May with Grace Women: 5 Times to Praise God + Link Love!
A content round-up and Redefining Hope reminder!
Yes, we know - EVERY time is a good time to praise God. It's always good to praise His holy name...but this is simply to highlight specific times that we can praise God when it might NOT be our first instinct — when it might seem harder to praise Him. Read on and let us know your thoughts!
1. Praise His name when you realize you've been praying all wrong.
Once upon a time, I found myself praying for a very specific thing and each time I said something like "God, show me Yourself in this", I realized I was following it up with something like, "So I can know what to do". It was the awful thing of realizing I'm asking God to do something for me or act on my behalf, because I want answers and security more than anything else. So I stopped. I actually stopped and laughed out loud and repented. Because God is not there to make me promises and fix things so I feel better. God's great love is there to draw us to Himself and to compel us to be an expression of His life to others. So I rerouted my prayers and began praising Him for His goodness and His provision. It felt uncomfortable and forced. At first. And then, because of God's grace, it grew into a confident assurance of His presence and tender care in my life.
2. Praise His name when you don't want to.
This must be a discipline. Because when we are struggling, hurting, grieving, angry, waiting…praise is not typically a first responses. But God must be glorified in me before I can be used of Him to display glory to others...so when my whispers are weak and my anger is simmering or my heart is aching...Holy Spirit, give us words to PRAISE GOD for His life and His many gifts to us. Cause our praise to grow louder. And may we be content if His glory is for His eyes only.
3. Praise His name when it feels all wrong.
Scripture is filled to bursting with men and women praising God because they were compelled to - not because it felt right or because He moved mightily for/in them, but because of His holy goodness. Many liturgical traditions even use the phrase as part of the celebration of eucharist: "It is right to give Him thanks and praise". In Nehemiah 9, the Israelites are confessing and worshiping before God. There were a group of Levites on the platform and it's recorded that they called with loud voices to God and said, "Stand up and praise the LORD your God, who is from everlasting to everlasting!" I totally put that exclamation point in there on my own. But you can't really say that without shouting, honestly. STAND UP AND PRAISE THE LORD YOUR GOD! Whatever your circumstances, whatever your fears and anxieties, whatever the day and time, it is always right to praise the name of Jesus, your Savior and Deliverer.
4. Praise His name when your feelings start trying to be the boss of you.
Because your feelings are not always accurate indicators of reality, friends. They react really big to very real things, but feelings rarely tell you the whole truth. And if we are to be women of faith, we want to drag our real and valid feelings into the presence of God (and sometimes professional help!) and ask for His say-so on them. Just like #2 up there, praise His name when you don't want to, when it feels forced and weak...even if it feels like you don't mean it. But heavens, don't wait until you mean it. Your feelings may boss you around. The name of Jesus is a strong tower the righteous run to and they are saved. Praise His name and in so doing, tell your feelings Who is eternally faithful.
5. Praise His name when you have no idea what God is doing.
Sometimes we seem to have a clear path forward, a clear way we hope God will move. And we praise Him. But what about when the future is uncertain? When we are sad? When we are confused? When we have no idea what He is doing (in full), the temptation is to try to figure it out. What is God doing? Is there a precedent for this? Maybe we can figure out how He is going to behave if we do x, y, then z with our fingers crossed. Maybe if I had more faith He would have done it. Maybe if I prayed differently or been more outspoken about the gospel or...something.
Those are not faithful expressions — they demand that God act a particular way. An evidence-based-only faith is really walking by sight. Those responses and thoughts are me-centric. They revolve around ME and getting what I want out of God. And a life well-lived for the Father is a Jesus-centered one. To live is CHRIST. To live is to praise His name, because when you cannot discern the mind of God, obedience and praise are always appropriate responses.
We can write this because we are learning it and battling it and fleshing it out, not because we've mastered it. And because of His life in us, today we can take deep breaths and believe that His goodness has not changed. And we can praise Him
We’re wanting to make sure all our Grace Women friends are connected with us for announcements and content sharing.
NOW, on to our May link love roundup! This segment features a collection of resources and recommendations from our team and friends of Grace Women. Though we attempt to vet the source content, we have not consumed every resource we share. So while we will never knowingly offer you a heretic (insert elbow nudge here), you are invited to use biblical discernment with any content we share. :)
If reading is your thing, here are a handful of books and articles to consider!
Embraced: 100 Devotions to Know God is Holding You Close, by Lisa TerKeurst
Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools: An Invitation to the Wonder & Mystery of Prayer, by Tyler Staton
Mere Christianity, by C.S. Lewis
BLOG: Your Longing is a Good Thing, at (in)courage.
BLOG: How NOT To Pray with a Hurting Loved One, by Blake Glosson
BLOG: When Good Things Spiritually Harm Our Kids, by Melissa Edgington
If podcasts or music is more your jam, we’ve got you covered here!
Women of the Word: 10 Week Podcast with theologian Jen Wilkin
WHOA, That’s Good, a podcast with Sadie Robertson Huff
the Bible Recap, a podcast with Tara Leigh Cobble
Knowing Faith, a podcast exploring the Christian story and faith
MUSIC: Did you know we have a Grace Women playlist?!
We hope that’s enough to whet your appetite and we’d love to hear: do YOU have a favorite podcast or Bible study or worship album that’s keeping you going? We’d love to consider including your favorite in our next round up! Is there a specific resource you’re looking for? We’d love to help you find tools to strengthen your walk with Jesus. Drop us a comment and let us know how we can help.
HAPPY START OF SUMMER, friends! We’re so grateful for shared life in Christ and look forward to our summer conference on June 10!
love from,
the GraceWomen team
I remember learning that when I am hurting, for one reason or another, it is time to be Praising the Lord. I choose to worship Him, in song, (outloud), for as long as it takes, for Him to lift the dark cloud up off of me. I, now, Praise and Thank Him, for what He is doing, in my situation, as I am "in the waiting". I do not go by "feelings" but by the Truth of His Word. I am so thankful to be "on the meat" and to continue learning more, and more, about my Jesus, every day. I am so glad that it is "not what I can do for Him", but "What He did for me", and that He loved me first, and He saved my soul and made me whole.... etc. etc. We serve a Good, Good, Father! Praise His Name.