Dortha's Praise Stories

Dortha decided to take Psalm 50:23 literally: "He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God." She learned to prepare the way for God's deliverance through praise, and she had stories to tell.

One time a drunken driver hit Dortha's front steps  knocking them loose. Her sister commented that she had the worst things happen to her, but Dortha didn't see it that way and praised the Lord anyway. The insurance company appraised the damage and replaced the old steps with much better ones.

Dortha's refrigerator door hinges were broken and she had to prop the door each time she opened it. As she opened and propped the door, Dortha would praise the Lord. A friend who came by and got a drink from her refrigerator happened to be getting a different refrigerator that evening. She offered to exchange Dortha's at no charge and even had someone deliver it.

I am not sure I understand why praise prepares the way for Him to do His mighty works, but it is true. No wonder Paul wrote, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice" (Philippians 4:4).

Some day in Heaven we will be saying, "Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever" (Revelation 7:12), and when we look back over every detail of our lives, we will see God's goodness. His tender compassion was providing all we needed in every situation. He had not allowed anything but what could bring good to us and glory to Him. We will see reasons for praise in everything!

By faith, Lord, I want to choose the eternal perspective now.

"I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips" (Psalm 34:1).