Are We Acting Up Too?

Last week, I recorded Queen Elizabeth’s big celebration that commemorated her 70 years of professional life as the Queen of England. Then I could fast forward through some gnarly antics of some of the entertainers. But the best antics came from her great grandson, Prince Louis! Oh, what a doll boy who was fit to be tied down any longer. You’ll see some of those faces here. I can’t begin to express my respect for Princess Kate who admirably held it together with so many eyes on her and the little man.

Of course, news reports had mixed reviews (i.e., the child should have been more respectful; or, the 4-year-old child was being a 4-year-old child who was done with the pomp and circumstance.)  I would have been done, too! I’ve been there, too! Like when my 4-year-old chose to pee-pee in a toilet that was for sale on Sears’ showroom floor! Lord, have mercy!

The point I’m making with this blog is that we need to stop having such stiff upper lips and get down to the business of living and enjoying life with a merry heart……that always sees the positive side of life instead of negatively expressing opinions that represent cynical attitudes.

I spoke to a women’s group on Tuesday, and this was what God had given me. Far too often, we allow dark clouds of doom, despair, and agony to invade our presence and our mindset. We think “What is this world coming to?? Rather, than remembering “God is the air we breathe and He is in control, so I WILL NOT side in with the naysayers. I WILL NOT have a short fuse that goes off at the slightest incident.

I refuse to be a doldrums and stinkin’ thinkin’ gal. I will be the Proverbs 31 woman who in verse 25 says: “She laughs without fear of the future!” SHE LAUGHS! Isn’t that what was meant in Proverbs 17:22 “A merry heart does good like a medicine!” Have you taken YOUR medicine today? And, others can tell if you have by your attitude of gratitude and that sparkling smile on your face!

When the clouds roll in, do you hide or do you use the clouds to simply cool the day off from the hot, blazing sun? Do we raise hallelujahs in the presence of our enemies? Do we shake off the gloom and despair and replace it with victory shouts?

Praise in our hearts and on our lips, when offered as a sacrifice during times of confusion, disappointment and hardship, actually carries the supernatural ability to invade and change our circumstances.

Praise isn’t a formula. It is an authentic, intentional lifting of our eyes to the One Who is above all things. Praise demands a decision to say NO to the consuming influence of our present problems and say a resounding YES to the Word of the Lord.

Praise doesn’t call us to deny our situations. On the contrary, it enables us to stare conflict in the face with boldness. Why? Genuine, Biblical praise is the overflow of a heart set on beholding the character, nature, ways and personality of God. When we start to measure the plans of a defeated enemy and the circumstances of life beside the majesty of Who our God truly is, we begin to fortify a faith perspective. We begin to see from Heaven’s perspective.

In this world fraught with pain and suffering, the safest place we can be is living in constant awareness and experience of God’s presence. Does this mean we will never have trouble? No. It does mean that during difficulty, we are assured of the constant presence of the Greater One Who is with us, in us and for us! Let’s don’t stand at a distance! “Let us enter His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise!”