that negative situations are turning around. Like Elisha, because you have got your harp of praise up, you are going to see favour that you have never seen, new doors are about to open, healing, divine connections, the fullness of your destiny, in Jesus’ name.
The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift His countenance upon you, And give you peace.”’!
