
Sing songs of praise to the name that belongs to the True God! Let your voices
ring out in songs of praise to Him, the One who rides through the deserted places. His name is the Eternal; celebrate in His glorious presence. The True God who inhabits sacred space is a father to the fatherless, a defender of widows. Psalm 68:4-5 VOICE
She stood on the sandy shore, mouth agape, staring as the walls of water crashed down upon the mighty army of Egypt. The sea churned as the chariot drivers and foot soldiers were sucked down under the waves. Her right hand gripped the folds of her robe at her neck as she listened to the fading screams of the drowning host. She reached out to a nearby rock to steady herself as dizziness and shock overwhelmed her.
Transfixed, she just stared at the now calm waters, unable to move as she struggled to comprehend what had just happened. Suddenly she realized she had been holding her breath as she watched the frightening spectacle - no , the miracle - taking place She looked to heaven and whispered, "Father God, you said you would deliver us, but I never thought... never expected to see this!"
Time stood still for her until the pins and needles of life pricked at the numbness of her heart. Tears pooled in her eyes and gradually became a torrent coursing down her cheeks as the finality of death became a reality. Half laughing, half crying, she prayed again. "We've been slaves for so long. Now our enemies are gone...," Her voice faded in the deathly quiet around her.
Still panting with the heaviness of emotion, she wiped the tears from her cheeks and balled her hands into fists and raised them into the air. "They're gone!" She turned around to face the women around her and shouted again, her voice filled with awe. "They're gone! Our God has swallowed our enemies in the sea!"
She grabbed the hands of the woman nearest her and began to dance as a song that could no longer be contained bubbled up in her heart.
The years of fear, darkness and emptiness of slavery lifted from Miriam's shoulders. Her feet felt like feathers dancing on the wind. "He keeps his promises," she sang, laughing and weeping at the same time as she led the women through the camp during the all night celebration. Looking to the pillar of fire now in the midst of the people as they stood on the shore of the Red Sea, she knew nothing could snuff out the flame of praise burning in her soul at that moment.
*******
Think back to a time when God did something amazing for you. How did you feel? How did you react?
When was the last time you praised him with that depth of emotion or with your whole body?
If you can remember, write it down in a journal. When the difficult times come, go back and read that journal entry and remember - Our God doesn't change. He keeps his promises and he will deliver! Fan the flame of praise in your soul today.
ring out in songs of praise to Him, the One who rides through the deserted places. His name is the Eternal; celebrate in His glorious presence. The True God who inhabits sacred space is a father to the fatherless, a defender of widows. Psalm 68:4-5 VOICE
She stood on the sandy shore, mouth agape, staring as the walls of water crashed down upon the mighty army of Egypt. The sea churned as the chariot drivers and foot soldiers were sucked down under the waves. Her right hand gripped the folds of her robe at her neck as she listened to the fading screams of the drowning host. She reached out to a nearby rock to steady herself as dizziness and shock overwhelmed her.
Transfixed, she just stared at the now calm waters, unable to move as she struggled to comprehend what had just happened. Suddenly she realized she had been holding her breath as she watched the frightening spectacle - no , the miracle - taking place She looked to heaven and whispered, "Father God, you said you would deliver us, but I never thought... never expected to see this!"
Time stood still for her until the pins and needles of life pricked at the numbness of her heart. Tears pooled in her eyes and gradually became a torrent coursing down her cheeks as the finality of death became a reality. Half laughing, half crying, she prayed again. "We've been slaves for so long. Now our enemies are gone...," Her voice faded in the deathly quiet around her.
Still panting with the heaviness of emotion, she wiped the tears from her cheeks and balled her hands into fists and raised them into the air. "They're gone!" She turned around to face the women around her and shouted again, her voice filled with awe. "They're gone! Our God has swallowed our enemies in the sea!"
She grabbed the hands of the woman nearest her and began to dance as a song that could no longer be contained bubbled up in her heart.
The years of fear, darkness and emptiness of slavery lifted from Miriam's shoulders. Her feet felt like feathers dancing on the wind. "He keeps his promises," she sang, laughing and weeping at the same time as she led the women through the camp during the all night celebration. Looking to the pillar of fire now in the midst of the people as they stood on the shore of the Red Sea, she knew nothing could snuff out the flame of praise burning in her soul at that moment.
*******
Think back to a time when God did something amazing for you. How did you feel? How did you react?
When was the last time you praised him with that depth of emotion or with your whole body?
If you can remember, write it down in a journal. When the difficult times come, go back and read that journal entry and remember - Our God doesn't change. He keeps his promises and he will deliver! Fan the flame of praise in your soul today.