What’s your instinct when you’re discouraged? Are you tempted to sulk and to draw away from God? Today’s show will uplift you and give you a powerful tool to help you resist that discouragement and dwell in hope, instead.
Shownotes
The Secret Weapon of Praise
- God wants you to live in hope.
- To praise God in difficult situations is the most uplifting thing you can do in your life.
- We can look to the bible for uplifting stories.
- Does God still “move mightily?”
- Yes, He does!
- There is hope in God for your situation.
- Does God still “move mightily?”
- There is a theme in the bible, of praising God when things get tough.
- Zechariah 4:6 – “6 He said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord of hosts.”
- The two examples in Judges.
- Judges 1:1-3 – “1 After the death of Joshua, the Israelites inquired of the Lord, ‘Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites, to fight against them?’ 2 The Lord said, ‘Judah shall go up. I hereby give the land into his hand.’ 3 Judah said to his brother Simeon, ‘Come up with me into the territory allotted to me, that we may fight against the Canaanites; then I too will go with you into the territory allotted to you. So Simeon went with him.”
- Judges 20:18 – “18 The Israelites proceeded to go up to Bethel, where they inquired of God, ‘Which of us shall go up first to battle against the Benjaminites?’ And the Lord answered, ‘Judah shall go up first.’”
- The reason the answer was Judah in both cases was because Judah was the largest tribe and the meaning of their name was “praise.”
- What do you do first when you are in a tough situation?
- Try praise.
- Judah in Hebrew is Yehuda and means praise.
- The root word is Yadah.
- This means to throw or to cast.
- In biblical terms it means to confess and to declare.
- Biblical praise means to declare and confess something.
- This means in praise we should confess who God is in a situation and confess our sins so as not to be weighed down by them.
- So this leads us to know in times of trouble we should go to confession.
- Psalm 79 – Plea for Mercy for Jerusalem
- We should confess sin.
- What else should we confess besides our sin?
- CCC 236 – “The Fathers of the Church distinguish between theology (theologia) and economy (oikonomia). “Theology” refers to the mystery of God’s inmost life within the Blessed Trinity and “economy” to all the works by which God reveals himself and communicates his life. Through the oikonomia the theologia is revealed to us; but conversely, the theologia illuminates the whole oikonomia. God’s works reveal who he is in himself; the mystery of his inmost being enlightens our understanding of all his works. So it is, analogously, among human persons. A person discloses himself in his actions, and the better we know a person, the better we understand his actions.”
- Theology vs Economy
- Theology is the mystery of the trinity.
- We need to attempt to understand the Father’s heart.
- Economy is the Father’s plan.
- We need to understand both and by understanding both we can trust God in discouraging times.
- If we praise God with no idea of who He is or what His plan is it has no meaning.
- We shouldn’t settle for “catch phrases” to praise God.
- When we know God and praise Him it changes our perspective.
- 2 Chronicles 20:12 – “12 O our God, will you not execute judgment upon them? For we are powerless against this great multitude that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
- Jehoshaphat felt hopeless but praised God and God saved him.
- Beware of nominalism.
- We do not believe God is arbitrary but is bound by His own character.
- Nominalism doesn’t believe you can ever count on anything remaining consistent.
- God doesn’t change – he always will be faithful to us.
- Theology is the mystery of the trinity.
- Theology vs Economy
- CCC 236 – “The Fathers of the Church distinguish between theology (theologia) and economy (oikonomia). “Theology” refers to the mystery of God’s inmost life within the Blessed Trinity and “economy” to all the works by which God reveals himself and communicates his life. Through the oikonomia the theologia is revealed to us; but conversely, the theologia illuminates the whole oikonomia. God’s works reveal who he is in himself; the mystery of his inmost being enlightens our understanding of all his works. So it is, analogously, among human persons. A person discloses himself in his actions, and the better we know a person, the better we understand his actions.”
- The root word is Yadah.
What is My Favorite Scripture Verse?
- Isiah 61:3 – “3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion — to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.”
- You have to choose to put on a spiritual garment same as physical garments.
- Praise is not based on feelings.
- It is an opportunity of obedience to praise God.
- Reminder: don’t dwell on what is bringing you discouragement.
More Great Resources from Jeff
Find free blogs, videos, and resources about Scripture and the Catholic faith at http://biblestudyforcatholics.com/.
Learn more about The Great Adventure Bible Timeline and preview any study for free.
For an easy way to transform your approach to reading Scripture, check out Jeff’s Bible Timeline Chart.
For an illustrated resource introducing God’s love story to children while helping them to understand how the Catholic Church is the body of Christ on Earth try The Great Adventure Storybook.
We’d Love to Hear from You
Do you have comments or questions for Jeff? Use the comment box below, or email Jeff at thejeffcavinsshow@ascensionpress.com. You may hear your question or comment in an upcoming podcast episode!
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