Praise: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow

Written by Marilyn Ehle

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“I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live” (Psalm 67:2, NIV).

“The crowd…shouted, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David’” (Matthew 21:9, NIV)!

“(The crowd) all answered, ‘Crucify him’” (Matthew 27:22, NIV)!

The words to praise songs flowed easily off my lips as I comfortably sat during a recent worship service. The melodies, whether accompanied by grand organ or rhythmic brass, strings and drums, filled my heart with the promise of unending praise to the God I love and promise to serve.

As I was singing the picture of the crowds on what we call Palm Sunday flashed before me. They too were filled with praise for the One they assumed would be their Savior. They knew the prophetic writings, many of them were faithful followers of God. They longed for the day when the tyrannical oppressor would be overcome. And so they shouted their praise.

But the Savior they presumed would be their savior did not fulfill their dreams. His teaching was often obscure. He predicted things that didn’t have the ring of triumph. He asked for denial of self and giving to others, many of whom would not appreciate the gift. They allowed themselves to be swayed by those who seemed to have all the answers.

Singing on Sunday morning is far different from living on Monday in the classroom, office or field. Where is our praise when a friend goes into a coma after simple surgery and doctors have no answers? What do we sing when unemployment extends into long, dismal months or children wander off the paths we know would be best?

Following closely after Jesus often means living with unanswered questions. A good first step in insuring that our praise will be lifelong is beginning to practice the command given by the Apostle Paul: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances”(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NIV).

Father, Forgive me for the short shelf life of my praise. Teach me more about daily praise, even when circumstances seem anything but “praiseworthy.” Amen.

Questions: Where is your praise when adverse situations arise? How can we continue to praise God lifelong in all situations?

About the Author Marilyn J. Ehle

Tags: Apostle Paul, Chat, crucify him, dreams, gift, Marilyn J. Ehle, palm sunday, praise, Savior, Son of David, surgery, tyrannical oppressor, worship

5 Responses to “Praise: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow”

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Miriam says:

March 15, 2010 at 8:46 pm

Oh what a wonderful Saviour, our Jesus is. I have to admit, the sharings have brought tears to my eyes, as I recall countless times when I have walked through the valley’s lowest points praising him, hands lifted high into the heavens, voice cracking and with tears streaming down my face. God is indeed good. Thanks Andy and Arlett for sharing. And to all you sisters, keep on praising Him.
sharonb says:

March 15, 2010 at 12:55 pm

thank you for this devotional it has given me much to think about
Andi BK says:

March 15, 2010 at 11:00 am

Arlette,
You have said it best by sharing in deeper depth the experiences you went thru and how w/tears and cracking voice you began to pray and sing….hallelujah sister; you found the secret for sure. Even in brokenness you reached out to Him the Author and Finisher of our faith. Thank you for sharing.
How R U now dear sister?
Arlette says:

March 15, 2010 at 10:32 am

Andi,
thanks so much for your comment and Marilyn, for your beautiful devotional. I learned this past summer what it means to praise Him when you least feel like it. Andi, you put in perfectly when you said cutting though the heaviness. It was not an easy thing. In the past the losses and tragedies of this life would flatten me. I would just drown in sadness and despair. I would reach out to anyone and anything to make it all go away and nothing ever did. Thank and praise our Father that this is not the way it has to be. When I went through one heartbreaking loss after another this past summer I felt a different power at hand. I sat and prayed with tears running down my face and sang with a voice the cracked with all the sobbing. I gave it all to Him over and over again. He is always there to share our sorrow and He comforts us. I still miss and mourn those I lost but I have my faith in Him. In Him I know that He has everything in His hands, including me. No matter what we go through here on earth our Father is here and someday we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Andi says:

March 15, 2010 at 8:19 am

Marilyn, where is my praise indeed when life hits me w/a whammy; At times it has been non-existent as I’m wept in the throes of self-pity; at other times HE has reminded me of His presence in all of life’s circumstances and praise has returned very quickly.
But my general response is this: As I’ve matured in my life as a believer, as I’ve seen His faithfulness over and over thru the years, as other mature believers took me and mentored me, my response to praise Him has returned faster and w/more firm conviction and faith knowing that He will ‘never give me more than I can handle.’
So this I share w/you today; I have learned when I feel the least like praising Him I know this is the time when I MUST and then all things begin to fall into place around me….for it is in His being the focus of life that all things revolve.
Thus when I least feel like praising I have learned to put my hands in the air to cut thru the heaviness like a knife to ‘rend it in 1/2′ and His love peace mercy and grace begin to flow down upon me once again as my love praise and adoration rise up to meet Him via this one simple act that refuses to give in to ‘feeling.’