Called Out of the Darkness

I Peter 2:9   But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar  people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:


Last night my granddaughter had trouble going to sleep, there had been storms and she doesn't like storms.  There are folks that love to sit and watch a storm.  I've never been in that category, although in a bad storm I am compelled to watch.  Even though Erin didn't like the thunder and lightening, she was also afraid of the dark.  She wanted someone close to her.


I've been in that place more than once, where I had made it through the storm but the storm was followed by darkness that cause my spirit to be disquieted. It made me restless or jumpy.  That is a point that I find praise is my most effective method of calming my heart.  As I declare His praise, His sweet spirit covers me and gives me peace.


Jesus is our light, just like the sun, the clouds may get between me and that light but that doesn't mean the light is gone.  It just means the clouds or distractions need to be rolled away.  Sometimes it is just a matter of movement on my part to put me back in the sunlight.  At other times, God has to roll those clouds away.  In either case, no matter how heavy the cloud cover, the SON is still there.


I don't know about you but at times I need reminding of that.  I need to be coaxed to declare His praises because I allow 'things' to keep my praise bottled up.  The devil can't stand to see God's people praise Him!  He wants to be equal to or greater than God so when God's praises are flowing his whole world is disturbed.


Today I want to praise God for answered prayers and for prayers that I trust Him to answer.  I want to praise Him for His love and His grace.  I want to praise Him for the times that the answer to my prayer was no because He had a greater Yes.  I want to praise Him for those waiting for me in heaven, that I have a promise of tomorrow.  I praise Him that He is real in the valley and that He allows me to have mountaintops.  I praise Him for my family, for my church, for my friends. 


I could continue that list all day but there are days that I get caught up in the negative and I find myself forgetting to count my blessings.  No matter what you or I are going through today, God is there, He will always be with us.  I will praise Him for calling me out of the darkness into His wonderful light!