God, the Lifter of My Head

Has anyone ever taken your chin in their hands and lifted your head up to meet you eye to eye? Whether it be to show you adoration and just get your attention as they're trying to give you encouragement? I know my mom would do this to me as a child. And this is what I think of when the scriptures say that God is the "Lifter of my Head." (Ps. 3:3)

When we're feeling down, discouraged, depressed, as if life it too hard, and we just want to wish it all away - that's when God wants to take your chin in his hand and lift up your head and speak His life into you. I picture Him saying "Why is your soul downcast? Why so disturbed? Put your hope in Me! Give Me praise!" (Ps. 42:5)

Praise brings glory to God, and it brings our spirit to a higher place! I can't ever think of a time when I was giving praise to God that I felt low or depressed. Praising God is like medicine for the soul. True praise to God brings victory! Satan hates it when people praise God!

After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose. (Acts 16:23-26)

There is power through praising God! God can take your circumstances and turn it around. Life is not supposed to be easy. Actually, we need to have our "ups" and our "downs." Each time we learn to overcome an obstacle, we become stronger, we learn to depend on God and not on our own strength.

God wants to bestow on you a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. [You] will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of His splendor. (Isaiah 61:3)

God is a powerful God and He can take you through any situation. Give it up to God, give God praise from deep within your heart and allow God to break the chains that have a hold of you. Allow God to set you free.

He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God." (Ps. 50:23)