1 Samuel 6:14-15
"And David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a priestly garment. So, David and all the people of Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord with shouts of joy and the blowing of rams’ horns."
Praise the Lord, everybody! Everybody praise the Lord!
I greet you, my sisters and brothers in Christ! It is a good thing to sing praises unto the Lord! The Bible tells us in Psalms 100:1-3 (KJV), "Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before His presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD, He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture."
Today, I want to encourage you: no matter what you might be going through, lift up your head and rejoice before the King of Kings! Let us not be ashamed to give thanks to the one true and living God, who is worthy of all praise. As Paul the Apostle declared, “For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.”
If we take a moment to reflect on the situations the Lord has brought us through, we may realize that our praise often falls short of expressing our gratitude. I remember walking into a doctor’s office and witnessing a lady in the waiting room lifting her hands and singing praises to God. She showed such courage in her worship, unashamed of who was around her. It was clear she had a reason to give praise, and that’s exactly what she did. Her joyful spirit compelled me to lift my hands and praise the Lord alongside her. Like David, she understood that the praise of the Lord must always be on our lips.
Have you ever danced in the presence of the Lord?
My very first time dancing before Him took me to a place I had never experienced. I truly appreciated His presence, which propelled me to seek deeper communion and anticipate moments when the Spirit would take over. I remember it happening during praise and worship while singing “Fight and Be Brave.” My soul was filled with joy, and I can still recall the royal purple blouse and skirt I wore. In that moment, I felt warmth in my hands and feet, as if they were on fire. I wanted to dance and jump, but I worried about what others would think. I tried to hold back the Spirit's overwhelming presence, but eventually, I couldn’t contain it any longer! I let go, and the Holy Spirit took complete control of my body. I danced and jumped with uncontainable joy. Two sisters from the church came to support me, and afterward, I felt as if I had run a marathon, wondering, “What just happened?”
As the weeks and months have passed this year, I've reflected on the tests and trials I've faced. Yet, I recall that in the midst of it all, the presence of the Lord burned within me, giving me reasons to praise Him despite my struggles. His mercies are new every morning; His faithfulness has been proven when all seemed lost, and His love has abounded even when hell tried to steal my joy! People of God, when we endure our tests and trials by faith, they give birth to unspeakable praise and glory unto our God!
The Prophet Jeremiah is a perfect example of someone who experienced great affliction but still had hope to praise God. Lamentations 3:21-22 states, "This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not." Jeremiah understood that despite the afflictions faced by his people, God’s compassion preserved the remnant of Israel, demonstrating His unfailing love.
Our focus scripture is 1 Samuel 6:14-15: “And David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a priestly garment. So David and all the people of Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord with shouts of joy and the blowing of rams’ horns.”
In Biblical history, the Ark represented God's presence among His people. They were confident that as long as God was with them, His protection and provision would also be theirs. David and the people of Israel rejoiced because the Ark was returning after being captured by the Philistines for seven months. Their gratitude was profound. David didn’t care who was watching; he praised God with all his might. We thank God for Jesus, who came to die for our sins so that His presence can dwell in our hearts. We are now the Ark of God—once we receive the Holy Spirit, His presence is with us wherever we go.
I want to encourage you today: Don’t lose your praise, no matter what you are facing. “DANCE IN HIS PRESENCE’’ knowing that God has already won the victory.
Please take the time to read the scriptures throughout. Have a blessed and wonderful day!
1 Peter 1:8-9 (NLT)
“You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.”
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