Many things are started by pushing a button.  Push the right button and you get the results you are looking for.  Does God have a button?

In a sense, He does.  There are things that activate God’s attention toward us and actions that bring desired results.

 “But without faith it is impossible to please him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

To activate God’s pleasure, we need to have faith that God is and that He will reward us for our faith as we seek Him.

Those who have faith in God know that the action that really gets God’s attention is Praise.

“But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel” (Psalm 22:3).

In the ladies rest room at church there are two paper towel dispensers.  After you wash your hands, just walk to one of the dispensers and hold your hand under it, and voila! paper towels drop down to your dripping wet hands!  That’s all you have to do, because it has a sensor that recognizes motion.  When the sensor “sees” your hand, it doesn’t wait for you to tug on the towel or press a button; a sizeable length of towel automatically is at your disposal.

That’s how it is when we exercise our faith in God by praise.  Praise says that we know the blessings in our life come from God.  Only through faith in the sacrifice of Jesus at Calvary are we acceptable to God.  “…without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5).

Jesus dispenses His life to the world through His people.  Paul said we were letters (from God) that people read.  We have nothing to offer those who need a Savior without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, but as the above verse says, “…He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit…”  The branch that produces the fruit doesn’t use the fruit; it is for the benefit of others.

Praise releases the blessings of God in our lives not only for our benefit but for those He puts in our path as well.  Like the motion sensor in the towel dispensers, praise automatically puts us in God’s presence.  We Christians are modern day “Israel”; we are God’s people, and He “inhabits” our presence with His own when praise is rendered by us.  When we are blessed, we are in a position to be a blessing to others.

It may sound somewhat irreverent, but Praise is God’s “button.”  To push someone’s button means we get their attention and get results.  Sometimes it is used in a negative sense, meaning it gets results that we don’t want.  But Praise is like the motion sensor and automatically puts us in touch with God.  He reacts by “inhabiting” His people who praise Him.

In spite of their often backsliding, God loved Israel and continually sought to bless them.  He even had them appoint Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord “to thank and praise the LORD God of Israel” (1 Chronicles 16:4).  Praise would be the “motion sensor” that would release the blessings of God to them.

Jehoshaphat had a great lesson in what praise can accomplish when he got word that several kings had formed a coalition to attack him.  When the enemy had advanced to Engedi, about 25 miles from Jerusalem, Jehoshaphat called on God for help lest they overpower him and take the land that God had given to Israel.  God's answer was, "The battle is not yours, but God's."  Jehoshaphat was instructed to appoint singers to go in front of the army singing, not with swords and weapons of war!  They sang a praise song while their enemies were destroyed.

"Praise the Lord, for his mercy endureth forever" (2 Chronicles 20:21).

As they sang, their enemies began to fight among themselves until they were utterly destroyed.  When he looked from the watch tower, Jehoshaphat saw the fallen enemy soldiers; none of them had escaped.  It took them three days just to carry away the spoils of war (riches, jewels, etc.)

Never underestimate the power of praise!  Praise elevates the spiritual side of God’s people and connects to the power line of the Holy Spirit, the source of blessings.  We have only to read the Psalms and many, many other scriptures throughout the Bible to know how God regards Praise.

As we enter the traditional Thanksgiving season, wouldn’t that be a good time to remind ourselves to not only be thankful but to praise God for everything for which we have to be thankful?  We can be thankful without praise, without regarding the source.  We can be thankful for health, food, family, friends, etc. but not remember to praise God.  Sure we are thankful for all these wonderful things, but we praise God just for who He is, sovereign Redeemer, Savior, source of life here and now and eternally.

The amazing thing about this “motion sensor” thing is—it works!  Praise is a depression chaser.  It displaces the negative thoughts, words and feelings and re-places them with the joy of the Lord which is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10).  When the Lord “senses” our praise, He sets in “motion” His joy in our direction.  We are only equipped to have one thought at a time.  A new thought pushes aside the previous one, so we have this wonderful “button” which is “motion sensitive” and activates heaven when we Praise, eliminating negatives that Satan loves to unload on us.

God doesn’t have a low ego that requires us to tell Him that we love and appreciate Him before He is reciprocative.  Praise is for our benefit.  God’s love is constant, unchanging and dependable.  Nothing we can do will make Him love us more or less.  He loved us when we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8), before we even considered serving Him.  (John 3:16).  He desires our praise so that WE will be blessed!  It is 100% advantageous to us that we praise Him. God doesn’t need our praise; we need to do it for our benefit. 

“Let everything that hath breath praise the LORD.  Praise ye the LORD.”

(Psalm 150:6)

Be thankful and Praise the Lord!

"The Lord reigneth: let the earth rejoice...O Sing unto the LORD a new song..."

(Psalm 97:1, 98:1)

~~Delores~~