To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the GARMENT OF PRAISE for the spirit of heaviness;..." Isaiah 61:3 Praise is like foreplay in a marriage -- it invokes God's presence.
PRAISE IS POWER
A garment in the [14th century. is defined as < French garnement "equipment" < garnir (see garnish)] EQUIPMENT!!!!
When an individual has equipment, they are equipped with what is necessary for a particular activity or purpose. So GOD said he has appointed to ZION that is mourning aka in a period of sadness; ... the GARMENT OF PRAISE, in others words the equipment that is needed in that hour -- IS GIVEN WHEN WE PUT ON (GARMENT OF) PRAISE! Catch that?! When we praise (brag about) GOD beyond our flesh out of our spirit man -- in the midst of our state, first of all we are showing admiration and approval that we are allowing HIM to be in control.
Praise is like foreplay in a marriage -- it invokes God's presence. It gets God's attention, it creates an atmosphere. Psalm 22:3 says that God inhabits the praises of His people, so when God's people praise Him, He draws near and we go into the next level of intimacy -- war-ship (worship) results. Worship Is the Ultimate Intimate Experience!!! I may touch on that in a later note. But, God's presence comes through our praise. Praise is a sacrificial offering to God, the spiritual "first-fruits" of our lips.
When we are are going through the spirit of heaviness, this is the very time we should want the presence of the LORD.
One way to look at praise is to think of it as "bragging" on God. When we praise the Lord, we are telling Him all the good and wonderful things about Himself. Praise is bragging on God's nature, attributes, and character; it is agreeing with God concerning what He has already told us about Himself. When we praise (brag about) God, His presence comes near, and in His presence all HIS true glory can be released. We cannot create this environment of praise completely on our own. That's why Christ gave us His Spirit. Praise (brag about GOD) is something we can do anytime, anywhere -- that is why the bible calls it a garment. There is an inseparable link between our praise and the manifest presence of God.
When we lift up praises (brag on GOD) we are agreeing with God concerning Himself.ATTRACTING THE PRESENCE OF GOD'S SPIRIT
If I don't make anything else clear in this note, I want to bring clarity the importance of the presence of God. It is one thing to know of God's omnipresence, but quite another to experience the reality of His personal presence on a daily basis. Before meat or drink or anything else for that matter, we need the presence of God!!!! Everything else in life DEPENDS on God's presence!!!!
When we praise (brag) about God we are acknowledging His sovereignty and Lordship as well as our own dependence on Him.That spirit of humility is just what God is looking for in us. If we approach God with a humble spirit He will do two things: 1.) When we come near God, 2.) He will come near to us; and when we humble ourselves before Him, He will lift us up. This atmosphere gives GOD a place where HE WANTS to dwell, He feels appreciate and at home, in that believer.
When we lift up praises (brag on GOD) we are agreeing with God concerning Himself. Praise reverses sin because we now are agreeing with God in His own words. So when we say, 'Oh Lord, You're awesome', He says,' I agree with that. I'm coming closer.' When we say, 'Oh Lord, You're GOD all by yourself', and He says, 'Finally, You agree with Me! I'm coming closer.' HALLELUJUAH!!!
Praise (bragging on GOD) is always positive. It reflects our relationship with HIM out to others.
Which brings me back to our foundation scripture, this praise (bragging on GOD) is what causes the spirit of heaviness to fall; because the presence of GOD draws near the believer and causes things to change. He begins to endow the believer with the beauty of His holiness (a splendid light that is display within the life of the believer for a witnesses' to see that GOD is with them in the midst of their mourning) and the oil of joy -- (the joy of the LORD is our strength). Some would call it the extended grace of GOD; that allows the believer to become the overcomers that Christ has declared in Revelation 12:11.
In essence, this is the time that the glory of GOD can be exemplifed to the world; even in the time of losing a loved one, He will use that lost to show the world He is still GOD.
...And that is the POWER OF PRAISE!!!!
SHALL WE PUT WHAT WE LEARNED INTO PRACTICE?! WATCH THIS VIDEO: Shekinah Glory Ministry - Praise Is What I Do
Love you to life! ~ Prophetess L.M. Elias
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From the blog of LME MINISTRIES © 2010-2011
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Serving as the founder/president of operations of the LME Ministries Int'l Inc.in Kansas City, Missouri since 2006. She also is the host of Executive of Faith broadcast
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