ARC OF PRAISE

PART III

The Bible says, “Come, let us praise the Lord! Let us sing for joy to God, who protects us! Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and sing joyful songs of praise. For the Lord is a mighty God, a mighty king over all the gods.”     (Psalms 95: 1-3)

When we pray with a gratitude heart, God’s peace which is far beyond human understanding will keep our heart and mind safe in union with Christ Jesus.

When we praise with a gratitude heart we obtain peace.(Phil. 4)

 He forgives and forgets all our sins and He heals our diseases.        (Psalm 103)

“How happy are the people who worship You, with songs, who lives in the light of Your kindness. Because of You, they rejoice all day long and they praise You for Your goodness and You give us great victory." (Psalms 89) God will bless them with His constant love and His Mercy.They will have a cheerful heart and pleasant face.

When Daniel and his friends were accused of disobedience, the king flew into a rage and ordered his servants to heat the furnace seven times hotter than usual and commanded the strongest men in his army to tie the three together and throw them into it. As per the order, they were thrown into the blazing furnace. Three of them courageously started singing glorious songs of the Supreme God.

God of the Universe intervened and sent his angel to save them. The angel went into the furnace and formed a cool mist among them and they were not hurt at all. The king saw that they were loosened and rejoicing, dancing and praising their God. Soon he commanded his servants to release them. The king too believed in True God and commanded all to worship the Supreme God.

A praising lip can make God perform powerful miracles because the Living God abides in him. Alleluia!!

“Whenever the evil spirit came on Saul, David would get his harp and play it. The evil spirit would leave, and Saul would feel better and be all right again.” (1Sam. 16:23)

By praising we obtain deliverance. Here again the Bible says that they obtain the grace to overcome the boring attitude towards reading the Word of God. God blesses those who are ceaselessly active in praise with a “Gift of Intercession”  to accept Jesus as the King and center of their life.

“You are enthroned as the Holy One, the one whom Israel praises.”

(Psalms 22:3)

These are few among many of the blessings just waiting to flow on an arc of praise.

I wish to remind you that God is not getting any benefit by you honoring Him because He is the origin of all.

“From one man He created all races of mankind and made them live throughout the whole earth. He Himself fixed beforehand the exact times and the limits of the places where they would live. He did this so that they would look for Him and perhaps find Him as they felt about for Him. Yet God is not far away from any one of us.” (Acts 17:26-28)

The Holy Bible warns us to praise God whenever you face hardship or persecution to overcome it.

Paul and Silas were arrested for injustice and they praised God loudly and they were released.

“May you always be joyful in your union with the Lord. I say it again: Rejoice! Show a gentle attitude towards everyone. The Lord is coming soon. 

Don’t worry about anything but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking Him with a thankful heart.” (Phili.4: 4-6) 

Job even in his deepest despair, proclaimed, “I know that there is someone in heaven who will come at last to my defense. Even after my skin eaten by disease, while still in this body I will see God." (Job 19:25-26)

“It is not appropriate for a sinner to sing hymns of praise, because his worship is insincere. A hymn should be an expression of wisdom, inspired by the Lord Himself.” (Sirach 15:9-10)

Again the Bible says: “They know God, but they do not give Him the honor that belongs to Him, nor do they thank Him. Instead their thoughts have become complete nonsense, and their empty minds are filled with darkness.” (Romans 1:21)

The Holy Bible teaches that a sinner cannot praise God because he is under the power of darkness. He will not get inspiration to honor the Lord.

God our Father always blesses us with the knowledge of good and bad. It is our duty to utilize this freedom in an appropriate way.

The Bible says that we should not be hesitant to praise God.

“Be joyfully grateful for the Lord’s mercy and never be ashamed to praise Him.” (Sirach 51:29)

 “The Lord gave me a gift for words, and I have used it in His praise.” (Sirach 51:22)

So understanding God, our Creator, who says, “Listen to this, you that ignore Me or I will destroy you, and there will be no one to save you. Giving thanks is a sacrifice that honors me, and I will surely save all who obey me.” (Psalms 50:23), let us open our inner eyes and step towards the treasury of praise.

                                                                       (TO BE CONTINUED)

GOSPEL OF ST.JOHN

“Pay attention to what I say, my son. Listen to my words. Never let them get away from you. Remember them and keep them in your heart. They will give life and health to anyone who understands them.” 
(Prov. 4:20-22)

JESUS THE WAY TO THE FATHER

“Do not be worried and upset,” Jesus told them. “Believe in God and believe also in Me. There are many rooms in my Father’s house, and I am going to prepare a place for you. I would not tell you this if it were not so. And after I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to myself, so that you will be where I am. You know the way that leads to the place where I am going.”

Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going; so how can we know the way to get there?”

Jesus answered him, “I am the way, the truth and the life; no one goes to the Father except by me. Now that you have known me,” He said to them, “you will know my Father also, from now on you do know Him and you have seen Him.”

Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father; that is all we need.”

Jesus answered, “For a long time I have been with you all; yet You do not know Me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. Why then, do you say, ‘Show us the Father?’ Do you not believe, Philip that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I have spoken to you,” Jesus said to His disciples, “do not come from me. The Father, who remains in me, does His own work. 

Believe Me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me. If not, believe because of the things I do—yes, He will do even greater things , because I am going to the Father.  And I will do whatever you ask for in My name, so that the Father’s glory will be shown through the Son. If you ask me for anything in My Name, I will do it.” (John 14: 1-14)

This is the Word of the Lord

Thanks be to Lord Jesus Christ! Amen