praise habit.

this, is david crowder. i love this man. i have seen him countless times in concert, love reading his thoughts, and got to see him on his home turf in waco, tx this spring. i even tried to emulate his legendary goatee once:but i digress.

there’s this passage at the back of crowder’s book PRAISE HABIT in the conclusion section. the first time i came across it, each phrase struck such tremendous emotional chords in me. as i continue to read it over and over, i take in more and more of what resonates with me. it’s beautiful and it’s truth. read it and take it in.


COME TO JESUS.
to follow Jesus doesn’t remove us from the stuff of life. it is not resolution. it is tension and journey. 1 john 2:6 states, “whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did”. Jesus was in the world, engaged, alive, involved, making a difference. to follow him, we must do the same. his prayer for us in john 17 is “not that you take them out of the world…” and “as you sent me into the world, i have sent them into the world”(verses 15,18). this is what God has done for us. he has come into our condition. he has come to bring us back. he has come and embraced us. he has come and covered us in himself. watch this Christ. watch as he is accused of being a drunkard, of associating with tax collectors. watch as he brings healing to the afflicted, love to prostitutes, forgiveness to sinners. watch as he climbs the hill bearing his destruction on his back. watch as blood and water flow. watch as salvation comes to us all. watch as glory ascends to come again. watch and fall in love with a God who does not resolve, whose rescue is never-ending. whose prayer is that you would be that rescue. who sends you to be that rescue. be courageous. even as you stand there hiding in the bushes, shaking to the bottom of your toes, frightened of what’s to follow, what consequences will come of it, know that evil will not prevail. that you are not alone. that you bring the Kingdom of God and there is hope. there is hope always. and others will walk out of dark places and see you standing there, arms outstretched, given completely to this hope.
praise is response. praise happens when there is revelation, and there is revelation waiting for us around every bend, in places we would not suspect. our task is to live with eyes wide open to God’s greatness because when we see the imprint of the creator, our insides will swell with devotion, our hearts will erupt with thankfulness. you will live, breathe, and radiate praise. the habit isn’t in learning HOW to praise; it is in reminding yourself WHO to praise. it is a remembering of who you are. it is a remembering of your identity. praise is redeemed and redefined with rescue. when you have been found by grace, your identity is swallowed in Christ. you are enveloped by him, clothed in his merciful sacrifice. to live in this remembrance is to bring awareness of Christ into your every encounter. in this awareness you bring his embrace to the things you embrace. (p.154)


and if you've never listened to the music of the david crowder band, i suggest you do so immediately. suggestions:
"everything glorious" off REMEDY.
"you're everything" off CAN YOU HEAR US?
"no one like you" off ILLUMINATE
and the entire ALL I CAN SAY album.

get on it.