Here On Earth

This last year, I wrote in my journal every word that described Heaven in the book of Revelation. I was in awe when I read what the apostle John was seeing as he had the opportunity to be taken in the Spirit and witness our eternal dwelling place. Words like, flashes of lightning, thundering, earthquakes, hail, fire, water, mansions, loud voices, seas, rainbows, pillars of fire, angels, trumpets, incense, rushing water, emeralds, creatures, praises, more loud voices, singing new songs, are just a few. Words of awe and wonder covered my one little booklet paper and I thought, “if Heaven is full of loud, booming praise and wonder, then why do we tend to believe we must hold back and be timid in our praise on Earth?”  

In Matthew 6:9-11 God teaches us how to pray, and in the prayer, we say, “your kingdom come your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” My heart longs to be in step with the will of God, and if it is His will to praise in a loud voice in Heaven, then is this also His will of our praise on earth? One of my favorite verses is Revelation 5:11-12

“…and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.

Can you imagine the thousands times ten thousands of beasts, elders and angels in a loud voice declairing such powerful words to our Mighty God! I vision this as no one is holding back to their awe and reverence for the Almighty King Jesus! We hear in Revelation how the elders sang, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God almighty who was and is and is to come” (Revelation 4:8). Heaven is filled with loud praise and adoration!

Growing up, I remember dancing down the aisles of our church singing in a loud voice about how great our God is. Today, I find that freedom to be far and few between. It seems while the voices of God’s people are becoming softer, the darkness of the adversary becomes louder. I feel in my spirit that God is asking us to be bold in our praises! Praising loudly can feel difficult at times, but doesn’t He ask us to bring a sacrifice of praise? If it is uncomfortable, or comes at a cost, it must be a sacrifice. 

As Satan tries to silence our voice, we may want to use it to yell, and get mad at what is happening in our lives, but I believe there is great and mighty power in our praise! A praise without reservation, lifting our voices in one accord because we are so madly in love with our Savior who has redeemed us and calls us by name. This is the God we serve, and it is our God we have the great privilege to praise. A great weapon that God has equipped us with is our praise, singing, adoration and thanksgiving! This is how we fight our battles. If you have felt it difficult to sing unto the lord with your whole heart out of the zone of comfort, I encourage you today, to dance, sing, clap, lift your hands, kneel, bow, and sing LOUDLY! I believe a new holy confidence will rise out of us and the impossible will seem possible when the praises of God’s people are released. Someday, we will praise boldly in Heaven, so for now, let our praises be bold here on Earth.