Weekend Talk: Praise still works

Can we thank and praise God for every situation we encounter?  

For example, if our car were to crash into a tree along the road and cause severe damage and injury, can we say, “Lord, I praise you and thank you for this accident”?

Or should a couple who have been married for years without having children pray, “Lord, thank you that we don’t have children, and we praise you for that”?

Well, here is the response of a former army chaplain, a Methodist minister and popular inspirational speaker, Rev. Merlin Carothers, who says emphatically, “Yes, you can.”

For our good

In the 1970s, Merlin Carothers published a book in which he propagated a strong theology that “What often seems to be a tragedy is for our own good and if we can praise God no matter what, it can turn out to be the most wonderful blessing in the world.”

In an autobiographical account of his dramatic salvation, contained in his first book, Prison to Praise, he states, “When Christians praise God—not just in spite of problems, but for the problems themselves (everything from petty annoyances to serious tragedies)—this praise releases the power of God to use the problem and bring good from it.”

Acknowledging the content of Prison to Praise, the famous propagator of the Power of Positive Thinking, Norman Vincent Peale, testified, “(This is) a most inspired account of the grace of God working in a human life.”

Carothers gathered numerous examples to back his conviction and published another work, Power in Praise, which brings together some of the miracles resulting from the simple application of the biblical truth: “All things work together for good” (Romans 8:28).

Changed lives

As people put Carothers' teaching into practice worldwide, “many experienced changed lives and wrote glowing reports of the amazing things that happened to them.

As Carothers explained, “Choosing faith over fear can help you overcome feelings of inferiority, conquer bitterness and anger, build stronger personal relationships, and create a climate for experiencing success in life.”

No wonder James states emphatically, "Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds" (James 1:2).  

And Paul said, “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

What praise does is that it shifts focus from the problem to God, who is able to deal with the problem.  

Tamale days

In the 1970s and 1980s, when spiritual awakening hit Tamale and other parts of the northern and upper regions, Merlin Carothers’ books became popular.  

We read those books to shreds, and those who genuinely praised God in every circumstance testified that praise works. I remember people used to ask, “Should I praise God even when I fall into sin?”  

In those days in the Christian fellowship, sin was a dreadful thing to encounter in our fear of God; hence, the question of praise in relation to sin.  

The answer was: “Yes!”  You praise God not because you’ve sinned but despite falling into it.

Moreover, the Scripture says to do so. And when you do it, that obedience releases power to confess the sin and to turn away from it.  

As John said, “If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.”

In those revival years in Tamale, the concept of praise significantly raised the spiritual pulse in the Christian fellowship.

Like the rest of the world, we also testified that praise works!  

Praising God helped pull down the wall of Jericho. It worked for Paul and Silas in prison.  

It has been working for me too. Every time circumstances call for complaining and annoyance, when instead I submit praise to Heaven, I too can testify that my circumstances begin to change. In praise, worry and bitterness can melt into the peace of God.

The psalmist confirms this when he observes: “Through the praise of children and infants, God has established a stronghold against his enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger” (Psalm 8:2).

Victory

We learn from Peter that the enemy prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. And he devours those who complain continually.  

The story is told about a demon who was sent to go and harass a Christian.

When he found the Christian praising God despite his problems, the demon got confused and returned to report, “I couldn’t harass him, because I met him among angels praising God.”

So it is true that “Our praise confuses the enemy and paralyses forces of evil.”

Believers live a life of praise, instead of complaining, because we share in Christ’s victory.

Therefore, we have the strength and confidence to face hardships and to praise God in all circumstances.