Thoughts for another day


November 23, 2010

Today's verse: Ps. 22:3. But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Under the bright and brilliant sun, Johnny, a boy of 12 years, stood that morning as the Priest called out, questioning the people, from the makeshift podium during the crusade that was on, 'Where do you find God?' Johnny had just read the Bible at dawn after his mother had readied him to go for the Sunday service and crusade that was on in a nearby football field. He had read the above verse and was wondering, 'How can God dwell in the praises of men?' Of course, Johnny knew God was Awesome, all-powerful and very very big with the ability to do anything, yet this he couldn't grasp.

His ears flapped open and he soaked in the words of the priest, waiting to hear what he said. The priest continued, 'you may tell me God exists in His people and you would be right; you may tell me God is in the poor and there too you will be right; then you may tell me, God is in His creation and sure that is also right. But, let me tell you today, 'God is in every word of praise you utter with your lips in sincerity, as an ardent devotee of His. He comes to dwell in the genuineness of your praising Him!'

There was silence in the crowd and Johnny was impatient to hear more. The priest continued and said, 'we may not accord much to the words we say; yet the Bible has a different view: It says, your words are powerful, giving life or destroying and you are in your words. And when your heart dwells in your words, they take the added dimension of your reality. Now when your heart is seeking God in all earnestness and your lips mouth words of praise to Him, be sure He, the Almighty is adding His essence to your words. Now this is what happens: You are in your words and your words are aligning with God's will that we praise Him always and God's presence becomes His essence in your words and He dwells in your praises. Suddenly, as you praise with your heart, the reality of His Majesty comes to stay and you are led to another dimension, where your heart melds in His presence and you forget who you are and become one with God.' Johnny couldn't fully understand all this, but in silence his lips started praising God and all of a sudden he felt a hand gently cover him and Johnny was lifted into the hall of ecstasy. He was never the same even as he came home that day. That is what praising God with all your heart can do for you.