Psalm 148 The Rejuvenating Activity of Praise

Prayer and praise change people, not God.  To praise God essentially requires us to willingly put God at the center of our lives. We must surrender all of ourselves to the Spirit.

We as human beings have dominion over our minds (earth) but not over our souls (heavens). We have all been created under Divine laws (he fixed their bounds which cannot be passed), within which we can faithfully live our lives. As children we are very much in touch with our souls, we do what comes naturally to us. The word “should” rarely plays a role in our decisions. However as we grow older, we are trained to behave in a socially acceptable way. This training begins the process of disconnecting the mind from the soul. By the time we reach adulthood most of us are very in touch with what others want us to do, but have little knowledge of what our soul’s purpose is. We spend the rest of our lives trying to remove the barriers (that we have erected) that block the reflection of the pure soul light into the mind.

Praise is the activity that dissolves these walls. The effects of praise on the individual are significant. We should expect that when we release the demands of the world and orient our lives around the will of God. Most often we experience turmoil in our world. Fire and hail, snow and frost, and stormy wind represent the challenges (mental and physical) we face as our hearts and minds are exposed to the light of God. Change takes place within us on every level. From this higher state of understanding we are able to reconnect with our soul’s purpose. Spirit takes root deeply and we experience a new life. There is an integration that takes place in our lives. We eventually discover more harmony and balance in our lives (young men and women alike, old and young together).

As we praise God, we become single-mindedly focused on the work of the Divine (his name alone is exalted). We experience our oneness with God in Christ. It is through the activity of the Spirit that we are able to look beyond adverse conditions and affirm the presence of God in our lives (He raised up a horn for His people). We are restored to our station as a child of God, created in God’s image and likeness. Our salvation is in allowing the soul to fulfill its purpose—to be a channel of God’s wisdom and works in the world. This is the born again experience.

And so it is! Amen!