ORACLES: Lesson 9

Let your praise open doors for you.

It’s always exciting to read about the great things that God has done in the lives of people throughout the Old and New Testament. He shows Himself with great power, authority and steadfast love; so in contrast, it can be challenging in our personal lives when time moves slowly, the unknown is gripping, and God—well, He seems unmoved and circumstances seem unchanged.

Living by faith is not easy but it’s doable, and Abram is the best example because he received a promise of a son at 75 years old and twenty-five years later Isaac was born! Talk about tenacity! And the good news is, we get to read how he did it in Romans 4:19-21: “And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.  He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.”  

Notice, Abram didn’t validate facts (facts are what you see, hear, taste, touch and smell) by giving them attention. Rather, he dismissed facts and feelings and “gave glory to God”. He praised! He didn’t complain throughout the twenty-five years, he didn’t use words to doubt its fulfillment, nor did he take the mindset like most to “believe it when I see it”. No, he glorified, blessed, honored and praised God when it looked unlikely, when he felt denied, and when he probably wanted to give up. He focused on the character and power of God, and chose to glorify Him!

So, when there doesn’t seem to be a change of facts in your life that is not the time to despair. Make something happen! Get up and start giving a rousing praise to God. Jump and shout! Thank Him with the same zeal you would use when the promise has come. You can’t be in faith and down in the dumps at the same time. Your praise should not be contingent upon how you feel. Your praise is based on who you believe!

So, Praise Him! If you can’t shout with volume, whisper a shout! Invoke a change with a sacrifice or freewill offering of praise. If you’re consistent, you’ll start sensing good news is on its way to you. And when that happens, accelerate, because it is!