November 20, 2008
SHOUT
Make
a joyful shout to God, all the
earth! Psalm 66:1
Oh
come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout
joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Psalm 95:1
Make
a joyful shout to the LORD, all
you lands! Psalm 100:1
Sing,
O daughter of Zion! Shout, O
Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Zephaniah 3:14
Have
you ever just shouted the name of Jesus?
And
I don’t mean when you’re mad.
Try
it. If you have to, get in your car alone and just shout Jesus. It feels good.
Usually when I do this, it causes me to begin to praise Him. “JESUS! You are
so wonderful. You are so awesome. JESUS! Thank you for who you are. Thank you
that you died for me! JESUS! Praise your holy name.” It is just something I
choose to do now and then. It seems to release praise from my Spirit.
If
you’re having a difficult day, shout Jesus as a cry for help. Again, get alone
in your car if you have to and shout, “JESUS! I need Your help! JESUS, my help
comes from You alone. I need Your presence, Lord. I’m calling out to You, my
JESUS!” That’s what a child does when he needs his mom. In my own
experience, my kids don’t stop until I come to their aide. Our Lord not only
hears when you call, but He answers!
So
many times, we spend our quiet time alone with God quietly. The first three
verses I quoted use the Greek word: Ruwa which means to split the ears; to shout
for alarm or joy. That doesn’t sound quiet to me. A similar Hebrew word, Krazo,
means to croak like a raven or scream. Now I’ve heard a raven and they are
anything but quiet!
In
the New Testament, Krazo is translated “cry out” in the following verses:
For
you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the
Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out,
“Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15
And
when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry
out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Mark 10:47
But
He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent,
the stones would immediately cry out.”
Luke 19:40
I
believe we are encouraged to shout His name whether we need to do it
in
praise or calling for help!
Today,
find a place to shout to the Lord! Maybe someone will even join you!
JESUS!
Janet
Fairbrother