During one of my nursing rounds, I went to check on one of my patients who had an IV antibiotic infusing. I realized the antibiotic was finished so I proceeded to disconnect the IV as I said, “Now you will be able to move around the room a little easier without having to drag around this IV pole.” A visitor that was present in the room at the time said with a laugh, “You can even get up and dance a jig!” to which he immediately responded, “Oh no, God would get me for that!”. As I listened I quickly debated over whether to respond to what I had heard or to just act as if I didn’t. It only took a few seconds before I came to a decision as I heard myself say, “Well, David danced!”. That comment provoked a look of wonder from the man. Then, to elaborate on my previous remark I said, ”You know, king David in the Bible”. The man abruptly turned to me with the strangest look of awe in his eyes and a slight grin on his face. He didn’t even speak for several seconds but just gazed at me as if pleasantly confused. I couldn’t help but giggle a bit as I looked at him and said, “Oh, you didn’t think I would know that, did you?”. To this remark, his grin progressed into a huge smile as a discussion of celebrating God’s grace developed among those of us in the room.
As we talked, the demeanor of the man lightened and I began to think to myself that in this moment we were experiencing evidence of God’s word. The Word states that where two or three are present in his name, there he will be also (Matthew 18:20). He revealed his presence in that room that day by the glow of the faces and the lifting of mood all around. All this brought about merely by sharing God’s given knowledge of him to someone else.
Later that day, I took some time to really think of that brief conversation about how a man many years ago chose to glorify and celebrate God by dancing. 2 Samuel 6:13-15 says when the ark of God was returned that David uncovered himself, leaped and danced with all his might before the Lord. Scripture describes how he not only danced by baring his body but his soul as well, regardless of who saw, but later described his actions as being for God and God only. David expressed a desire to honor God further by even more humiliating behavior than that, if necessary (2 Samuel 6:21-22). No wonder David was noted as being a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:13-14)!
How much more abundantly we could live and how much closer to God we would be if we fully understood the power in praising him with complete unrestraint. Our lack of understanding is not from God’s lack of teaching I assure you! At least in my case, I know for a fact that I continue to live through lessons on this topic-some are the same lessons presented time and time again. When this realization comes, the enduring love and endless patience of God is revealed and the emotion of it is overwhelming at times.
The flood of emotion in itself is a blessing because the love that initiates it comes from the Almighty and engulf us with warmth, security and the guarantee he himself has given us that declares we are his and he is ours. He is mine. I love to claim him and announce I am his. Those proclamations possess extreme power for they are the very reasons we were created. To praise, worship, love, honor, follow, obey and commune with him. When we do these things we gain strength and power in our lives to live as he wants-free and righteous!
To understand the meaning of life or to find ones purpose has become the ultimate goal of our society. The key that seems to be missing is the acknowledgment that we all were created for worship and praise first and foremost (Isaiah 43:7). The problem with accepting that fact seems to be that we still want purpose that is of ourselves. The struggle is in not realizing that a personal, individual, God given pathway for life is secondary. The one true reason for existing, in anyone’s case, is to give praise to God. If we all could fully engage ourselves in that concept, the secondary purposes in our lives would be easier seen as God reveals them to us.
When you really think about it, praise is our reason for being. Period. When we praise God, we unlock power in the atmosphere. That power affects others and draws them to him; possibly causing them to praise him. We know there is power in numbers and there is always power in the presence of the Lord. God says in His word, “Where there are two or three, there I will be also” (Matthew 18:20).
David must have had the right idea. Although, I’m sure in his day, a man who acted in such a way would have been considered a lunatic. He knew what pleased God and was not ashamed to give praise with total abandon. Because he did, God smiled on him, made him king, prospered him and called him a man after his own heart (1 Samuel 13:13-14).
What an example David has given to us all! In the story of his life we see a real man giving real worship and praise and receiving real blessing. We also see a man actually able to obtain the utmost of achievements-a close relationship with God.
So, thanks to a boy who became king so many years ago, I now know the power of praising regardless of appearances. Being blessed with this knowledge, I want more than ever to be a woman after God’s own heart!
copyright Morning Glories 2009
What an example David has given to us all! In the story of his life we see a real man giving real worship and praise and receiving real blessing. We also see a man actually able to obtain the utmost of achievements-a close relationship with God.
So, thanks to a boy who became king so many years ago, I now know the power of praising regardless of appearances. Being blessed with this knowledge, I want more than ever to be a woman after God’s own heart!
copyright Morning Glories 2009
