"I create the fruit of the lips:
Peace, peace to him who is far off and to him who is near,"
Says the LORD, "And I will heal him."
But the wicked are like the troubled sea,
When it cannot rest,
Whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
"There is no peace,"
Says my God, "for the wicked."
Isaiah 57:19-21 (NKJV)
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name. ~ Hebrews 13:15 (NIV)
"Thus says the LORD:
'Again there shall be heard in this place ...
the voice of joy and the voice of gladness ...
the voice of those who will say:
"Praise the LORD of hosts,
For the LORD is good,
For His mercy endures forever" —
and of those who will bring the sacrifice of praise
into the house of the LORD.' "
Jeremiah 33:10-11 (NKJV)
Fruit is produced by a seed which is planted in good soil, watered and tended, and patiently waited upon until the day its new life manifests sweetness and new seed. The Word of God is a seed planted in our hearts, watered and tended by the Holy Spirit that it might produce the sacrifice of praise born of perfect peace—the fruit of the lips.
Popular lyrics proclaim, "Blessed be Your name in the land that is plentiful ... blessed be Your name on the road marked with suffering.* " Amid plenty the sacrifice is giving pause from blessing to praise the Lord who gave it. Amid suffering the sacrifice is giving no place to pain which restrains praise.
The heart right with God produces peace and praise regardless of circumstances. The wicked heart knows neither rest nor peace and withholds praise—regardless of circumstances.
Lord God, You know all is not well in our lives. But Your Son's blood has reconciled us to You, Your Spirit lives within us, and all is well with our souls. You are indeed good. You are the Author of perfect peace. Produce in us the fruit of the lips which blesses and praises Your name.
Feedback invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy
* Lyrics of Blessed be Your Name by Beth Redman and Matt Redman, © 2002 ThankYou Music
May I always praise Him.
ReplyDeleteI think waiting patiently has always been my weakness, but God has been teaching me over the last few years and I do feel I'm making progress. Of course, I think age helps to mellow us a little.
ReplyDeleteMany blessings,