Moving Beyond My Solar Eclipse.

For this blog to be a blessing to people there is a deal of transparency on my part that is involved. I don’t know just how transparent I want to be but I learned something today. I was talking to a friend about God and how we can let our issues get in the way of seeing Him. It’s like a total solar eclipse.

During the time of a total solar eclipse the moon comes in between the earth and the sun. For a few minutes the sky is either totally black or we see the moon with the outline of the sun around it a few hours. That is what happened to me in my view of God. I let my issues/failures get in between me and God and I couldn’t see Him. All I saw were my issues. But as I began to praise God in spite of MYSELF, my focus on those issues shifted and I could see His goodness again. I could see His sweet, tender mercies that are renewed everyday.

I was disappointed in myself for doing something that I said I would not do again. Like most people, when I mess up I’m my own worse enemy. I will mope around and after a few days talk to God about it. But that wasn’t the case today. I had to get in an atmosphere of praise & worship so that “I” could move out of the way. My eyes were on me and not on HIM. He promised that if I keep my eyes on HIM he would keep me in perfect peace. I feel like preaching in here...LOL. So don’t let your issues or worries get in the way of seeing God. He is not going anywhere. Just like in a total eclipse the sun is not moving. It’s the moon that is moving. So when your worries or issues get in the way and you can’t see the goodness of God, lift up some praise & worship and watch how it moves out of the way and His GOODNESS shines through.  Your focus won’t be on you but on HIM.

Romans 8:38-39, the amplified version says it best:

38For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, 39Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

I can't hold it! Praise is the way I say THANKS!

When I hear J Moss' song Praise on the Inside it excites me so much that I sing it as HARD as I can and SCREAM it as LOUD as I can. Sorry neighbors. I just can't help it! This maybe because I pick up on the excitement of J Moss as he worships. A shout bursts forth from me because that is the spirit of this beautiful song. This is the way praise should be. It shouldn't be constrained or stifled but free to come out whenever, where ever, and however it needs to. Its militant in nature. When the Israelites went into battle the praisers were first in line.

²¹ And when he [Jehoshaphat, the king] had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the LORD, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: “Praise the LORD, For His mercy endures forever.”

The Israelites won the battle afterwards. They were triumphant. And as they were so are you! Praise breaks down everything that the enemy can present to discourage you. We are not to be ignorant of the enemies devices. During these times you have to praise your way through as my former pastor used to say. Its so important that when we go through trying times that we keep praise music playing in our environment. Music changes the atmosphere. You will have hope and have the faith that God is going to strengthen you and give you peace as He brings you through your situation. You can't listen to this song and not be pulled along into the shouts of praise that it inspires. PRAISE IS THE WAY WE SAY THANKS!