The Light of Christ Journey

Encouraging people on their journey with Christ

Interruptions Can Be a Blessing

Tom Graves

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June 29, 2026

Have you ever thought about how interruptions can be a blessing? In our world, we don’t often think of life’s interruptions as gifts, but they often are. Our prayers interrupt God. Yet He welcomes them like a mother responding to her infant. Often, God uses interruptions in our lives to bring wholeness to our lives and to the lives of others as he works through us.

A friend, with stage four cancer, often called for prayer after I had gone to bed. This interruption for prayer was a gift the Lord gave me. Of all the people the Lord could have placed in his life during this season, the Lord chose me. This was part of God’s plan.

Jesus shows us that interruptions are often opportunities. When we slow down enough to notice the needs around us, we reflect the compassionate heart of Christ. God frequently works through the unexpected moments we might otherwise overlook.

Jesus Made Time for Interruptions

Jairus hurried through the crowd to reach Jesus because his daughter was dying. After he met Jesus, He agreed to go with him as the crowd pressed in around them. Then something unexpected happened. Jesus was interrupted by a woman in the crowd who had suffered for twelve years from constant bleeding. This interruption would change her life and give Jairus insight into the importance of faith.

Mark 5: 27 She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him through the crowd and touched his robe. 28 For she thought to herself, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel in her body that she had been healed of her terrible condition. 30 Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from him, so he turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my robe?” [1]

Showing Love Takes Time

Jesus healed the woman physically, but wanted more for her. He wanted to reassure her of the importance of her faith. That would take extra time, but it would benefit both her and Jairus. His disciples questioned Jesus about the crowd and who had touched him. Jesus looked around. The frightened woman, trembling, confessed her deed. Jesus told her that her faith had made her well, and she could go in peace, her suffering over. (Ref. Mark 5:31-34)[2]

There are various reasons God allows interruptions in a believer’s life. He can use interruptions to discipline us, redirect us, make time for something more important, or teach us that He, not us, directs our steps. One day, through the victory of the risen Christ, He will heal every wound. He will restore and make whole every broken part of creation.

Until that day, we follow Jesus’s example by making time for the interruptions that come our way. In those unexpected moments, we may discover that God is inviting us to participate in His work of healing, compassion, and hope. When we respond with faith, we become part of the story of wholeness that begins with Christ and flows through His people.

To learn how interruptions can be a blessing, listen here:

https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/faith-that-makes-us-well

[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

[2] Summary of Mark 5:31-34 from the Holy Bible.

Jesus Welcomes the Hurting to Make Us Whole

Tom Graves

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June 28, 2026

Jesus welcomes the hurting to make us whole. This reveals Jesus’ love, which introduces us to a moment of deep desperation and powerful faith. Mark 5:22 Then a leader of the local synagogue, whose name was Jairus, arrived. When he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet.[1]Jairus was a respected religious leader, a man of status and responsibility. Yet in this moment, titles and reputation meant nothing compared to the pain he carried as a father. His daughter was dying, and his only hope was Jesus.

Jairus did not approach Jesus with pride or distance. Instead, he fell at His feet. This posture showed humility, urgency, and faith. In the culture of that time, leaders like Jairus were often cautious around Jesus. But suffering can change our perspective. When we are hurting deeply enough, we come honestly before the Savior.

Jesus welcomes moments of need, never turning away the desperate, grieving, or brokenhearted. Jairus shows that faith begins when we realize we can’t fix things alone. In pain, fear, and need, Jesus invites us to draw near.

Faith Opens the Door to Wholeness

Jairus’ actions demonstrate that wholeness starts with faith in our Savior, Jesus. He believed that if Jesus would simply come to his house, his daughter would be healed. That belief motivated him to act. Faith isn’t just a thought; it’s a step toward Christ.

Many people come to Jesus seeking physical healing or relief from tough situations. And Jesus definitely has the power to heal the body. Throughout the Gospels, we see Him open the eyes of the blind, restore movement to the lame, and even raise the dead. But His work goes beyond just physical healing.

