power in praise

Tonight we had our small group gathering.  It was a special evening because several folks had experienced indications of answered prayer...prayers that we had lifted up within our group at earlier meetings.  One person demonstrated an improved ability to walk and maintain balance despite a damaged hip.  Another individual was showing signs of improved vision after cataract surgery had not resulted in the expected quality of sight.  Test results revealed that another's mother did not have cancer.  The son of yet another group member had just received a job offer.  Of course, not every prayer request has resulted in the desired answer yet and some of the healing that has begun has not completed.  But as impressive as the answered prayers were, it struck me that it was crucial for us to thank the Lord and acknowledge Him as the source...the reason that progress was being made.  I think we are very prone to distraction and forgetfulness when it comes to rightly recognizing the action of God in our lives.  It is easy to rationalize that the healing might have happened anyhow or that the job received was just "being in the right place at the right time" or that the negative cancer test was always a possibility.  Praise focused our attitude of gratitude in the proper direction and seemed the fitting response to our calls for help.  It formed a kind of divine "thank you" that went beyond courtesy and led to worship.  Perhaps the greatest power in praise is the power it has to align our hearts rightly with our loving Father.   Psalm 150:1 Praise the LORD!                    Praise God in His sanctuary;          Praise Him in His mighty firmament!            2 Praise Him for His mighty acts;          Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!            3 Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet;          Praise Him with the lute and harp!  4 Praise Him with the timbrel and dance;          Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!  5 Praise Him with loud cymbals;          Praise Him with clashing cymbals!            6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.                    Praise the LORD!   blessings, Rob Smith http://2daysthought.blogspot.com/