30 for 30 RESET – Day 27

Gatheringplace   -   September 27, 2024

As you spend your thirty minutes alone with God, make praise an important part of it. Why? There is one particular thing that happens when you praise God that is critical to you living victoriously. This one thing has saved me more times than I can count. What is it?

“My enemies will fall back and perish in your presence.” Psalm 9:3 TLB

God’s presence, which is invoked through your praise, causes the “enemy” to fall back and perish. What enemy? Whatever is plaguing you – negative emotions, condemnation and shame, depression, or an actual evil spirit that is oppressing you.

I am NOT against medication, counseling, eating right and exercising to keep a healthy mind, spirit, and body, but praise has a power that none of these other sources can produce.

I literally could not count how many times that I was feeling depressed, fearful, anxious, lost, bewildered, lonely, oppressed, doubtful, shameful, defeated, discouraged, or host of any other negative emotion or thought patterns where, when I CHOSE to praise God, it would lift.

A great example of this is found in 1 Samuel:

“And whenever the tormenting spirit from God troubled Saul, David would play the harp. Then Saul would feel better, and the tormenting spirit would go away.”  1 Samuel 16:23 NLT

I am not going to get into how, or why God would “send” a tormenting spirit to someone, that is another subject for another day. What I do want you to see is how evil spirits cannot survive in the presence of God – and His presence would come when David would simply play his harp.

This is why we praise God first when we come together. We want to welcome His presence into our gatherings. Have you noticed how, after we have praised for a bit, your mood lifts? Your countenance gets brighter? Your heart and mind feel relief? That is not just emotionalism, this is a result of God’s presence invading our praises!

“But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel.” Psalm 22:3 NKJ

But you do not have to wait to come to church to experience this. NO! God’s presence manifests wherever and whenever you praise Him. He is available to you twenty-four seven.

I love what the Psalmist says about this:

“As I lie on my bed, I remember you. Through the long hours of the night, I think about you. You have been my help. In the shadow of your wings, I sing joyfully. My soul clings to you. Your right hand supports me.” Psalm 63:6-8 GW

I want to encourage you to incorporate daily praise into your life. Sing to worship music in your car, listen to worship music in your air pods at the gym, listen while you walk your dog, put it on when you get home from work, or sing in your bed at midnight.

The more you praise, the more this Scripture will become a reality to you:

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.’ Surely, He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look and see the reward of the wicked.” Psalm 91:1-8 NKJ

Let’s praise Him!

John

QUICK TIP ON HOW TO SPEND 30 MINUTES WITH GOD (REMEMBER: This 30 for 30 is a tool to help you, not a rule to shame you. Just do your best and let God do the rest.)

“Upward, Inward, and Outward”

  1. Upward: Get quiet. Settle down. Begin to thank God for Who He is – patient, kind, merciful. A God Who forgives sins – Who has forgiven your sins. A God Who cares, Who listens to your prayers, a miracle-working God. (There are many other attributes you can thank Him for. Go HERE for a prayer guide as well as a list of God’s names that will help you thank Him for Who He is)
  2. Inward: Read a chapter in the Bible. I would suggest one Psalm per day. Start with Psalm 1 and go from there. Or read one chapter of Proverbs per day. Start with Proverbs 1 and go from there. And as you read, stop, and think about what it is saying. Take your time (even if you do not get through an entire chapter – it is okay!). Ask God to speak to you through it.

A deeper dive: For those of you who would like to read the Bible in a year, here is a fantastic way to do it. It will take more than 30 minutes per day, but it will be well worth it. It not only gives you a reading plan but each day there is a short, very well-produced video explaining what you are about to read. Go HERE for your one year through the Bible reading plan.

  1. Outward: Ask God to show you how He can use you to reach those around you. Then begin to pray specifically for individuals. Pray for your family members, your boss, co-workers, classmates, friends, your church, its members, its mission, and its leadership. Pray for our city and our nation – that God would rule and reign in every mountain of influence, raising up leaders who fear Him: Church, Family, Government, Education, Media, Entertainment/Arts, and Business. You will not be able to get to everything in 30 minutes, but that is okay, just pick an area or two per day.

PRAYER POINTS

Personal:

  • Closeness with God
  • Deeper devotion to Christ
  • Renewed vision
  • Renewed passion
  • Strength
  • Joy
  • A profound commitment to act as Jesus would during this election year.

Church:

  • And increase of God’s manifest presence.
  • To see more CHANGED LIVES!
  • An increase in Miracles
  • Salvation for those far from God (make a list and pray for them every day)
  • More young people joining the vision at GPC.
  • New building for GPC

World:

  • A mighty harvest in our city and nation.
  • That godly men and women will fill the seats of government at local, city, state, and national levels.
  • For our missionaries (Use the bookmark handed out at church, or go to our website and check out our Missions page HERE)