 True healing affects every part of us. Jesus heals spiritually by forgiving sins, emotionally by bringing peace amid anxiety and grief, and physically by His power. When Jesus touches a life, deep transformation occurs.

  Faith is the gateway through which this wholeness begins. Like Jairus, we come honestly, bringing our fears, brokenness, and longing. Jesus meets us in that place. He sees the wounds others cannot see and brings a healing that goes far beyond what we expected.

The Cross: The Source of True Healing

Ultimately, the wholeness Jesus offers is rooted in His sacrifice and victory. The miracles recorded in the Gospels point forward to something even greater: the work Jesus accomplished through His death and resurrection. Physical restoration in this life is a gift, but it is not the final goal. The deeper promise is a restored relationship with God and the hope of complete renewal when Christ returns.

I don’t know what you are facing or feeling right now. Perhaps it’s the difficulty at your job or a hurting loved one like Jairus. Maybe you’re struggling with providing for your family, a health issue, or emotional trauma you’ve experienced. God cares about you more than you can ever realize. Sometimes God changes our circumstances, and sometimes God changes us. Either way, remember that God can work in your situation and your storm.

To learn more about how Jesus welcomes the hurting to make us whole, listen here:

https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/faith-that-makes-us-well

[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Mk 5:22). Tyndale House Publishers.

Wholeness in the Storms of Life

Paula K. Graves

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June 27, 2026

The story of wholeness in the storms of life from Luke 8:22-39 gives us insight into how to navigate our storms. It is easy to think that God has left us on our own in adverse times. But that is not true. The early church applied these stories to the persecution they faced, first from the Jews and then the Romans. They applied the analogy of a sea threatening to sink them and the attack of a madman to their oppression.

Often, the early Christians hoped that Jesus would quiet the storm of persecution, but that did not always happen. In the middle of the storm, they had to rely on their faith in Jesus and the promise of eternity with Him. It is much the same for us today.

Wisdom from Storm 1

Storms are unexpected. While intense storms on the Sea of Galilee are not unusual, they most often happen in the afternoon. There was no warning of a storm to come as the disciples set sail.

Storms may be beyond your experience. Four disciples were professional fishermen who spent many hours on the water. They were even frightened, which shows that this storm was above and beyond what they knew.

God is with us. Jesus was in the boat with them, but they thought He didn’t care because He was sleeping. God always promises to be with us. He may not stop the storm for His reasons, but He sails through them with us.

God is in control. There was immediate quiet when Jesus rebuked the wind and the waves. Remember, God is sovereign and controls not only the history of the world but also each person’s destiny.

Wisdom from Storm 2

Satan likes pre-emptive strikes. The demons in the man confront Jesus as He gets out of the boat. They wanted to deter Jesus from sending them away.

Satan will try to make deals. The demons in the man knew Jesus was more powerful than they, and they bartered to try to stay in some type of body, even if it was the pigs.

Satan will try to cause as much destruction as possible. The demons destroyed the pigs. Since they could not continue to destroy the man, they destroyed what they could.

Jesus is more powerful than Satan. Demons know that their ultimate destiny is the lake of fire, where they will be tormented (Revelation 20:10). They could only go where Jesus allowed them to go.

Not everyone will understand the spiritual battle. The townspeople were afraid when the demoniac was in his right mind and clothed. As a result of this fear and the economic loss of the pigs, they asked Jesus to leave.

Jesus in Your Storms

Jesus freed the demoniac from the storm of his life and made him whole. Jesus can free, heal, and restore you, too. He does so for a purpose. When freed and made whole, we have a testimony that can help others. The healed man understandably wanted to follow Jesus, but Jesus had something else for him. He was to go and tell others what God had done for him. When God touches our lives, we are to share the amazing event with family and friends. Then they can learn about wholeness in the storms of life. To learn more, listen here:

https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/whole-beyond-our-brokenness

Go and Tell What God Has Done

Tom Graves

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June 26, 2026

Jesus gave a simple but powerful command: go tell what God has done. In Luke 8, Jesus had just delivered a man from a life of torment and spiritual bondage. He had restored a broken man. Jesus’ instruction reveals an important truth for all believers. Once Jesus opens our eyes and heals our hearts, He wants us to share the story of His work.

