Just Can’t Stop Praisin’ His Name

There is an old saying, “If you don’t use it, you lose it.”  It is referring to muscle. Our muscles have to be used in order to remain strong and healthy.  If not used they will actually atrophy, waste away. The more muscles we have the stronger we are. The more we can lift and carry, the farther we can run and the longer we can stand. When we are unhealthy and weak, it requires time to get back on our feet and gain our strength back. It requires putting ourselves back into use and back into movement. It will take time to build those muscles and strength back up.

In Nehemiah 8:10 it reminds us, “… the joy of the Lord is your strength.”  If you do not use your joy or do not live it (joyfully) … you will lose it. Your strength will decrease and can even atrophy, waste away.

How do you live joyfully especially with so many trials surrounding you? Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

Your attitude and actions revolve around what you think and are focused on. You can control your thoughts which will control your attitude which will control your actions. You can get rid of stinkin’ thinking and think on good and godly thoughts. Thoughts that remind you of the Lord and His faithfulness, His love, and His mercy produce praise. Praise produces gratitude and worship.

Joy: defined

1.   great happiness: feelings of great happiness or pleasure, especially of an elevated or spiritual kind

2.   something that brings happiness: a pleasurable aspect of something or source of happiness

3.   enjoy something: to delight in something

When you develop and build up your praise muscles, you produce joy in the Lord which produces your strength. Strength that allows you to lift more, to carry more, to run farther, to stand longer! You just can’t stop praisin’ His name! No matter what… keep praising!