The Power in Praise

Foundation of Praise/Power in Praise, Chapt.1 ^ | 1980 | Merlin Carothers

[Faith Presses On]

Jim's father had been an alcoholic for thirty years. During all those years, Jim's mother, and later Jim and his young wife, had prayed that God would heal him, but with no apparent result. Jim's father refused to admit that he had a problem with alcohol, and stalked out in anger if anyone mentioned religion to him. One day Jim heard me speak about the power that is released when we begin to praise God for everything in our lives instead of pleading with Him to change the circumstances that displease us. Jim brought home a recording of my message and played it over and over again for his friends. Then one day it struck him; he had never tried praising God for his father's condition. Excitedly he shared the thought with his wife. "Honey, let us thank God for Dad's alcoholism and praise the Lord that it is part of His wonderful plan for Dad's life!..." The next day the parents came over for the usual Sunday dinner visit. Always before, Jim's father had cut the visit as short as possible, leaving right after dinner. This time, over a cup of coffee, he suddenly asked a pointed question. "What do you think about this Jesus Revolution?" He turned to Jim. "I saw something about it on the news last night. Is it just a fad, or is something happening to those kids who were hung up on drugs?..." Within weeks Jim's father came to admit his drinking problem, turned for help to Jesus Christ, and was completely healed. He now joins the rest of the family in telling others what praising God can do!... To praise God is to express our acceptance of something that God is permitting to happen.

[Faith Presses On]

I've read many of Carothers' books and gotten a lot out of them. I might not see everything exactly as he does, but his emphasis on praise and trusting that even the worst situations God is working together for our good I've found very helpful to my faith.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Thank you for posting this...

[Montana_Sam]

That is a great post, ‘Faith...’

My own life took a turn for the better when I started thanking God for everything, good and bad; even the mayhem and mischief thrown at me by others. Am now convinced that thankfulness is a powerful prayers. Am definitely of a quieter frame of mind; not so easily riled as in the past.