Before this man encountered Jesus, his life was a picture of spiritual darkness and bondage. But after Jesus freed him, everything changed. When the crowd came, they saw him “sitting at Jesus’ feet, fully clothed and perfectly sane.[1]” Luke 8:35. Yet even after witnessing this miracle, many people in the region remained spiritually blind. Instead of rejoicing, they were afraid and asked Jesus to leave (Luke 8:37). Their fear shows how easily people can miss what God is doing right in front of them.

Spiritual blindness can prevent us from seeing the power and grace of God. We might notice circumstances, problems, or uncertainty, but miss the work of God’s hand. This blindness not only influences how we see our own lives but also how we respond to others’ testimonies. The restored man, however, could not deny what had happened. Jesus had made him whole. When Jesus opens our eyes and heals our hearts, the transformation becomes visible. Others may still struggle to see clearly, but our story becomes a living witness to God’s power.

Jesus Makes the Broken Whole

After being healed, the man wanted to stay with Jesus. Luke 8:38The man who had been freed from the demons begged to go with him.[2] After experiencing such freedom, he longed to stay close to the One who saved him. But Jesus had a different plan. Luke 8:39 “No, go back to your family, and tell them everything God has done for you.” So he went all through the town proclaiming the great things Jesus had done for him. [3]

Jesus knew that the man’s story had purpose. Jesus did not want the transformation to remain private. The same man who once lived in isolation has now become a messenger of hope. Jesus still does this today. He removes sin and heals pain and brokenness. The miracle of wholeness is not only for our benefit. It becomes a testimony for others who are still living in spiritual darkness.

Our Story Helps Others See

Luke subtly reminds us that Jesus’ work reveals the power of God Himself. When we share our testimony, we help others see what spiritual blindness hides. Our story becomes evidence that Jesus still heals, restores, and makes people whole.

You do not need a perfect past or impressive words to share your faith. Sometimes, the most powerful testimony is simply telling how Jesus changed your life. When we speak honestly about His grace, we shine light into places where people may still be struggling to see. Like the man in Luke 8, Jesus tells us to go and tell what God has done. The world is full of people searching for hope, and your story may be the very thing God uses to open someone else’s eyes.

To learn more, listen here:

https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/whole-beyond-our-brokenness

[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.

Spiritual Blindness of the Heart

Tom Graves

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June 25, 2026

Spiritual blindness of the heart is not a physical problem, but a spiritual one. Many people see the world clearly yet fail to recognize their deep need for God. In Luke 8:30–35 we encounter a man whose life was completely broken. Forces he could not overcome possessed and isolated him. Luke 8: 30 Jesus demanded, “What is your name?”

“Legion,” he replied, for he was filled with many demons.[1] This man’s life reflected total bondage. He had been controlled by evil forces, unable to live a normal life among others. He lived in lonely places and could not be restrained even with chains.

Without Christ, people often live in unseen bondage. Sin, fear, pride, addiction, bitterness, or despair control them. Spiritual blindness prevents us from recognizing the depth of our condition. We may believe we are in control, but our hearts can be captive to things that pull us away from God.

The man in this story had lost his identity. When Jesus asked for his name, the answer was not truly his own; it was the name of the forces that controlled him. Spiritual blindness can do the same to us. Instead of living as the people God created us to be, we become defined by our struggles, our past, or our failures.

Jesus Sees What Others Cannot

While others may have seen a hopeless case, Jesus saw the possibility of restoration. Christ’s authority confronted the darkness directly. Luke describes how the demons begged Jesus not to send them into the abyss (Luke 8:31). Even the forces of evil recognized Jesus’ power. This moment reveals an important truth: Jesus is never blind to our condition. He sees the brokenness of our hearts, but He also sees the possibility of transformation.

