Have you been on a good DATE lately?

So, I have been needing a good date with Jesus for awhile now. Not the kind of date where I pick my Bible up, read a few verses, say a quick prayer, and then start making the kids breakfast. Nope, I wanted a good old fashion DATE with my Lord. I needed to talk, I needed to listen, I needed to engage in my relationship with the Lord!

It has been some time since I have sat down and opened up to the Lord about "where we are" in this relationship. It started off kind of quiet and sad for me. I felt guilty. And I had so many struggles, hurt, and pain that I wanted fixed. I didn't even know where to begin. So, I got on my knees, lifted my hands, and waited. As I waited, thoughts kept flowing in and interrupting my prayer time with the Lord. It was hard to be "STILL." I asked the Lord to clear my mind. And I asked Him to speak to me and tell me where to start.

It wasn't long before I began hearing him say "Give me Praise." Now, let me remind you, I had SO much that I wanted answers for when I got down on my knees. I needed to feel loved and wanted to be rescued. And all I kept hearing was "give me praise." Well He is the Lord and He gave me direction, so praise I did! I trashed the "needy" thoughts and went for professing praise for all that I have and what the Lord has done for me. All those other thoughts were no longer important! I love how the Lord teaches. Praise HIM!

Now, I still would love to have a big counseling session with the Lord, but this wasn't the time to whine to the Lord about my shortcomings and needs. This was a time to give my Father something that He has been missing from me for awhile...the intimacy of true worship, showing Him my love for Him, and spending uninterrupted time with all focus on HIM!

As I was finishing up my time with the Lord, a song kept popping into my mind...an OLD song! A fews weeks ago, at our prayer small group, one of the couples mentioned this song when they were going through a difficult time. Now, I haven't heard this song in probably 20 years (not sure exactly how old it is). But, I can sing along with every word. This song didn't mean much to me when I was in my childhood years. I could sing every word, but didn't pay much attention. But now...wow, it speaks volumes!!! Take a look at the lyrics below to a song by the Imperials (bringing it back from the 80's), it's "Praise the Lord."

Praise the Lord
-The Imperials

When you’re up against a struggle that shatters all your dreams
And your hopes have been cruelly crushed by Satan’s manifested schemes
And you feel the urge within you to submit to earthly fears
Don’t let the faith you’re standing in, seem to disappear

Praise the Lord, He can work through those who praise Him
Praise the Lord, for our God inhabits praise
Praise the Lord, for the chains that seems to bind you
Serve only to remind you that they drop powerless behind you
When you praise Him

Now Satan is a liar and he wants to make us think, that we are paupers
When he knows himself we’re children of the King
So lift up the mighty shield of faith for the battle must be won
We know that Jesus Christ has risen so the work’s already done

Praise the Lord, He can work through those who praise
the Lord, for our God inhabits praise
Praise the Lord, for the chains that seems to bind you
Serve only to remind you that they drop powerless behind you
When you praise Him

Praise the Lord, He can work through those who praise Him
Praise the Lord, for our God inhabits praise
Praise the Lord, for the chains that seems to bind you
Serve only to remind you that they drop powerless behind you
When you praise Him Praise Him, praise Him
When you praise Him
When you praise Him
When you praise the Lord

I hope you can have a good DATE with Jesus this week! He'll bless your heart in unexpected ways!

Blessings,

Jaime