davieingram - The Other Side Of The Mountain (part 1)

This is a response to a question I was recently asked

"Davie...bro, no offense but..you Christians are so Dumb. How can you praise God with all the messed up stuff that's been going in life?"

PLEASE READ Genesis 22: 1-14

It took Abraham SOOO long to finally have a son and once he did...God commands Abraham to kill him!!! I'm sure Abraham didn't understand it....I'm sure Abraham didn't agree with it...I'm sure Abraham didn't like it...But Abraham LOVED God above all...and was obedient. He climbed the mountain, got to the top, built the altar, tied his son up, laid him on the altar, reached for his knife ... But then an angel called out and stopped him and God provided an offering!!! HOW EXCITING!!!!

See...what's interesting is that on one side of the mountain...it seemed like Abraham was going to have to kill his son. It seemed like the child that he had been waiting on for such a long time would be taken away from him. One side of the mountain was filled with confusion ... BUT ... on the OTHER side of the mountain there was VICTORY. What I love and admire most about Abraham was that he couldn't see the other side of the mountain... he couldn't see the ram... he couldn't see the victory... he just trusted that victory would come.

Which leads me to answering your question....

My life has been filled with many ups and many downs. However, one thing stays the same...no matter how much my life is "messed up" I will always praise God.

When my best friend committed suicide...in my grief..I praised God.

When doctors diagnosed me with a tumor ... I praised God.

When I had a gun pressed against me in a back alley...I praised God.

When people start spreading vicious lies about me...I praised God.

How can I praise God with all the messed up stuff in my life?... cause no matter how obedient or disobedient I am with my life...God looks down and always says the same thing "This is my child who I love" so no matter how good or bad things get I'll always look to the heavens and respond "You are MY God who III love"

Abraham could only see HIS side of the mountain...but trusted that God will provide ON THE OTHER. I know you can't see what my praise is doing on THIS side...but on the OTHER side of my praise..there is victory. My praise is doing something!! Don't get it twisted, I'm not just waving my hands in the air. Don't get it twisted, I'm not just saying empty words. On the other side of the mountain God is bringing forth victory. On the other side of the mountain God is healing my family. On the other side of the mountain God is mending broken hearts, God is using my praise to reach a world that is completely lost and in the dark. On the other side of the mountain God is providing!!! You may call me dumb and call me stupid but my praise is doing something. If you think I look crazy now... just watch my life NEXT week. Watch the results of my praise. Watch my family getting restored. Watch my friends regain hope. Watch the miracles that will happen in Africa. Watch God's Blessings SHOWER down!!

How can I praise God with all the messed up stuff going on in my life???? How can I not!!!

Where there is praise there is victory.... Praise is my weapon!!!!!