From my journal 2/11/2017
The garment of praise keeps depression and every dark mood and attitude away from you. This is the power of praise. And praise should be a spiritual garment every believer wears at all times. ~ Derek Prince
Psalm 73:26
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
I have been sick from colds for almost 2 weeks now. Physical discomfort affects one’s mental and emotional state. Such is the state of man’s mortality. We have a physical body that deteriorates with wear and tear… sickness from all kinds of viruses, bacteria, known and unknown. All are destined to the same end. I am not afraid of the end. I am just not sure about the process. I pray and believe that God’s grace will see me through. Perhaps this is true also for many of us Christians. We say we are not afraid to die. Yet surely, no one welcomes a difficult process.
Believers of Jesus have this hope:
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
Last night, I read my mom’s big Chinese Bible. It was all wrinkled – from the muddy waters of Ondoy. But the waters did not wash away the highlights on the precious verses. As I read them, tears fell. I walked where mama walked. Prayers and praises in the psalms, words of wisdom in Ecclesiastes, passages of comfort in Isaiah and final hope in Revelation.
I imagined how she went through joy and grief, with laments and praises. How praises brought comfort in grief. How laments released grief and transformed it to joy. And the cycle of life-giving WORD goes on – moments of celebration.. times of desolation… journey of consolation leading to jubilation once again.
That is how mama lived her life – in constant dependence on her ever-dependable God… not on her failing mortal body… not by her own physical and mental strength. In spite of her body wasting away, she got her inward renewing day by day, moment by moment until God called her home.
Thank you mama for your legacy.
Praise you dear heavenly Father for your precious Word. Help me to walk in your footsteps, dear Jesus – that every day, my life be a song of praise … a sweet sweet sound in your ear. Amen.
