GRACE THAT ABOUNDS BY PRAISE

GRACE THAT ABOUNDS BY PRAISE
- Sis. Stella Dhinakaran

For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving(1 Timothy 4:4)

Beloved! Greetings to you in the matchless name of Jesus Christ! We praise God when He answers our prayers or when He blesses us with His goodness, or when we are happy. But we should praise Him even in times of sorrow and pain. The more we praise Him the more grace of God abounds in our lives. There is no defeat for a person who praises. When we praise Him more in sorrow or grief, the Lord will change our sorrows into joy. Once there was a man of God called Rowlands. He was called to serve the Lord in another country where he would go about villages preaching the love of Christ. It was his thirst that they would accept Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour.He would visit houses and share the love of Christ. He would accept whatever food they gave him,and pray over it saying, “Thank You Lord, for this food and water.” He would pray for them with much compassion and tears, and God started transforming them. They started realising their sinful state and would lament “Alas! I was living in sin all these days. They would repent of their sins and accept Jesus Christ as their saviour and started living for Him. Some of the people grew jealous of him and plotted to kill the man of God. Not once or twice but nine times they gave him food that was mixed with poison. But nothing disastrous could happen as those wicked people had expected. Since he prayed over the food as usual and ate it, the poison was rendered harmless! Jesus said, "They will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." (Mark 16:18). Beloved! When you cling to Him and serve Him, no weapon formed against you shall prosper (Isaiah 54:17). Yes! no weapon of the jealous people nor of the enemy can subdue the power of love of God. Yes! Praise this great God who has put Satan under your feet. If you want victory, praise Him! If you want success praise Him! Whatever your need maybe just praise Him. You will feel the presence of God abounding in your life. Instead of shame you will have double honour. When people are against you, praise Him. He will confound and subdue them before you. Your enemies will be clothed with shame. God will take the battle in His hands and He will fight it for you, putting your enemies to shame. That is why King David who praised God in all circumstances, seven times a day reigned over his enemies in victory. The enemy could not outwit him, nor the son of wickedness could afflict him. God beat down his foes before his face (Psalm 119:164),(Psalm 89:22,23). Let us learn to praise the Lord like David in all circumstances then grace, and blessings shall abound in our lives.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I praise You for Your Word. Help me to praise You at all times. Let more of Your grace abound in my life. I thank You and praise You for protecting me from weapons of the enemy. Lord, use me and do mighty wonders through me so that the enemy and the wicked will know You are with me.Let them be put to shame. Lord, as I praise You, let Your mighty presence surround me and clothe me in victory. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.