While overhearing the commentators on ESPN celebrate God and the fact a young football player is recovering from a heart attack which took place during MNF, I quickly thought about how I was thankful God was getting the praise for hearing prayers. It was a tad funny to me how as all of these other things took place those at ESPN wouldn’t dare speak the name of God nor Jesus but now here I am listening to them say there IS power in prayer. I thought how glad I was to hear these words, to know God will be praised and that even these commentators who do not claim to be Christians understood that they couldn’t just sit back and keep silent. They knew they had to praise God in this moment. Then I thought of a recent event where someone in confidence came to me to talk. This person wanted to reach out for a reason that is between them and God. (not my testimony to give) But the reason I mention this is because it was pointed out to them that they needed to say something, they couldn’t sit back and keep silent.

With this repeating to me, I quickly realized how to often we sit back and keep silent about the goodness of God. We do not celebrate the glories of the Lord enough. Oh we are real quick to share the bad news, gossip and juicy rumors we’ve heard, but then we won’t use the same mouth to praise God. Or if we do it is short lived. So I asked myself how often do I praise God versus share gossip, rumors or speak in a way that would tear someone down and not build them up? How often do I think on the goodness of God versus having thoughts of worldly things like well if it were me I would do this, or create stories in my mind about how I would do things. How often do I go to God in prayer even if just in my mind versus just ignoring it because I would rather do this or that? How often does my pastor ask if anyone has a testimony and we all stand there keeping silent and not sharing the goodness of God because everyone is ready to go home or out to eat? Which is sad because Sunday is the one day set aside for God (He requested one but we should “give” Him everyday). But we barely “give” Him that day. In all honesty we “give” God a few hours in the morning and we might “give” Him an hour that evening if He’s lucky enough to convince us to go to church. We don’t dedicate our entire Sunday to God the way He truly deserves or expects us too; if we are honest with ourselves and with Him. I wonder how we would feel if He gave us the same amount of attention that we “give” Him. Would we feel like we’ve been forsaken by God if He only had time for us for about an 1 1/2 hours in the mornings, some attend Sunday school so that’s 2 1/2 hours then again if we are feeling gracious we’ll return to church that evening “giving” God another hour at the most. Who knows if we’ll go on Wednesday night because there’s work the next day and we gotta get the kids their baths then bed for school the next day. Look how often we sit back and keep silent about how good God is to us. Look at how easily we are kept silent. Look at how we are easily swayed into being quiet and no time to “give” Him praise. Ya know to say that we “give” God praise or our time is just as demeaning to God as keeping silent. We don’t “give” Him praise! He deserves our praise and so much more than we ever attempt to offer up. We attempt to offer up our feeble praise to the God of glory and when we are completely sincere from our hearts He accepts them. When His people sit aside keeping silent, barely offering up their praise to their God, He then receives the praises of those who don’t have a personal relationship with Him or know His Son as their personal Savior, to teach His people how they are not to keep silent. Please don’t keep silent with God. Don’t keep your praises to yourself, don’t keep your prayers to yourself and don’t keep your relationship with God behind a wall of fake protection. Lift up holy hands to God, lift up holy voices unto God your Creator, lift up the temple of God (you – your body) and stand in praise to the King of kings and Lord of lords, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.” Rev 22:13 KJV “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which is was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” Rev 1:8 KJV

Lord God Almighty! Please forgive me for the times I’ve keep silent for my own selfish reasons. No matter the excuse I used at the time, I am sorry and I realize I should never replace an opportunity to offer up praise for some lame excuse. I pray that this day forward that I strive to never sit back and keep silent about what my Lord has done for me, Matt and our family. I will strive to not keep silent about what my Lord is doing at my church and for my church family. I’ll praise mankind for being nice to me or for helping me or us out, but I’ll keep silent about the One who died for me?! I’ll keep silent about the One who shed His precious blood for my sins, sins that none other can forgive. The One who healed my body! The One who lives within Matt’s heart and shines bright from him. Nope I do not think so! I will praise my Lord for He is good all of the time! My prayer is: we all stop keeping silent about the goodness of God otherwise the rocks will cry out (even the rocks on ESPN). Thank you Lord for touching the life of this young football player.