WILL YOU NOT PRAISE HIM?

[Pastor Bayo Afolaranmi]

Dearly Beloved,

WILL YOU NOT PRAISE HIM?

“I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live” (Psalm 146:2 NIV).

Recently I was invited to be a facilitator of an aspect of the annual leadership training session a deaf organization. That would be my first interaction with people that were mainly deaf and dumb. I could see the enthusiasm of serving God and the humanity in these special people. What fascinated me most was the way they were “singing” with their sign language and dancing to demonstrate the goodness of God in their lives. I did not understand the sign language, but the person assigned to me for interpretation did a good job as she interpreted every lyric of their songs to me. I had to join them in praising God.

That experience is still making me to think of how appreciative I am to God. I can speak and I can hear people when they speak. I have no physical disability. Here are people with some physical disability, yet they are praising and serving God enthusiastically. Why will I not do more?

Most of the people that are reading this message have no physical disability, yet, they find it difficult to wholeheartedly praise the Lord. They would not think of what they have. They would rather be thinking of what they do not have. They would not think of what God has done for them. They would rather be thinking of what God has not done for them. It is a pity that some people do not even acknowledge the existence of God because of their so-called self sufficiency!

If the deaf can be praising God wholeheartedly regardless of their predicament, will you not praise Him? Forget what you do not have or what God has not done for you. Praise Him for who is and for what He has done for you. At least, you are still alive.

The psalmist declared, “I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High” (Psalm 9:1-2 NIV), and “The dead do not praise the Lord, nor do any of those who descend into the silence of death. But we will praise the Lord now and forevermore. Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 115:17-18 NETB).

Will you not praise Him?

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).