Praise the Lord Anyhow

Years ago in the Christian community there was a saying, “Praise the Lord anyhow!”

Psalm 103 Praise the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, Praise His holy name.

Not to sound “churchy” or cliché, but some of those “old sayings” made a lot of sense.

We are to Praise the Lord, IN ALL things…and in Psalm 23:4 it says…yea though I walk THROUGH the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear NO EVIL for thou art with me (KJV)

Did you get that? Walk Through…we don’t stop and camp out in our valley of despair…even though at times it seems as if we are all alone…as God’s children he never leaves us and he never will. The enemy is the one who hisses in our thoughts and says… “I’m alone, no one cares, no one calls, and no one is here to help.” I’m blowing a trumpet here…HE IS A LIAR!!

Satan is the father of lies…John 8:44 and he knows if he can get us to thinking on ourselves and keep us in the pit of self-pity he’s got us…we become our own God…putting ourselves before God and opening ourselves to defeat, sickness, isolation, turning our hearts inward to see our own needs and wants and soon we block the Holy Spirit’s voice and all we hear is SELF talking!!

But I’m here to tell you to… “Praise the Lord anyhow!”

Praise him until you no longer see yourself and your own circumstances…Praise him until you no longer hear Satan hiss…Praise him until your eyes are lifted towards heaven and all you see is Victory…Hope…Love…Help…Peace and Truth…for our help comes from the Lord the maker of heaven and earth…

Look UP! See Jesus…he is no longer on the cross…he is no longer suffering for us…He is High and lifted UP and His train Fills the Temple…

See that word FILLS? When we are filled up with Him…there is NO room for depression, oppression, defeat, death, lies, want, complaining, distraction, sickness, loneliness…because the ROOM is filled with HIS GLORY!!! Amen

PRAISE THE LORD ANYHOW (PTLA) In every situation…

Car won’t start…PTLA

Bills passed due…PTLA

Stress from work…PTLA

ALL by yourself…PTLA

Kids out of control…PTLA

People giving you a hard time…PTLA

House won’t sell…PTLA

Got bad news…PTLA

Tree fell on your house…PTLA

Storm coming…PTLA

Marriage falling apart…PTLA

Depressed…PTLA

Sick…PTLA

Want a spouse…PTLA

Want kids…PTLA

Life falling apart…PTLA

Whatever the challenge you are facing right now, is, just PRAISE THE LORD ANYHOW…and watch the enemy run…and God turn everything around for your GOOD…why because you are praising the Lord anyhow…

When Job’s life was turned totally and completely upside down he lost everything he had. He lost his home, his kids, his health, his friends, his position…everything…

What did Job say? “Though God slay me, yet will I TRUST HIM.” Job 13:15 He knew who He served and that God was faithful…

After he had suffered a long time…God saw Job’s heart and it proved to the enemy just how faithful Job was to God…and because of Job’s love for God…he was given back double the blessing…Job 42:12

I don’t know what your story will be…but I know that when we BLESS God…and give him our heart totally and Praise him no matter what…God is true to His word and he will turn the tide so that His children are blessed beyond measure…

All He asks is that we Praise The Lord Anyhow!!

Praise him in, the Valley of the Shadow of Death…and let God’s blessing follow you all the days of your life with Goodness and Mercy.

And remember to also Praise Him when everything is going great…IN ALL THINGS Praise the Lord anyhow!!

~Marla Shaw O’Neill September 18, 2018

Psalm 103 New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 103

Of David.

Praise the Lord, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.

He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:
The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

As a father has compassion on his children,
so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;
for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.
The life of mortals is like grass,
they flourish like a flower of the field;
the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.
But from everlasting to everlasting
the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children’s children—
with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.

The Lord has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.

Praise the Lord, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.
Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will.
Praise the Lord, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.

Praise the Lord, my soul.