Lisa Notes: Prime your heart – Praise!

Prime your heart – Praise!

We’d been preparing for the children in El Salvador for months.
Plans made. Orders placed. Boxes received.

Crayons? Check.
Props? Check.
Balls? Check.

Hearts?
Can you ever prepare enough?

You can never know for sure what is to come.
You can imagine. You can anticipate. You can pray.

But when you’ve done all you can, it’s still not enough.
Because it never is.
You are never enough.

Only Christ is.

So what can you do?
There’s always still time to worship.
So we did.

On the drive from Huntsville to the airport in Atlanta, in a hot church van, we crammed four side by side in the back row, three in the row in front of us, more in front of that.

And we sang. For hours. To the one who did know what was to come. To remind us of his power, his sufficiency, his love that was going to sustain us and motivate us and shape us.

When you’ve prepared all you can, prepare the heart still more.
By blessing his name in worship. For “whatever may pass and whatever lies before you.”

Get ready.
Prime your heart with praise.
It heightens your expectation for what he’s doing.
And what he’s about to do.

* * *

What song of praise prepares you to see God in the day ahead?

Comments (20)

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fsamons 60p · 662 weeks ago

Come To The Garden is stuck in my head...
My recent post MY TREASURE

1 reply · active 662 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 662 weeks ago

I haven't sung that song in awhile, Floyd, but just seeing the title immediately floods me with the words. A very appropriate morning song of praise.
My recent post Prime your heart – Praise!

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barbarah 65p · 662 weeks ago

It's amazing how praising Him ministers to our own hearts as well as bringing glory to Him.

"You are never enough.

Only Christ is."

Amen. Blessed truth.
My recent post Book Review: The Horse and His Boy

1 reply · active 662 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 662 weeks ago

Yes, I've found over and over that praising him not only is for his glory but also for my good. Just hearing myself and my friends sing such truths about him solidifies my faith in who he is.

The gift of praise is just another great blessing we have in him.
My recent post Prime your heart – Praise!

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roelliott 38p · 662 weeks ago

oh yes...a heart tuned to praise His Name will have all we need...how sweet to have such a wonderful gift...singing and worshiping for hours.
My recent post What Shakes Our Faith the Most?

1 reply · active 662 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 662 weeks ago

Those hours together with these brothers and sisters and my own family was indeed a gift. Such opportunities don't come around as frequently as I like so I'm glad I was given this one. A precious memory I'll treasure and thank God for.
My recent post Prime your heart – Praise!

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kelliwoodford 24p · 662 weeks ago

What a way to start a mission trip. An audible reminder of Who actually makes good out of anything you can bring or do or say.

This was beautiful. Thank you.

1 reply · active 662 weeks ago

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lisanotes 22p · 662 weeks ago

It was a very fitting way to begin the out-of-town portion of our mission. I wish all our missions--out of town or otherwise--could have such powerful starts...

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tinuviel · 662 weeks ago

How wonderful that your team united in worship that way! Praise can be the best thing to do when we don't know what to do and the enemies (or jobs) seem overwhelming (you know 2 Chronicles 20?). Thank you for sharing that peek inside your trip.

Over and over, I return to "Shout to the Lord" and "Great Is Thy Faithfulness." Singing is uncomfortable right now, but I have piano arrangements that suit. The Lord knows I'm singing on the inside.

May the Lord continue to shepherd you through the re-entry culture shock and other life transitions.
My recent post Renunciation

1 reply · active 662 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 662 weeks ago

2 Chronicles 20:12 is actually one of my favorite verses:

"...we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you."

Yes, praise is always the best thing to do. I'm thankful to know fellow journeyers who feel the same.

Those are two great songs. They remind me how great and powerful our Yahweh is. And the piano is often my friend too when I can't sing. It's a great companion to express the melody in our hearts.

My recent post Prime your heart – Praise!

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Betty Draper · 662 weeks ago

Looking foward to reading about the mission trip. Blessings

1 reply · active 662 weeks ago

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lisanotes 22p · 662 weeks ago

Thanks, Betty. I haven't made the time yet to sit down and write much out yet, but I definitely want to very soon. It was quite an overflow of God's grace.

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Messy Marriage · 662 weeks ago

I can just imagine the joy that singing worship songs in a crowded van on the way to a mission trip would evoke. :) Can't wait to hear more about the blessings of your trip, Lisa. Those kinds of trips are always life changing for everyone!

1 reply · active 662 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 662 weeks ago

Isn't it wonderful how God shows up everywhere we go? Whether it's another country or in our living room. God is good and worthy to be praised!
My recent post I can’t explain it

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lauraboggess 49p · 662 weeks ago

Oh, yes. This is the stuff. Praying for you and your team, my friend! Wishing I could be there--singing the minutes up to God.
My recent post Playdates with God: Silver Lining

1 reply · active 662 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 662 weeks ago

It was good stuff indeed. I'd love to sit beside you some day and praise Him together!
My recent post Why I blog

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Anonymous · 662 weeks ago

So everyone was singing songs displayed on that little computer? Did someone pack a guitar for the trip?!

1 reply · active 662 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 662 weeks ago

You see that we travel light. It's amazing what God can do with small things. :-)

My recent post Why I blog

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Sandra Heska King · 662 weeks ago

He is more than enough! And when we've prepared all we can, we can still prepare our heart with praise. Thanks for this, Lisa.
My recent post Reflections from a Waiting Room

1 reply · active 662 weeks ago

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Lisa notes 103p · 662 weeks ago

Yes, there is always room and time for more praise. It's the best way I know to both prepare and worship in the moment at the same time.
My recent post Why I blog

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