How I Used Truth - Lesson 8 - Annotation 6
What part does "praise" have in spiritual treatment?
6. "Praise" has a very vital part in spiritual treatment. Praise is acknowledging God as the source from which all fulfillment in any type of treatment comes forth into visibility. Praise is not only that which makes our consciousness receptive to good, but also that which causes our consciousness to expand its awareness of good, thus manifesting good in increased measure in our outer life.
"Praise and thanksgiving imparts the quickening spiritual power that produces growth and increase in all things" (Prosperity 105).
The words praise, prize, price all have the same etymological origin, meaning to value, esteem, approve. The word praise used as a verb means, according to Webster's dictionary, "to laud, extol, commend, applaud."
"Praise and thanksgiving are the twin gates through which we enter the kingdom of good -- or perhaps to be more accurate, through which it enters us! Praise and thanksgiving do not change God, the changeless good, but they do convert our minds and hearts from avenues of depreciation and restriction to channels of appreciation and expansion. Praise and thanksgiving open our awareness to the ever-present good that is always hidden from the ungrateful one."
-- J. Sig Paulson.
To truly praise God is to know Him as the Creator and Sustainer of all life and man as the recipient of His blessings. Because praise is the outpouring of a heart filled with love, very often audible words of praise will be spoken. However, praise is more than just audible words. True praise is the whole consciousness lifted to God in thankfulness for His love and His blessings. Such praise may not always find its expression through audibly spoken words. There are times when our heart is so full of praise, gratitude, and thanksgiving that we cannot utter an audible word. This does not mean, however, that we have not fulfilled the law of praise, as we must do in order to establish a receptive consciousness.
"Yet, sometimes when I pray I do not need to speak any word at all. I merely need to turn my thought to God, and the thought of God floods my mind. I merely need to give myself to God, and God gives Himself to me" (Be! 49).
Spiritual treatment is the lifting of our consciousness from limitation to the clear, pure vision of Truth. However, the perception of blessings is not enough. The act of praise is part of this "lifting" process and plays a vital part in expanding our consciousness of God, of good and its increased manifestation in our life and affairs. Unless we can truly praise the Father of all, we have not yet reached the place of speaking words of Truth in faith that God hears and answers prayer. Praise does not change God, but it does change us. By praising we are actually putting into practice the various points brought out in this lesson. For example:
(1) By praise we are "holding to the Truth," and expanding our consciousness of it. "Because thy loving-kindness is better than life, My lips shall praise thee" (Psalms 63:3).
(2) By praise we are entering into spiritual treatment, and acknowledging that it is the action of Truth (the Word of God) that changes any negative belief and resultant condition, thus bringing about the healing (of mind, body, or affairs).
(3) Praise releases all tension in mind and body, whether we are working for ourselves or for others.
(4) By praise we are acknowledging our responsibility, but also acknowledging God's responsibility in guaranteeing the perfect answer.
(5) By praise we recognize that we cannot of ourselves bring about a solution to a problem, but that God's power is "fighting" the "battle" for us and assuring us of victory. "Thine, O Jehovah, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory" (I Chron. 29:11).
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Preceding Entry: Give the metaphysical interpretation of the following Bible verses quoted in the text: "Jehovah will fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace" (Exod. 14:14); "For the battle is not yours, but God's (II Chron. 20:15).
Following Entry: What has "time" to do with answers to prayer?
