The Doctor Says:
"The Garment of Praise"
“...To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion,
to give unto them
beauty for ashes,
the oil of joy for mourning,
the GARMENT OF PRAISE
for the sprit of heaviness….”
- Isaiah 61:3
Wow! The new year of 2008 is in motion. It promises to be one of the most exciting years for the body of Christ as a whole. I fully expect the Lord to open up tremendous doors of opportunities for you this year that have been closed to you previously.
While this will be a great year for the church, it will also be a year that brings challenges, roadblocks and unforeseen circumstances that may catch you off guard and even challenge your faith in God. So, what do we do during times like this?
The answer to that question is quite simple. We must remember to put on our garment. Not just any type of garment, mind you, but the “Garment of Praise.” The word garment in the Hebrew language is the word, “Ma’ateh” which means; a cloak. It also means; an article of clothing that protects one from the elements of the weather.
Now, according to Matthew 7:24-27, we all will experience the rains, winds and floods of life. However, the difference between falling and failing is the foundation. Of course, we should all know that Jesus Christ is that foundation. But what is interesting to know is that, the Lord has not left us without solutions to life’s difficulties.
He has given us something to protect and shield us from the trials of life – the garment of praise! Our praise to the Father must never diminish. The problem with most believers is that they leave home without being fully dressed. I mean; spiritually of course. They leave home garmentless. And as a result, they are unable to continue to praise the Lord during their hour of temptations, tests, and trials.
You must continue to praise God even in the midst of hardships. The garment of praise shields (not immunes) you from the elements of life. It is for the spirit of heaviness. Wow!
Heaviness is a spirit. I believe that we all have felt heaviness in our lives at one point or another. For the believer however, the remedy is our garment of praise.
You see, we must never let the devil see us sweat. There are three (3) major reasons for the garment of praise. They are:
Oftentimes, during our times of adversity, we tend to become weak in our faith. The garment of praise will aid you in maintaining the spirit of faith. It will keep your faith and trust in God strong. It will cause you to hold onto your confidence in God and His word.
The words that we speak during our times of adversity are extremely important. You see, we are more prone to speak negatively than positively. The garment of praise will aid you and I in ensuring that we will speak the right thing – the word of God!
Finally, the garment of praise helps us to stay focused on the ability of God. We must never forget how awesome and powerful our God is. There is nothing in our lives that we may face or have to deal with that He doesn’t have the ability to overcome.
With the garment of praise, we are reminded of His love and care for us. We are reminded of the promises that He has made to us and our families. The garment of praise will have you focusing more on the bigness of God and not the bigness of your problem.
Today, and for the rest of the year of 2008, determine in your heart that you will not go a day in the New Year without THE GARMENT OF PRAISE.
Scripture References:
Matthe 7:24-27
I Thessalonians 5:18
Psalm 34:1
II Corinthians 4:13
Psalm 71:14
Proverbs 18:21
Psalm 100:4
Romans 4:17
Psalm 104:33
Psalm 78:41
Proverbs 24:10
Luke 1:37
Philippians 4:6
Galatians 6:9
“Bringing God’s People into Sonship for His Glory!”
Commanded Blessings Christian Fellowship P.O. Box 2366 Chesapeake, Virginia 23327