The Magnificent Exchange

THE MAGNIFICENT EXCHANGE

“Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever.” – Psalm 136:26

It is early.  It will be hours before the sun’s first rays will be peeking over the horizon.  The Earth still sleeps beneath a blanket of stars and I can hear the rhythmic breathing of my little dog dreaming in his bed.  Enjoying the last moments in the comfort of my bed before starting my day, the first line of an old song comes streaming through my mind.

“Lord, You are good and Your mercy endureth forever!”

This morning it is easy to have an attitude of gratitude.  It isn’t necessarily so easy to worship every day, though.  Due to distraction, stress or pain, I don’t always FEEL like worshipping. Those are the days it is truly a sacrifice of praise, when my body wants to sit like a lump, but there is worship that is rightfully His to be offered.

It is THEN that my body is invited to crawl up on the altar to be sacrificed.  There may be an element of pain, to be sure, but the aroma of a sacrificed will being burned on the Lord’s altar is a thing of beauty.  Our prayers are as sweet incense rising before His throne.

When we are grieving or burdened and I decide to worship strictly out of obedience, it can feel as if we are dutifully meeting an obligation — when we are offering to the Lord out of our spiritual poverty.  But as the minutes pass, the most remarkable thing begins to happen.

As we offer worship, it isn’t only our stubbornness, self-indulgence and narcissism that are consumed by the flames, but also a portion of our pain, grief and burden.

“...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.” -Isaiah 61:2-3 NIV‬‬

Put on a garment of praise to lift a spirit of heaviness!

Father, we come before you.  We are Your children.  Like any child, we don’t want to take our medicine.  As our Great Physician, Your prescription for us reads “Sacrifice of Praise”— For a spirit of heaviness.  Take until gone.”

We lose the heaviness in worship!  Even some of our grief is burned away!  You don’t need our worship.  It’s for US!  When we offer our praise, like a helium balloon it lifts our burden along with it!

Father, praise You for such a magnificent exchange!  We bring our burdens, sickness, brokenness, confusion, grief and pain.  We thank You that in Your compassion You have provided a prescription for our sickness.

Thank You for making our medicine palatable. May we find comfort for what ails us, a solution, new perspective and a lifting of our grief.  We marvel at You — the God who beckons us to offer what is broken, to receive wholeness in return. In Jesus’ Name ❤️

If you have been touched, please repost and further His kingdom.  Then come, follow and be refreshed at:
https://www.facebook.com/Prayers-of-a-Ragamuffin-Warrior-171515087035441/

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