Where people see chaos, Jesus sees healing. Instead of shame, Jesus sees redemption. Where people see a lost cause, Jesus sees someone worth saving. Jesus allowed the demons to leave the man and enter a herd of pigs. The demons cause them to rush down a steep bank into the lake and drown (Luke 8:33). The dramatic event showed the complete authority of Christ over the darkness that had ruled this man’s life.

Jesus Restores What Was Broken

After the miracle, the townspeople came to see what had happened. Luke records a remarkable transformation. Luke 8:35 People rushed out to see what had happened. A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been freed from the demons. He was sitting at Jesus’ feet, fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid.[2]

This picture shows wholeness. The man who once wandered in torment now sits peacefully at Jesus’ feet. The naked and broken is now clothed and restored. He lost his identity but is now himself again. Jesus opens our eyes, frees us from bondage, and restores us when we encounter Him. Wholeness isn’t achieved by our efforts but given by Jesus. To learn more about the spiritual blindness of the heart, listen here:

https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/whole-beyond-our-brokenness

[1-2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.

Society Can’t Fix Brokenness

Paula K. Graves

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June 24, 2026

From the story of Jesus healing the demoniac from the Gadarenes, we can see that society can’t fix brokenness. Oh, they had tried. Luke 8:29This spirit had often taken control of the man. Even when he was placed under guard and put in chains and shackles, he simply broke them and rushed out into the wilderness.[1]

Scripture tells us that the problem was demons controlling a man. Society’s solution was to restrain and threaten, and then, when that didn’t work, to isolate him. The result was a miserable life. Luke 8: 27 As Jesus was climbing out of the boat, a man who was possessed by demons came out to meet him. For a long time he had been homeless and naked, living in the tombs outside the town.[2]

The Spiritual Word is Real

In our twenty-first-century minds, we often only want to believe what we can scientifically prove. Some would say that the stories of the Bible are only analogies; they really didn’t happen. Many are uncomfortable with the supernatural. I think the Gospel authors reported on what Jesus did and gave us models for us today.

In the natural realm, we use guns and bombs to fight wars. The supernatural realm requires something different. 2 Corinthians 10: 3 We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. 4 We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. 5 We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God.[3]

The demon was preventing this man from knowing God. Jesus braved a storm to come and restore the man to sanity, society, and service. His show of supernatural power frightened the townspeople. They were more worried about the economic loss of their pigs than the healing of the man. This demonstration of the supernatural frightened them, and they wanted nothing to do with it. Many today do the same thing.

Jesus Can Fix Spiritual Problems

While modern treatments may lessen spiritual illness, they can never cure it. What Jesus did for the demoniac, He can do for anyone else who needs Him. As we turn to Jesus, He can restore and heal us for our life here on earth and a future in eternity.

Colossians 1: 13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins…21 This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. 22 Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. [4] Society can’t fix brokenness, but Jesus can. To learn more, listen here:

https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/whole-beyond-our-brokenness

[1-4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Tyndale House Publishers.

Jesus’ Power to Restore

Tom Graves

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June 23, 2026

Jesus’s power to restore is the good news of the Gospel. In Luke 8:28–33, we see Jesus confront the forces that had destroyed a man’s life. He demonstrated that His authority brings freedom and restoration. As Jesus arrived in the region of the Gerasenes across the lake from Galilee by boat, a demon-possessed man confronted Him. For a long time, this man had lived among the tombs and was homeless and naked.

 When the demon-possessed man saw Jesus, the spiritual forces controlling him immediately recognized Christ’s authority. Luke 8:28 As soon as he saw Jesus, he shrieked and fell down in front of him. Then he screamed, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Please, I beg you, don’t torture me!” 29 For Jesus had already commanded the evil spirit to come out of him. This spirit had often taken control of the man. Even when he was placed under guard and put in chains and shackles, he simply broke them and rushed out into the wilderness, completely under the demon’s power. [1]

These demons knew exactly who Jesus was—the Son of the Most High God. Their fear revealed that Christ’s authority is greater than any spiritual power. What had controlled this man for years was no match for the power of Jesus.

