The Issue is Praise!

Out of the issues of the heart; the mouth speaks

My mom and I were in the car and came to a red light. There were four young women standing on the corner appearing to be in a fight, calling each other terrible names, arms waving and using body language that “appeared” to be negative. All of a sudden, they began to laugh and continued this negative name calling as they “conversed” with each other. I realized they were not in a fight, but communicating with each other in a crazy way. I would have been deeply offended if someone spoke to me the way I heard them speak to one another. I really don’t know what happened to the art of conversation or even the beauty of wisdom today, but one thing is for sure, courtesy has left hearts of people.


I can’t say that most people are angry, but I can say with the greatest of confidence that they are not happy and don’t know how to express their unhappiness. But, I’m not focusing this article on the world; but on the church. Here’s what really get me about church folk and that is, the negative thoughts that stay in our hearts or focusing on their trials instead of the Lord. Too many in the church live in a state of negativity and complaints about their challenges or situations at work, in the home or at church. They feel abused by the boss, the spouse, family members, church folk or the church leadership and they’re happy to inform everybody they know about their complaints. We seem to forget the “Sermon on the Mount,” that Jesus gave to the people called the “Beatitudes.” Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake and blessed are you when they revile and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. If no one ever says anything negative about you or try to come against you, it might be an indication that you are not a challenge to the kingdom of darkness.


We close doors of blessings in our lives when we complain and grumble about our circumstances. I believe we draw to ourselves those things we complain about. Negativity draws negativity, just like darkness draws darkness. Light draws light and causes us to bless God for who He is and others are drawn into this place of harmonious unity with God as we lift up His name together. His glory is released into our lives and we begin to operate in His nature of joy and gladness. When we move in the fruit of joy, we draw light and life to ourselves and to others who are drawn to the light of God because of our praise to Him and His hand of goodness in our lives as peace and blessings follow. We have to live in a state of expectancy to receive the nature and character of God. In a spirit of peace, our creative nature is activated and we are able to move from bondage to freedom in Jesus Christ. We operate in the supernatural realm of God and we’re granted access to the things of God. Praise renews our strength and our faith soars.


It is pure joy to converse with those who spend time in God’s presence. My heart actually leaps when I am in conversation with someone who has spent time with Father and the residue of His glory remains on them throughout the day. Although they may be experiencing challenges in their lives, they know how to access the Throne of God for His peace and the joy of the Lord is on their lives. God desires us to move from faith to faith and from glory to glory. We have access to the glory realm if we understand the seasons of growth and glory. We were called to live in the supernatural realm and God will connect us with those who know how to access this realm, as well.


Remember, your wilderness experience is a temporary place, if you understand that it is in this place that you really come to know God. Seek Him in the secret place and receive His glory as you wait on Him. Wait on Him to answer you as you worship Him. He will answer as you get serious about desiring to know Him in a deeper realm. Every wilderness experience is orchestrated to bring you into a greater depth of understanding in who your God is and to press out the negative nature of man and for God to pour in His nature. You will be blessed as you sit and wait on the Lord. He will reveal His nature, His goodness, His love and His glory to you. Be exceedingly blessed as you sit and wait on the Lord, then what will come out of your mouth due to the issues of your heart, is praise, light, love and His joy. Praise in your heart will produce praise in your mouth!