“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.” Ps 139:14

Praise is ultimately what you give your attention to. It's often what you talk about and focus on most. What is it, in your life, that gets your praise? Is it the economy? Or the kids? Perhaps it's your physical state or the fears you have about your job/relationships/future… The writer of Hebrews calls it a “sacrifice of praise” because we literally have to divert (read sacrifice) what we naturally want to focus on. It comes from that sin-nature that is so easily geared toward decay. It wants us to focus on what's slipping away as opposed to what we have right in front of us. What we miss out on as opposed what's in our hand. It's the classic Garden of Eden mentality; having an abundance but only wanting what you can't have…and it cultivates and motivates fear-driven behaviour in our lives. Fear, of course is not from God. The Bible says He doesn't give us fear but “power, love and a sound mind” so then fear leaves us powerless, we hand over our own control to it. Fear's underlying motivation is hate, not love; It wants to tear things down not build them up. And finally it is actually crazy thought processes as opposed to sound thinking. Anxious thought is actually practising the failure that MIGHT happen in advance. There are psychological studies that show that only 2% of what we worry about comes to pass. That's a lot of wasted worry! That's a lot of focus on fear that could've been redirected to prayer and something more positively powerful. Imagine the lifetime effect of redirecting that mental energy! You can see why the Bible categorises it as “crazy”. Whatever has your attention outside of God, redirect it back. Sacrifice the praise (read: attention) of fear and anxiety. That is true and ultimate praise and it'll set you up for positive outcomes…”As a man thinks in his heart, so is he…” Praying crazy blessings (as opposed to crazy thinking) over you today!

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