Pray and Praise!

Reflections on the Journey:

Pray and Praise! 

We MUST do both in all circumstances. 

1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18 NKJV

¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

At all times in hospital I kept the Word, praise, or ministry playing. At all times.

I kept worship or praise music going during the day.  

We slept to the auto Bible playing, so we woke up to the Word throughout the night when nurses would come in. This was for us and them- they need the Word too! Many times, I would stare out of the hospital window during sunset or take a walk outside in the hospital garden and sing praises. I prayed the Word from prayer books or played Keith Moore’s healing series. I danced to praise music in the hospital room. I praised and thanked Abba for life, health, and strength for His son (even though it looked opposite at times). 

People would come in the hospital room and I’d be praise dancing during the day or interceding at night… sometimes throughout the night.

Why? Why play these things continually?

• It kept the joy in the room and our eyes on Jesus. 

• It kept Kayden’s faith high (very important). 
• Praise gives joy unspeakable and builds faith.

• I’d look over and see Kayden worshipping in the hospital bed- it gave him peace.

• It reminded us that God is in control. As His Word says- He will never leave us, nor forsake us.
• The atmosphere in the room was set- it kept an atmosphere of praise at all times.

I declared an open heaven atmosphere everyday in the hospital rooms – righteousness, peace, and joy dwelled there. Where the Spirit of the Lord, is there is freedom. Well, Kayden and I needed freedom from the enemy’s tactics and plans. He wanted to keep us bound in thoughts and sickness. So I deliberately set an atmosphere the devil couldn’t work in. When Kayden was feeling low, I played it so he wouldn’t stay there.

The Lord was able to move easily in the atmosphere we set, and He did! 

The Lord showed me this and eyes of Jesus from 2 Chronicles 20 as I mentioned in the previous blog. King Jehoshaphat stopped when they were surrounded by the enemy. He stopped and praised with eyes on the Lord. Then the king praised and he praised BEFORE the battle was one. While in the midst of it all, he prayed and praised!!

I encourage you to read 2 Chronicles 20.

I could look around and be sad, upset, overwhelmed, etc. about the all the things- finances, treatment, procedures, travel, etc. But, I choose joy. Kayden told me a couple times that he knew he would be ok because I wasn’t worried and I was praying. That’s huge!! My stance in faith gave him peace and helped increase his faith.

Diagnosis should not stop the praise, it should increase it! 

Diagnosis should not stop the prayer, it should increase it!

The promises:

Jesus said- “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27) He also said, “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:16, 17)

These are important truths. In difficult times, we need peace and we need joy to combat anxiety and depression.

So… I choose to praise because it keeps me in joy! I Joy in the moments. Joy in the morning. Joy on the way to treatment. Joy even when we miss events, gatherings, or prayer meetings (we don’t like missing prayer). Sometimes, I have to be reminded by my Pastor to stay in joy. Many times, I have to turn on praise music to help me stay in joy. Then there are times, I have to choose joy instead of sadness or feelings of being overwhelmed.

I’d rather have joy with eyes on Jesus, than pain and sorrow with eyes on my circumstances. 

I pray no matter your circumstances or situations, you stay in joy and walk in peace! I pray you remember this amazing blessings- we have the Father, AND the Son, AND the Holy Spirit!! 

Be encouraged!!

Pray and Praise!!

Eyes on Jesus!!

 Lesson in the Journey:

Praise while on the journey no matter the circumstances or situations. Don’t wait until it’s over. Sometimes you just need to dance, sing, and praise no matter what it looks like! Pray and praise at all times.

Promises for the Journey:

Romans 14:17

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

”Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice! Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered, O offspring of Abraham, his servant, children of Jacob, his chosen ones!“

Psalm 105:1-6 ESV

“Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, And He saved them out of their distresses. He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction.” (Psalm 107:19-20)

“Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; Save me, and I shall be saved, For You are my praise.” (Jeremiah 17:14)