The Lord’s Beauty Salon

Friday, October 10, 2006  From a study on worship from Jack Hayford's book "A Heart of Praise"

Psalm 147:1 – “Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; For it is pleasant and praise is becoming”

Jack Hayford says, “If you want to become a handsome or a beautiful person, praise the Lord!””

You may know people who have lived in the presence of the Lord so long and who love Him so much, that they prove the truth of the above Psalm.  Their very demeanor speaks of the beauty of holiness.  Psalm 115:8 and 135:18 say that those who worship idols “are like them,” but the same is true of we who steadfastly look into the face of His countenance and He is mirrored in ours – His grace is fashioning us into gracious people.  His beauty transforming our countenance.

The inner beauty of Christ Himself begins to shine.  As we are forgiven and loved by Him, our pinched and anguished faces relax in God’s peace.  Our countenance begins to glow, caught up in praise, we worship in the beauty of Holiness. We have indeed been given beauty in place of ashes  (Is 61:3)

Beautiful Savior, I love to gaze upon You and to feel Your love becoming as part of who I am.  I honor You above all beautiful things in heaven and on earth, just for who You are, and for Your power to touch sordid lives and transform them into beautiful people.  I praise You. 

Praise and the New Creation

Wednesday, October 18, 2006  From a study on worship from Jack Hayford's book "A Heart of Praise"

Ps 104:24, 30  “O Lord, how many are Your works! ^[a]In wisdom You have made them all; The earth is full of Your possessions. You send forth Your Spirit, they are created; And You renew the face of the ground.”

Jack Hayford said “we should be equally impressed with the new creation that he brings about when we allow the wind of His Spirit to breathe through the branches of our lives.  Our psalms of praise become an accompaniment to his created works (Job 38:7) and hearts are changed, lives turned around, and sins forgiven”

My Lord, the angels and stars shouted praise and sang as You created the universe.  How much more should we sing and shout your praises when a child is born into your ever-expanding universe of love.  Or even when you pour out special gifts and blessings on us. 

A polite ‘thank You’ is not enough.  May my awareness and desire to openly praise You whenever I have the opportunity to do so be loud, joyful and truly sincere and contagious.

There is no limit!  Creation is on-going.  There are people to be converted, hearts to be enlightened, eyes to be opened, people to be healed!  And God is looking for a chorus to provide the accompaniment.  Hallelujah!  Amen!

Praise: The Weapon of Our Warfare

Sunday, October 15, 2006  From a study on worship from Jack Hayford's book "A Heart of Praise"

Psalm 21: 13 (AMP)  Your hand shall find all Your enemies.  Your right hand shall find all those who hate You.  Be exalted, Lord, in Your own strength, we will sing and praise Your power.

II Chronicles 20:22-30

22  As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the enemy and they were self-slaughtered

Psalm 147:1-11

1 Praise the lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God, for He is gracious and lovely.  Praise is becoming and appropriate. 

Revelation 19:1-7

1 …exclaiming Hallelujah, praise the Lord

3. the 24 elders and living creatures all fell prostrate and worship God

6. and a vast throng were all exclaiming “Praise the Lord”

7.  rejoicing and shouting for joy, celebrating His glory

It is always appropriate to praise You, Lord, to sing our praises.  Doing this takes our focus off the circumstances and places it back where it belongs – on you.   

Enable and empower me to keep focused on You, always.  May I become a constant and continuous worshiper!  From this day forward throughout all eternity.  

With Tongues of Men and Angels

Thursday, October 6, 2006  From a study on worship from Jack Hayford's book "A Heart of Praise"

Ps 117  O praise the Lord, all ye nations. Praise Him all ye people. For His merciful kindness is great toward us and the truth of the Lord endureth forever.  Praise ye the Lord.

Biblical faith is a missionary faith:  “all ye nations.”

The early church was told to stay in Jerusalem until they were given power from on high (Luke 24:29).  With visitors from every nation in Jerusalem for the feast day, they all witnessed the amazing display of God’s power on the new church.  “Suddenly, the Holy Spirit descended with a sound as of a rushing mighty wind.” (Acts 2:2)  Tongues of fire appeared above the disciple’s heads and they began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Each person heard them speaking in their own language.  Some who did not understand the other languages mocked and accused the disciples of being drunk. 

But imagine the impact of the visitors who heard the message in their own native tongues.  A missionary outreach of the Holy Spirit.  What a glorious, cosmic gift.  The various melodies of earth’s different languages all blending in the power of the Holy Spirit into a chorus in which both people and angels lift their voices to glorify the Giver of every good gift. 

Father, I praise You that Your Name is being praised in loving and supernatural ways around the globe.  Today where people of every race and tongue have heard and received the Good News. 

Please use me in whatever way my tongue can best be used to glorify You and to speak the truth in love and to release ever-new praises to Your Name.  Amen