Jesus Frees the Captive

Jesus did not come merely to confront evil but to set people free from it. Luke 8:30 Jesus demanded, “What is your name?” “Legion,” he replied, for he was filled with many demons. 31 The demons kept begging Jesus not to send them into the bottomless pit. 32 There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby, and the demons begged him to let them enter into the pigs. So Jesus gave them permission. [2]

The man’s condition shows how destructive evil can be. Evil spiritual forces had dominated his life and robbed him of peace, dignity, and community. Yet with a single command, Jesus removed the power that had enslaved him. The authority of Christ brings freedom where there was once bondage.

Restoration Through Christ’s Power

Luke 8:33 Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned.[3] In that moment, Jesus made the broken man whole.

This miracle points to the deeper truth of the Gospel. Jesus came not only to cast out demons but to restore broken lives. Through His death and resurrection, He defeats the power of sin and evil and makes us whole. When we place our faith in Him, He renews our identity as children of God, restores our relationship with others, and gives us a renewed purpose.

True wholeness is found in Christ alone. Jesus’ power to restore can transform lives today, bringing healing, freedom, and restoration to all who trust in Him. To learn more, listen here:

https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/whole-beyond-our-brokenness

[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.

From Bondage to Freedom

Tom Graves

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June 22, 2026

True wholeness begins with faith in Christ, who restores what sin and evil have broken. He is the only one who can take us from bondage to freedom. Jesus encountered a man whose life the demonic had completely shattered. Luke 8:27 As Jesus was climbing out of the boat, a man who was possessed by demons came out to meet him. For a long time he had been homeless and naked, living in the tombs outside the town.[1] His story reveals both the depth of human brokenness and the transforming power of Jesus to restore a life.

The man in this passage represents the deep brokenness that sin brings into the world. Scripture describes him as living among the tombs, without clothing, isolated from people, and not in his right mind. Evil had stripped him of dignity, community, and peace. This reflects the destructive nature of evil. John 10:10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. [2] While God desires life and restoration, the enemy works to bring destruction.

Jesus Brings Restoration

Yet God did not leave humanity in this broken condition. Through His love, He provided a way of salvation. Ephesians 2:8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.[3] Through faith in Christ, we receive forgiveness and the promise of new life.

When Jesus arrived, everything began to change. The man and the demons within immediately recognized Jesus’ authority and fell before Him. Luke 8:28“As soon as he saw Jesus, he shrieked and fell down in front of him. Then he screamed, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Please, I beg you, don’t torture me!” 29 For Jesus had already commanded the evil spirit to come out of him.”[4]

Jesus’ power brings complete transformation. Instead of living in chaos, the man becomes clothed and in his right mind. This moment illustrates the heart of God’s saving love. John 3:16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. [5] Jesus restores what sin has broken and gives people a new beginning.

Wholeness Leads to a New Purpose

After being set free, the man wanted to follow Jesus. Instead, Jesus sent him back to his community to tell others what God had done for him. The man who once lived among the tombs now became a witness to God’s power.

The Bible reminds us that evil began when Satan rebelled against God. Ezekiel 28:15 “You were blameless in all you did from the day you were created until the day evil was found in you.[6] Scripture also tells us that many angels followed in that rebellion (Revelation 12:4). Yet despite the presence of evil in the world, Jesus has the final victory. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus restores our relationship with God and makes us whole.

When we place our faith in Him, our brokenness ceases to define us. Jesus gives us new life as children of God. And like the man Jesus healed, our lives become testimonies of His restoring grace. To learn more about going from bondage to freedom, listen here:

https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/whole-beyond-our-brokenness

[1-6] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.

Who We Think Jesus is Matters

Paula K. Graves

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June 21, 2026

Who we think Jesus is matters. The disciples were stunned after Jesus calmed a dangerous storm on the Sea of Galilee. Luke 8:25b The disciples were terrified and amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “When he gives a command, even the wind and waves obey him!”[1]

The group was crossing the Sea when an unexpected storm came in. Even the experienced fishermen among them were frightened, so this must have been a storm of great proportion. Jesus, while true God, was also true man. He was exhausted from ministering to the people and slept through the storm until the disciples woke Him.

