TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 28
“Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord. Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and praised the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.”
2 Chronicles 20:18-19 ESV
THE PERSPECTIVE OF PRAISE
Years ago there was a legend that a woman entered a Haagen-Dazs store on the Kansas City Plaza for an ice-cream cone. After making her selection, she turned and found herself face to face with Paul Newman. He was in town filming the movie Mr. and Mrs. Bridge. Newman’s blue eyes caused her knees to buckle. She managed to pay for her cone, then left the shop, heart pounding. When she gained her composure, she realized she didn’t have her cone. She started back to the store to get it and met Newman at the door. “Are you looking for your ice-cream cone?” he asked. She nodded, unable to speak. Newman said, “You put it in your purse with your change.”
When was the last time the presence of God quickened your pulse and brought you to such a point of mystery, discovery and encounter that you lost track of everything else you were doing? When Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah literally bowed down before God in humility and praise their entire perspective changed. They were reminded of just how big, powerful, caring and capable God was.
Have you knelt down in prayer and praise before God lately? That posture is symbolic of our humility before God. It is also symbolic of our trust in His power. Make some time to kneel before God in prayer and praise. Perhaps you could play some worship music while you do this and just talk to God.
