“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with THANKSGIVING, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything PRAISEWORTHY—meditate on THESE things.” Phil 4:6-8 (NKJV)
There is a practice today in Christian circles called “praying through.” When something happens to the believer that throws him into a state of turmoil he will immediately feel that he must “pray through” about this thing—pray until he comes into a state of peace concerning it, or until he feels that he has overcome. He may gather his friends around him to pray for him about the problem, or he may attempt to “pray through” on his own. Whichever way he chooses, the situation is the same.
As man is in the process of thinking, paths are formed in the folds of his brain. The more he thinks upon a subject, whatever his motive for doing so may be, the more deeply etched into his brain the paths become. Therefore we are told not to dwell on the evil but rather to think only on that which is lovely and pure. Now this may not be so easily done. We WANT to think on this thing that has happened to us, to go over and over it in our mind, even as we are asking for deliverance. But deliverance does not lie in all this “mulling” and “repenting”. True, God sees us, sees our heart’s desire and often lifts our burden in His great compassion and mercy, even though this isn’t what He has told us to do. This deliverance is not usually enduring—it doesn’t last. Soon another problem—another situation—arises, and the whole process is to be repeated.
God has a better way. When a difficult situation arises, the most effective way to handle it is to begin to praise the Lord. Sing out His praises, whether or not we “feel” like it. He will meet us here in this worship and, as we are lost there in the glory of worship, the whole problem simply disappears. Very often we wonder why it ever seemed so large—so important—to begin with.
What is more lovely, more pure, and of better report, than our wonderful Lord? When the Spirit of Praise is controlling us, all else is lost in the glory of the moment. We haven’t deepened the objectionable paths in our mind by dwelling on our ills, but rather, we have formed new ones. Paths that will remain and make the next trial that much easier to deal with.
This is the highway to victory. As we walk on it we will become the restorer of paths to dwell in, and many will be blessed through this overcoming in the Spirit of praise and Worship. Hallelujah! Bless the name of the Lord! Glory be to His wonderful name!