Every now and again with this blog...I will try and take you to a place of reflection at the place you are in right now. I was listening to a song by Marvin Sapp called "Praise Him". The song starts simply by saying, "I've had my share of ups and downs, times when there was no one around, God came and spoke these words to me, 'Praise will confuse the enemy'." The song is talking about Praising God even before the storm is over...even before the storm begins and despite your situation, you will not allow what you see to hinder what you believe. WOW.

Have you ever been in a place where you can relate to this? Let me bring it closer to our hearts. The last time you had a situation in your life where you felt like giving up, a relationship that fell apart or struggled. The time you lost your job and finances were not there to support your life and family. The time you child ran astray and you had no answer or plan to guide them back and didn't know how to approach it. The time your family hurt you and sent you back wondering how family could do this to family. The time your efforts went un-noticed, un-appreciated, and your work was disrespected by others. The time your spouse wasn't there when you really needed them. The time they didn't make you feel like a man or feel secure as a wife. The time you needed someone and all your friends seemed way to busy. (am I there yet?) What ever your situation is or was, it broke you down and you questioned way more than you should have. We have all been in that place and if you have yet to get there...hold on...you will.

We get so caught up in our circumstances at times, we lose sight of the vision God and only God can give us. Even as a Christian, failure is a sure thing. "Praise Him in advance" What does that really mean? It seems so simple that it becomes a challenge we, more than not, lose. I can not begin to tell you all the things God has done for me, and all the times He has carried me and all the times I have still failed Him. What I can tell you is that in the midst of my failures, He restored me, redeemed me, and placed me back in His hand to comfort me in my storms. If you think about those situations I have mentioned before or your own personal circumstance and realize that through it, you are still here...reading this blog...then praise should flow from your lips for what He has already done and knowing that makes it that much easier to praise Him...in advance.

I know life is hard...we deal with so many things and we are a "right now" people. We want results and rewards "Right Now". Imagine that for a moment....if we got everything we wanted or felt we needed..."right now", where would we be? What would we do? Would we really appreciate all that God has, is, and can do? Would we even go to Him? Or would we feel we didn't need Him? When we receive things in a "right now" fashion...several things can happen. We either don't need it right then, can't use it, don't know how to use it, or stop using it because we don't see the benefit of having it and the joy the gift brings. When we want something...we want it for our own selfish needs, not because God has it for our purpose.

So how do we praise God in advance? Simple, you walk out your life according to His plan, you thank Him for the storms that water your life and the joy that comes in the morning of growth. You love Him because He loves you so much He provides all your needs and all you have to do is ask. You Praise Him by excepting the storms, excepting the hurt and struggles despite your own plans and remember that you gave your life to Him, for Him to take care of and provide the path you have failed to create on your own. You except His plan for you because you were created with a plan and for a purpose. Do not be discouraged by your set backs, be encouraged that you are not alone in them and God trusts you to handle them. If you look at the scenarios above or put your specific situation in there...each time is a time when you are...or feel alone, lost and with out an answer and that is the place God wants you so He can speak to you with out distractions. That is the place God will restore you and remind you that "Praise...will confuse the enemy."