Professional Praisers

There are a plethora of occupations in this world. You can drive a truck or drive a race car. You can stock shelves or sell stocks. You can farm a pasture or pastor a farm church. So many choices for so many people. God made each of us with a unique personality and a unique calling. As I was reading my Bible today, I found an interesting occupation: professional praisers.

Dec. 6, 2009 – Miami, Florida, USA – The Adrienne Arsht Center presents Free Gospel Sundays at the AAC in Miami Dec. 6th, 2009. Credit Image: Mitchell Zachs/MagicalPhotos)

1 Chronicles 23:30 They were also to stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord. They were to do the same in the evening.

Imagine that – praising God was in their job description. It had nothing to do with their mood or their circumstances. It was their job. They praised Him when things went well and when they didn’t. They praised Him when they felt great and also when they felt sick. They simply praised Him because that’s what they were called to do.

You know what? So are we. And there is so much to praise Him for. Some days it seems like it is hard to find something to praise about. But the truth is, there is always something to praise God for. So praise Him in the morning and praise Him in the evening. Praise Him when things are going great and when things are hard.

Praise will change your outlook and it will change your countenance. It will focus you and it will center you. But most importantly, it will connect you with your God, who is able to do more than we can ask or imagine. So be a professional praiser today! Try it and see what happens.

The right guy for the job

Sometimes you just got to know when you aren’t the right guy (or girl) for the job. Something about me: I’m willing to tackle new projects even if I don’t know how to do them. Replace boards on my deck – no problem. YouTube how to repair something minor on my care – sure thing. Build something from Ikea – maybe. But I also know my limit. For example, when my house needed a new roof, I knew I wasn’t the right guy for the job. When my transmission went out on my car, definitely not the right guy for the job.

Now all that has to do with skill set and the bravery to try new things. But sometimes you actually do know how to do something, but you also know that you aren’t the right guy for the job. Maybe someone else is called to do it. Or maybe someone else could do it, but the right guy for the job is YOU. In 1 Chronicles 22, we find that David had been told by God that he was not to be the one to build the temple. God told David that he had someone else in mind and that someone else was Solomon. So David did all he could to get Solomon ready for the calling God had for him.

1 Chronicles 22:11-13 ¹¹ “Now, my son, the Lord be with you, and may you have success and build the house of the Lord your God, as he said you would. ¹² May the Lord give you discretion and understanding when he puts you in command over Israel, so that you may keep the law of the Lord your God. ¹³ Then you will have success if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws that the Lord gave Moses for Israel. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged.

I love this moment where David turns to his son and says, “NOW is your time. THIS is the moment God has prepared you for. And as you go, I pray that the Lord gives you wisdom and understanding. I pray that the Lord gives you courage. Don’t be afraid. Do NOT be discouraged. Just follow the Lord and He will give you success.”

You might be a David today. You know that you aren’t the right guy for the job, yet God is calling you to do all that you can to prepare the next person for success. You see, David didn’t just take a break knowing this wasn’t his assignment. Instead, he did all that he could to set up Solomon for success. What would happen if you poured in all your resources, not for you, but for the person coming after you?

You might be a Solomon. And now is the time for you to step into the assignment that God has for you. Will you follow God with all that you’ve got? Will you heed the wisdom of those who have gone before you? Will you give into fear or will you tap into the courage of the Lord?

God may be calling you to step into a new assignment or a new calling in the season ahead. Or he may be calling you to invest in one who will someday come after you. Whichever place you find yourself in, look to the wisdom of David and be the right guy or girl for THAT job.