Will You Praise Him…Regardless?

Happy Easter dears…

I am awed by the fact that because of what Christ did for us, we now have direct access to our heavenly father. How awesome is that?

Because of Jesus, I can actually bypass the priest and temple things as in the days of old and use wherever I am to talk to God and He will hear me.

Whoop whoop!

 

When I was in the university, my bed in school then, used to be one of such covenant grounds.

Some days, I’d lie down there, praise and worship God while blasting in tongues like no man’s business, some days I ‘d smile and just talk to Him and some days I’d cry from the depths of my heart to God.

 

Beginning of 500level 2^nd semester was one of such tear filled days.

I had just been told by my course adviser that I still didn’t make the 2:1 mark after the 1^st semester exams.

I felt like the world was crashing down on me.

Well, if you knew what DELSU was reputable for, you’d have felt the same way…It was kind of an accepted fact that one couldn’t get 2:1 after 400L and here I was, 500L 2^nd semester and still no 2:1.

 

To me it meant that I MAY never graduate with what I wanted.

 

And so I felt like God was being wicked.

I went to my bed-my mini altar and I cried my eyes out.

I locked my room door (twas just 500L students in the hostel then so there was no one to disturb me) and I cried, bawled my eyes out and kind of kept malice with God (laughing at myself now).

As in, I refused to speak to God about it, just didn’t talk to Him. lol

 

But then, I was playing worship songs while in my despair but I just couldn’t bring myself to worship God.

One of such songs was Matt Redman’s 10,000reasons to praise God, but for the life of me, I couldn’t open my mouth to tell God thank you.

My human mind was like “thank God for what na? For not giving me my 2:1?”

So I lay on my bed and continued bawling my heart out, till I played Casting Crowns Praise you in this storm.

I googled the song and discovered that it was written for a child who was terminally ill. She was on literally standing on death’s door but was actually the one telling her mother not to worry that God’s got her…

I saw a story of faith like no other, how her mother would literally stand on the Bible and declare God’s word even in the hospital…

And I thought, “Frances, you don’t have a terminal disease, and it’s not over yet, why can’t you praise God still?”

So I praised God in tears on my covenant bed, I played Matt Redman’s 10,000 reasons over and over again and thanked God that my results didn’t get me to the 2:1 I wanted.

It was hard, it was really hard but I did it.

 

You wonder where I am going with this right?

Just stick with me for a moment.

 

I watched Facing the giants recently (you should all see that movie) and I was struck by something the coach said – “if we lose, we praise Him, if we win, we praise Him. He is still God”

And most times I’ve wondered what kind of faith and belief in God it takes to say that, if God takes it all, if it seems like it’s all gone, I will still praise Him.

 

My example of praising God in tears even when I didn’t get my 2:1 then is just one of many. I’ve had to do that many times and it’s hard, really hard to praise God when your heart is literally shattered but that’s the kind of place where I want to be.

And I imagine that is where we should all strive to be.

To walk in the knowledge that no matter what happens, God is still God and I will praise Him NO MATTER WHAT…

To be able to say like Job said in Job 1:21- “He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The LORD gave me what I had, and the LORD has taken it away. Praise the name of the LORD!”

 

 

Pause!

Rewind!

 

Just let that word sink into you for a minute… you know, go back and read that, let the Holy Spirit interprete that passage for you…

The Lord gives and takes away, Praise the name of the Lord.

Can you imagine what kind of spirit, faith in God, total surrender to God it takes to say that praise the name of the Lord in times of trials and mean it?

No wonder God saw Job as a man worthy enough to be boasted about.

 

Our faith isn’t always all bread and butter ish…

It isn’t all sweet and lovely…

When it comes right down to it, will you still praise God?

Will you praise Him regardlessof what maybe?

 

I purpose in my heart that I will.

I pray that you do the same.

It wont be easy, but I pray that God helps us grow enough in Him to praise Him regardless of whatever maybe.

 

IF WE LOSE, WE PRAISE HIM.

IF WE WIN, WE PRAISE HIM.

HE IS STILL GOD.

 

PS: I did graduate with my 2:1, despite the myth of you’ll never make it after 400level. God indeed makes all things beautiful in His time and I’ll share that testimony someday.

 

PPS: The life of a writer… I wrote this on a bus on my way to Ikeja, heat and all but inspiration just hit and my hand nor gree me not to write.. And don’t say ah ah, naso blogging do you?!

I didn’t type on my laptop on the bus; I just typed and saved it on my phone, to reproduce on my laptop today. Lol

 

Finally, Law School is on break right now before externship starts and I want to see if I can use this week to do a series on lessons from my favourite love story.

I’ve written it on my journal since February but haven’t gotten around to publishing on my blog,so watch this space.

Would also be getting around to the awards from Kate and Uje(yes, I’ve not forgotten).

And I am writing my plans here for accountability sake as usual.

 

So please follow my blog if you haven’t already, follow me on twitter @Elegant_frances , keep it locked down here and lets have a filled week on my blog before the rat race of externship things starts for me/before my hiatus off here for 3months starts(seriously considering going off, but that’s story for another day)

 

Have a blessed week ahead dearies.

Remember, keep it locked down here this week, lessons from my favourite love story upcoming. *wink wink*

*I heart you all*