Shloma, Tribe! Barukim!
What are you going through? Brokenness? Abandonment? Fear? Anxiety? Persecution? Loneliness?
Are you waiting on salvation? Salvation from the world, your feelings, that abusive relationship, that toxic friendship, those unruly children, that exhausting job?
You are not alone, and you are not the first. I’m sure you have heard of Brother Paul, peace be upon him, and all the things he had endured when he finally turned to YAHUAH.
Namely when he and Brother Silas, peace be upon him, were both beat, stripped naked, and cast into prison in Acts 16.
I know how this feels. Especially as a repentant Israelite seeking the Simple path. You think you’ve turned your life around like Brother Paul, turned to YAHUAH, and now it’s time for new life and life more abundantly.
And just when you think you’re finally free, BOOM life throws a beating-stripping-casting-into-prison at you. What do we do then? Ask YAH to free us? Pray for relief? Eat away the pain? Turn to entertainment? Sleep ourselves into oblivion?
Brother Paul and Brother Silas sent up praise to YAHUAH in the quiet of midnight (v 25). What they said? The Scripture isn’t exact. But we know that they made sure to praise YAH in their imprisonment. Before they asked for release. Before they let their hearts be dampened. Before they complained and claimed they were forsaken or experiencing the wrath of The Most High.
Their praise didn’t just lighten their hearts though. It didn’t just make them feel better. It didn’t just bring YAH the glory He is owed. The Scripture says other prisoners heard Brother Paul and Brother Silas, and suddenly there was an earthquake so great that the prison floor was shaken, and every single door was opened and every single chain was broken.
I know sometimes we feel like we need a reason to praise. Sometimes praise hurts when we have a burden on our hearts. It’s as if Yah is ignoring us or punishing us yet wants us to lower ourselves to Him while we suffer and cry out. Our hears can sometimes rebuke this idea.
I can only speak for me, anyway. On plenty occasions, I’ve inwardly wailed, “Give me a reason to praise you! Deliver me first! Answer my prayer! Heal my sickness! Redeem me, and I will worship you! Save me and I will praise you!”
I was planning to let my praise come after the breakthrough, not knowing that it was my praise THAT WOULD BE the breakthrough.
Amazing things, glorious things, unheard and unseen things happen around us when we choose to uplift the Name of YAHUAH. It doesn’t matter what circumstance we’re in, where we’re at, or whose around– when His Name is praised, all the heavens open up and the earth is filled with His Glory.
“But You are holy,
Psalm 22:3
O You who are enthroned in [the holy place where] the praises of Israel [are offered].
Various translations of this verse interpret this as “Thou inhabitest the praises of Israel.” “You dwell in the praises of your children.” “You dwell amidst the praise of Israel.”
The Scripture is literally telling us and showing us, when we knocked down the walls of Jericho with praise, when we conquered Pharaoh with praise, when our brothers Paul and Silas were miraculously released of their bondage with praise– YAH WAS, IS, AND ALWAYS WILL BE in the worship of Him.
It is His Holy Tabernacle. If you want to dwell with Him, step into that Inner Court WITH PRAISE.
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
Psalm 100:4
This verse isn’t just telling us what to do before we reach His Temple, or what to do once we are inside. No, this verse is telling us HOW TO OPEN THE DOOR, how to enter, how to access The Throneroom, how to draw near!
Praise is the key to our breakthrough. Not supplication, not requests, not mourning, not leaning unto our own understanding. PRAISE IS THE KEY.
Praise is the medicine.
Praise is the joy.
Praise is the remedy.
If you’re refusing to praise YAHUAH until you’re healthy, or refusing to praise until you’re in a different situation, perhaps you are blocking your own breakthrough. You could be right at the door of The Temple, but you won’t enter with your keys: thanksgiving and praise.
He has given us the inheritance of YAHUSHA, we are children of His Glory, blessed with His Might, made in His Image to do Good Works according to our name ISRAEL OR YAH-SHAR-AHL which means a Prince-Reigning With The Power-Of Yah!
The same thing accomplished through Brothers Paul and Silas’ praise, is the same thing that you can accomplish if you open your mouth. Sing to our Father. Uplift His Name.
Your praise IS your breakthrough. Are you using your key?
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