PRAISE from the Barren Place

SING O BARREN WOMAN! An exhortation to praise God while you wait for the manifestation of a dream, breakthrough or promise.

All the promises of God are Yes and Amen, we read in the scriptures. Such a bold and uncompromising statement which believers must grasp by faith. God stands by His word and it is the believer's choice to receive it by faith and fulfill the conditions of asking and receiving.

In River of Life International Fellowship, we have been talking about praising our God as Jehoshaphat's army did in the Valley of Beracah when they were overwhelmed by the deliverance and blessing of God. This week we considered Isaiah's exhortation in Isaiah 54:

Sing, O barren woman! What would cause the barren unfruitful unfulfilled person to sing and shout for joy? The sure promise of God is the reason, once given and once received. But what about the wait, the many months and years which sometimes pass between a promise received and its manifestation?

One of the things to do is: Sing and Praise God the giver. Rejoice in Him and worship Him with thanksgiving and praise. If you've tried to do this before you know it get's very hard sometimes. It needs a strong resolve and much meditation on the promises, which are the will and intent of God. The process of walking our faith requires meditation on God's goodness, grace and faithfulness. This is the fight of faith: believing, walking, confessing, and thanksgiving! Prayer and meditation supply us with spiritual might during the process.

The Barren woman's reason to praise and give thanks is that her Maker is her Husband and He never fails. Notice she is exhorted to praise (while still barren), on the basis of the promise and on the basis of her relationship with her God. The order of things is praise, exuberant joy and thanks giving, then actions based on the promise, "Enlarge your tent." Her assurance is a promise that "She would not be ashamed!"

The road of faith is exceptional, as you'll find when you walk it. It is not the natural way of doing things. As believers in Jesus Christ, we grow in the knowledge and ways of God and we step out and do His will. His promises are sure and if there is a barren area in your life, trust Him with it. Do things His way. The promise is you will not be ashamed!
Praise toward the manifestation. We can rely on Him!