Hosanna Restoration Church

Time and time again we read in God’s Word how important it is to praise the Lord. No matter what happens, He is to be our focus. It seems to me that for the most part people begin to talk about putting their trust in God when things are not going so well. When there has been a tragedy, then everyone is talking about God and how He will help. When a person is discouraged and there is nowhere else to look, then it is time to look to the Lord.

Of course when something good happens we are, or at least we should be, quick to praise the Lord and give Him glory, but do we keep depending on Him. When things are really good, do we remember to be desperate for Him? Or are we a bit like the folks Moses was leading and when the heat is off we look for other things to depend on or to worship? How often do we pray and say, “Oh God, things are so good and yet I am just so desperate for more of you. I just can’t live without you Lord.”

Why does it take the threat of war for a nation to pray? Why does it take death and destruction for people to shut themselves away with God? Why are we more intense in our seeking only when we are in pain? Why is that we are not as desperate for health as we are for healing? What would be wrong with saying God I feel so good and I am desperate for you to keep me in divine health. Or wouldn’t it be great if when our finances were in good shape that we would just praise and thank Him and let Him know that we know He is our provider and that we are desperate for Him to continue to supply all of our needs.

Perhaps if we could envision how hard the enemy is working to steal, kill, and destroy every good thing God is pouring out on us we would do more to protect it. But unfortunately, we usually operate on hindsight and we don’t see the potential destruction until it becomes a reality. I certainly do not want to suggest that we no longer pray in times of trouble. We should always pray! I am just suggesting that maybe we would not be spending so much time in trouble if were as desperate for God when all is well as we are when it is not so good.

Not only do we seem to seek Him more desperately when things are bad, we also seem to be more willing to examine ourselves to see if we have opened a door to trouble. Well I think I will leave that for each of us to ponder on our own. No matter what happens, remember to praise the Lord.