WILLING PRAISE

A quick reminder is heard quite often when my grand children are around.  They are encouraged to notice how good one of the siblings is doing something and tell them.  They naturally migrate toward seeing the imperfect world they live in so it takes some extra training to give them the opportunity to be "willing praisers" for those who are praise worthy.  

"We need to hear praise coming from outside ourselves or we won't remember that we deserve it." Barbara Sher, career  counselor and best selling author  

Fans at our athlete's games are willing praisers.  They clap and hoot when there is a splendid play or goal with no constraint or timidity.  Every so often there is a willing-praise shout out encouraging a player after a missed goal or infraction ..."You're okay - it's all right - hang in there!"  Praising on the down side can be difficult and may take some practice.  

David, the man after God's own heart, recounted the down side of life pleading for God's protection:
 
"I have suffered much;  preserve my life, LORD, according to your word." Psalm 119:107  

Then he took the next step - he asked the Lord to honor his praise offered despite unwanted circumstances . . .  

"Accept, LORD, the willing praise of my mouth, and teach me your laws."  Psalm 119:108  

Willing praise leads to living God's way more completely.  We must guard against being hot in prayer and cold in praise remembering that as we willingly praise we will experience the increase of Christ in and around us. 
 
"He must increase, but I must decrease."  John 3:20 KJV
 
  Blessings  . . . as you praise willingly today.      

For more go to the BEHIND THE BENCH blog today titled "ANOTHER LOOK AT WILLING PRAISE".
 
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