“Praise therefore, and praise
worthily, so that to the utmost of your power there be in you no charge, no
drought, no contemplation, no carefulness of mind that is void of the praise of
God.”
— Anselm of Canterbury
(1033-1109)
There is no self-assessed holiness that comes from the heart of
praise; only sincere, heartrending thankfulness for a most incomprehensible
gift; a prize of intellectual means and an affectation beyond all measure.
And what is the likeness of the mood we discuss? How might it be
declared?
No thought for self-righteousness; none for worth without from
God; precious little, it is hoped, for what we might bring to the altar of
sacrifice prior to due penitence; a pittance for that which our lives are
devoid of; and, certainly none for pride, greed, anger, lust, sloth, gluttony,
or envy—the seven deadly sins.
Connecting
Praise With Thankfulness
The shape of praise is formed by thankfulness; it might be
considered the product of gratitude. Being thankful forms the ever-mouldable
attitude of heart as it conjures thought for what might be praised. Praise and
thankfulness, therefore, are a chicken-or-the-egg scenario; which comes first,
and why, are irrelevant. They must just be entered into for the best of life to
be achieved.
Importantly, though, we necessarily understand praise and
thankfulness complement and work with each other such that all of life could be
a gift offering of worship back the Lord.
At any deceptive or indifferent mood we thrust praise and/or thankfulness;
holy combatants worthy for replete spiritual warfare.
Praise
In All Seasons
Because battles come insidiously, vigorously, or by stealth, and
often with hidden worth as to their actual threat value, we are frequently
tricked—found without praise or thankfulness. Such a state of heart and mind
attacks us when we are at either ease or peril—and any state between, really.
We come, therefore, at the ready, at all times, to hear the reminder of the Spirit, calling
aloud within us, to convert attitudes of annoyance, complaint, and unhelpful
comparison—to the ends of any spiritual compromise—into annotations of
God-conformed delight, no matter the circumstances (with quick exception, only,
for genuine grief).
And such annotations will not digress into dilutions of pride
manifest in words, but they will stand alone in the God-anointed strength of
silent action. Words betray the blessings of God that afford praise. Actions,
on the other hand, keep faith with the power within, present always for
disposal via the adroit sacrifice of love.
***
True praise is rarely, if ever, vocal—by our illicit shouts of
“Praise the Lord.” A God-converted praise is first and foremost silent by sound
and raucous by action.
Praise is the demeanour of solemn mindfulness that disciplines
the body toward action that loves others and pleases God.
© 2014 S. J. Wickham.
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