Incomplete Picture of Jesus

The fishermen in the boat had experienced a great catch of fish when Jesus called them. All the disciples had watched Jesus heal through creative miracles. They had even witnessed Jesus raise a boy from the dead in the town of Nain (Luke 7:11-17). As a result, the disciples and the crowds praised Jesus as a prophet who came to help people.

The disciples would have known that only God could control the weather. The Psalmist tells of a God who can calm the storm. Psalm 107: 24 They, too, observed the Lord’s power in action, his impressive works on the deepest seas… 28 “Lord, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. 29 He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves. [2]

The disciples saw Jesus only as a good prophet, not as God. Jesus’ action on the Sea of Galilee showed His true identity. He was much more than they thought. The disciples’ faith needed to grow because Jesus could do more than they expected.

Who is This Man?

Often, we want to understand God and thus limit what He can do to what we, as humans, can do. The disciples didn’t trust Jesus to get them through the storm and accused Him of not caring. They didn’t realize that God in the flesh was in the boat and was not worried about the storm. Jesus did care for them and had the power to still the storm, which He did with a straightforward rebuke.

If we don’t understand Jesus as One who loves us, we will not trust Him to care for us. As a result, we will try to do things ourselves. But Jesus loves us so much that He willingly suffered and died for each of us to pay the price for our sins. He wants us to accept the gift of salvation He won for us. We cannot earn salvation through our own efforts; we must trust that Jesus can do so. This requires faith.

The Battle for Wholeness

It was Jesus’ idea to go across the lake to the area of the Garasenes. The only thing He did there was to free a demonically controlled man. But if we look closer, the demonic may have tried to resist Jesus coming as they knew who He is. Luke 8: 24 The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”

When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. Suddenly the storm stopped and all was calm.[3] “The verb ‘rebuked’ may indicate that there was an evil force behind the storm. The Greek word is the same as that used when Jesus cast out demons, telling them to be silent. It means “Be calm and remain calm.”[4] There was a battle prior to Jesus making the demonic man whole. Who we think Jesus is matters in the battle to be made whole.

To learn more, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/whole-beyond-our-brokenness

[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Tyndale House Publishers.

[4] Barton, B. B., Veerman, D., Taylor, L. C., & Osborne, G. R. (1997). Luke (p. 209). Tyndale House Publishers.

In Awe of God

Paula K. Graves

no comments

June 20, 2026

When the crowd observed Jesus heal the paralytic, they were in awe of God. Mark 2: 12 And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!” [1]

How would you react after seeing a miracle or experiencing one yourself? The religious teachers questioned and debated about Jesus’ identity. In contrast, the crowd recognized God’s power working through Jesus. This resulted in praise and worship.

Praising God

Have you taken time to praise the Lord for what He has done in your life? We soon forget all the blessings the Lord has given us and move on to the next part of our lives. Throughout the Bible, we see people forgetting about God’s blessings.

If you struggle with taking time out to praise the Lord, you are not alone. The good news is you don’t have to remain that way. Psalm 103:1 Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. 2 Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. [2]

When we begin to praise the Lord for what He is doing in our lives, we begin to look up. Praise recognizes the work He is doing or has done. Something happens when we look up. We take the focus off ourselves and now focus on the Lord.

Looking down on life is associated with depression, self-centeredness, and going our own way. When we look up to the Lord, we think of being uplifted, thankful, appreciative, grateful, and joyful. Isn’t it amazing what happens when we praise the Lord?

Praising the Lord When it is Difficult

Have you ever prayed for God to change a situation? I certainly have. What if we praised God while we waited for our answer? The Bible tells us there is power in praising the Lord. Praising God even when things are not going well gives little room for the enemy to attack us. Praise the Lord today because Jesus paid the price for our sins on the cross.

Even when you don’t feel like praising God, or don’t think you have the energy, praise Him!

Psalm 9:1 I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.[3] When we remember all the Lord has done for us as we praise Him, it leaves us in awe of God. To learn more, listen here:

https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/made-whole-by-forgiveness

[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.

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