Overcoming and Exploring Challanges

This past year has been one of the most challenging years of my life. I have been plagued with bizarre health problems from parasites and kidney failure. As a Christian woman it is difficult to admit my marriage is pressured under tremendous stress of being married, struggling with current and past addictions of my partner and the toll it has taken. It is one of the most exhausting things I have gone through in my life. I have re-entered college/graduate school as a music major with an emphasis in Worship Arts. I have no idea how all of these fit together but I know more than anything that God has great plans for my life! He never breaks His promises. 

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

I will be exploring more of these issues in detail in the coming months in relation to the Word of God.

The Benefits of a Constant State of Praise

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

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

I believe that every moment, every thought and every one of my actions is a form of worship. I can honestly say that is true for me 95% of the time. The other 5% of the time I selfishly reserve for self-pity and righteousness. For years this seemed to be a habit I could not break. To be honest I still struggle with it, daily. “I deserve to be angry”, is one in specific that I seem to curse, nurse and rehearse. About a year ago a revelation came to me.

This revelation came out of a personal gripe, part of my 5% selfish time. At my church we had two distinct sets of songs. The first two were the praise set and the last three, after greeting, was the worship set. We have had changes in our worship leaders and lately the praise set has been slow. Not the upbeat praise set I was used to. Don’t get me wrong, I love worship. I am somewhat of an addict. I was just really missing the upbeat tempo and the overall feeling I get from an amazing praise set. There was the answer to my 5%.

I needed to not only live a life of constant worship but a life of constant praise. The anger I was holding onto started to dissipate, I wasn’t relishing in my RIGHT to have a bad day. I noticed, as well as others, that I was smiling more often. Serving became more of preferred past time and less like a duty. I felt younger and life in general seemed more satisfying. At times I felt as if the sun was only shining for me.

Me, being the pessimist I revert back to at times, was waiting for the shoe to drop. How long could this really last for? Well it has been almost a year and I have to say the benefits keep growing in number. My headaches are now a rare occurrence and I am truly a more grateful person. It was right in front of me the whole time.

Psalm 71:23-24  New International Version (NIV)

²³ My lips will shout for joy
    when I sing praise to you—
    I whom you have delivered.
²⁴ My tongue will tell of your righteous acts
    all day long,
for those who wanted to harm me
    have been put to shame and confusion.

I love how God took some of the worst in me, my complaining and griping, and used it for a life changing revelation. He is good!