Introduction
I’m sure it is exhausting just to think about the idea of praising constantly. But does it have to be? What does life maintaining the zeal for powerful praise look like? Why should we maintain that zeal? How does zeal reveal purpose?
When my one-year-old daughter picks up her small shoes and puts them on correctly she looks me in the eye with a bright smile. My response is always to stare back at her with a wider smile that touches up to my eyes and applaud her loudly with a warm, “Good job Mama!” During my outburst, she bursts out clapping and I can see the pride in her posture as she accepts the praise. To praise is to honour, worship and or express admiration for someone. Surely I am not worshiping my daughter, but I certainly communicate that I admire her skills and approve of her ability to correctly wear her shoes by praising her.
It is natural for us as humans to want to be acknowledged for our efforts. So then, if we were made in the image of God, shouldn’t we expect that God desires the same? You are not wrong to think that God requires praise and acknowledgement for his good works. The first two commandments warn us to have no other God besides Jehovah and to make no idols. That is sufficient for us to know that what God requires from us most of all is praise and worship!
The State of Constant Praise
When I think of praise and worship the first thing that comes to mind is Saturday afternoons at church engaged in song service. These encounters can be exhausting whether it is a session for celebration and thanksgiving or reverence. No one expects you to shout ‘Praise the Lord’ at random points throughout your day or burst into singing at any moment. Rather, the life you live should reflect praise and worship. Let’s not overthink the matter of constant praise but be guided by the words of God regarding righteous living. The effort we make to live in praise is evidence of our quest to maintain our zeal for powerful praise.
Identifying Purpose
“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10
Will I be happy and satisfied in my future? Am I doing enough? What are my talents? How can I use my talents and be impactful in God’s ministry? These questions are asked by a person who aims to have a purpose-driven life. Asking these questions doesn’t make you ungrateful. It’s a good thing when a Christian has a thirst to work in God’s vineyard that they seek him for things to do. This is the beginning of a growing zeal to live in praise. The only way to quench this desire is to listen to God’s answer and then take action.
God’s way is always better than your way. So the first step in feeding your zeal for powerful praise is identifying a calling–a purpose. This purpose won’t be ambiguous. If it benefits God’s ministry then it is of God. If you are constantly seeking God before making every decision for that purpose then it is in alignment with God’s will. The enemy will not give you anything that will lead to your dependence on God. Remember you are God’s great design so all your talents can be aligned to his will. If you don’t know where to start then start by identifying your talents.
Taking Purpose-Driven Action
In 2022 I boldly decided to leave my home and country for a new place. After a few months of living in this new land, I began to feel anxious. I knew the cause for my anxiety so Matthew 7:7 came to mind. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you shall find; knock and it will be opened to you.” What I needed from my God was a worthwhile cause to use the talents and skills I had developed over the years. Since I identified what I needed, my next step was to pray. Prayer is our means of communication with God so let’s always take advantage of it.
Once I prayed about my concerns I waited patiently for God’s response. Sometimes, God responds instantly, other times it takes days, months or even years. However, God’s timing is different from our time. So, while you wait on God’s response, use the resources you have available to develop. Consider the parable about the talents. Do not say that because you don’t have what you think you need now you can’t take action. Instead, take action and God will align all the other additional things you may need. With that in mind, I took action. I found myself in a church on this little island and I started teaching bible study. This was meant to be a precursor to what I wanted to do.
Consistent Zeal
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:58
Paul always offers words of encouragement to the workers of God Almighty. In the scripture above he says keep working in God’s vineyard because it will not go unnoticed by him. Why would he need to say that? Because sometimes, we may lose the zeal we started with. But, it is something that can be regained. After doing the same thing repeatedly it is normal to tire of it but as beings in the image of God, we have the intelligence to make changes that can challenge us and cause us to revive our initial zeal. Therefore, always maintain the mindset of a student even as you become an expert in the area you are called to minister in. That way, you are always open to finding new things to learn that will challenge you and lead to your development and growth. True God centred zeal seeks no praise from others, it only seeks to give praise to the Lord.
In my case, to maintain my zeal I’ve opted to learn and develop the skill of blogging. This new challenge motivates me to study and pray more as it is uncharted waters while I continue my contribution to the Christian mission. It may take a bit of time to find your direction but consistent pursuit will guarantee you arrive at your final destination.
There is no greater joy than living in your purpose because it makes difficulties enjoyable and the outcome something to anticipate.
