Oh, wait! Dear flatissmooth! Please let me tell you! Remember Psalm 22:3! Psalm 22 is an EXTRAORDINARY psalm anyway but verse 3 is just amazing!

3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

This has been interpreted to me (and I have experience with it) as saying that "God becomes even more closely present with us in our sincere Praise and Thanksgiving". For instance, I don't have to be 'ecstatic' or even especially 'effusive' in my worship to invite The Holy Spirit to be "right there with me" - but sincere praise, sincere thanksgiving is almost 'magical' as a way for us to OPEN ourselves to the presence of God. In our praise, He 'inhabits' our lives! WHOA!

Of COURSE we are always in the Presence of our Lord but we get bogged down with the day to day of existence. And no, there IS NO MAGIC in the Christian life - but it is almost spooky how He 'shows up' when our praise/thanksgiving is sincere.

What? Is God some sort of egotist? Does He need something from us? NO! He LOVES us and this is a way HE HAS CREATED for us to REALLY reach out to Him, in ANY circumstances. Sincere praise. Sincere thanksgiving.

Feeling gloomy? Having a hard time connecting with God? Prayers not going even passed the ceiling? Start small. "Thank you Lord God, that YOU are God and not the evil one." That's one of my favorites (for more reasons that I have time to explain). And then maybe: "Thank you precious Father for my own dear, departed earthly Father and Mother" and even "Thank you Lord Jesus for your sweet provision in my life - for food, for shelter, for safety..." and on and on - your thanksgiving and praise just need to be sincere; not necessarily spectacular (but fireworks can happen; starting with just little sparks).

Build on this as you are able. HE WILL SHOW UP and your heart will be opened to Him like you can't believe. The health benefits are REAL. You probably will become accustomed to the 'joy' and you will want this, often. I can't say enough about it.

Remember the A.C.T.S. prayer model? It starts with 'adoration'. [Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication]. Hah hah hah! News flash for some of your non-praying friends: God WANTS us to be blessed by our own prayers to HIM!

flatissmooth, I have to go but meet with someone else TODAY - if you can - to share some sincere, joyful prayer! HE WILL BE THERE and He LOVES you! GBY, dear Pede! MAGA-A!

Oh, wait! Dear flatissmooth! Please let me tell you! Remember Psalm 22:3 Psalm 22 is an EXTRAORDINARY psalm anyway but verse 3 is just amazing!

3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

This has been interpreted to me (and I have experience with it) as saying that "God becomes even more closely present with us in our sincere Praise and Thanksgiving". For instance, I don't have to be 'ecstatic' or even especially 'effusive' in my worship to invite The Holy Spirit to be "right there with me" - but sincere praise, sincere thanksgiving is almost 'magical' as a way for us to OPEN ourselves to the presence of God. In our praise, He 'inhabits' our lives! WHOA!

Of COURSE we are always in the Presence of our Lord but we get bogged down with the day to day of existence. And no, there IS NO MAGIC in the Christian life - but it is almost spooky how He 'shows up' when our praise/thanksgiving is sincere.

What? Is God some sort of egotist? Does He need something from us? NO! He LOVES us and this is a way HE HAS CREATED for us to REALLY reach out to Him, in ANY circumstances. Sincere praise. Sincere thanksgiving.

Feeling gloomy? Having a hard time connecting with God? Prayers not going even passed the ceiling? Start small. "Thank you Lord God, that YOU are God and not the evil one." That's one of my favorites (for more reasons that I have time to explain). And then maybe: "Thank you precious Father for my own dear, departed earthly Father and Mother" and even "Thank you Lord Jesus for your sweet provision in my life - for food, for shelter, for safety..." and on and on - your thanksgiving and praise just need to be sincere; not necessarily spectacular (but fireworks can happen; starting with just little sparks).

Build on this as you are able. HE WILL SHOW UP and your heart will be opened to Him like you can't believe. The health benefits are REAL. You probably will become accustomed to the 'joy' and you will want this, often. I can't say enough about it.

Remember the A.C.T.S. prayer model? It starts with 'adoration'. [Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication]. Hah hah hah! News flash for some of your non-praying friends: God WANTS us to be blessed by our own prayers to HIM!

flatissmooth, I have to go but meet with someone else TODAY - if you can - to share some sincere, joyful prayer! HE WILL BE THERE and He LOVES you! GBY, dear Pede! MAGA-A!