The Power of a Song

Imagine what Stranger Things would be like without the techno music pulsating in the background. Or Full House without “Everywhere You Look”. Or SpongeBob without “Who Lives in a Pineapple Under the Sea”!? Or Jaws without “duuuun dunnn…”! Or Rocky without the “Eye of the Tiger”!?! Whether you realize it or not, music is one of the most powerful forces in the world. The right music can pump up an athlete for a hardcore workout while a lullaby can calm a child into a peaceful sleep. Music can feed a person’s rage… Read More

Praise is Not Merely Your Gift to God; Praise is God’s Gift to You

Praise is a choice, not a feeling. It’s easy to associate emotions with praise, because praise ushers into your life the manifest presence of God, which often prompts deep feelings of gratitude and joy.  Praise, however, is not limited by how I feel. In fact, my choice to praise God when I don’t feel like it may be the strongest praise I can offer to God – it says, “Father, You are worthy of praise and I choose to give you praise in spite of my circumstances or feelings.” My worship of… Read More

Songs from the Prison Cell

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, ‭‭Acts‬ ‭16:25‬ ‭ESV‬‬ Many believers have wrong assumptions of what it means to praise and worship God. They assume: Praise and worship is something you do only at church.  Praise and worship is something you do only when things are going well in life.  Praise and worship is something for people who are musically inclined.  Paul and Silas understood that worship and praise, combined with prayer, are powerful forces that pierce spiritual darkness,… Read More

My Praise

I praise You, oh Lord.  Your goodness exceeds my worthiness.  Your hand has brought me both protection and provision. All that I have I owe to You.  You have given me a wife whose beauty and strength inspire me. You have given me children who now give back to me as much love as I give to them.  You have been faithful. I have never lacked. In fact, I have always had abundance.  Your words comfort me. Your Spirit fills me. Your joy strengthens me.  Your mercy is greater than my sin…. Read More

Unleashing God’s Light to Defeat Darkness

so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. (‭Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭10‬ ESV) A fundamental function of the Body of Christ is that we are to proclaim – to declare in faith – the truth of God’s word and His promises to the world.  What many may not immediately realize is that we are not only to declare God’s word to the people of the world, but specifically to the spiritual authorities and demonic principalities of the world. … Read More