UPLIFTED w/ Othell J. Miller

Praise is an invaluable weapon in our ongoing spiritual warfare with the devil. It lifts our spirits, fortifies our hearts, and confuses our adversary. Therefore, it is critical that we thoroughly understand and consistently engage in the spiritual discipline of praise.  

The lure of temptation is common to all. None of us are exempt to its pull. Therefore, we must grow in our ability and desire to resist it.  Our Christian witness depends on it.  

There isn't a person alive who doesn't have to consciously subdue fear. If it is allowed to hang out in our hearts and minds it will utterly destroy our confidence and undermine our faith. The good news, however, is that we are empowered, through the grace of God, to triumph over fear and its various manifestations. 

While chaos, confusion and sorrow are hallmarks of a fallen world, we do not have to fall victim to them. God makes His joy available to us in the midst of unfavorable circumstances. We can abide in Him and ground ourselves in a joy that is both complete and endless. The joy of the Lord truly is our strength! 

A huge focus throughout the Bible, and in the book of Proverbs in particular, is the inevitable destruction that occurs when we entertain, nurture and harbor a spirit of pride.  To see the will of God accomplished in our lives we must be able to identify, resist and conquer the spirit of pride. 

As believers we are commissioned to go into all the world and share the gospel. In order to be effective in this commission, we must be mindful of the state and quality of our witness. We must exercise discipline in speech and action, always seeking to emulate the nature and disposition of our Lord. 

Just as a prolonged lack of sleep is detrimental to our natural health, failure to enter God's rest is disastrous to our spiritual health. The Lord graciously extends an invitation to be refreshed and replenished by His spirit. We would all do well to accept His invite and experience a divine and restorative rest. 

It is no mistake that hope is mentioned along with faith and love as the three great godly virtues. Hope in Christ is an anchor for the soul (the seat of our thoughts, emotions, & drive).  Hope gives us agency while hopelessness leaves us feeling powerless. Thus, it is absolutely critical that we maintain our hope.

The condition of our hearts is extremely important to God! Our spiritual health can be directly correlated with the meditations of our hearts. As we think in our hearts, so are we. Matthew 5:8 says, "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. Therefore, praying for our hearts is one of the wisest things we can do. 

There are very few, if any, words more comforting in the Bible than "I am with you." When we are encountering the toughest trials of life, having a faithful friend navigate the fire with us brings great consolation.  Now if such comfort is drawn from the presence of another human, how much more so from the presence of an all knowing, all powerful, & all present God.