Meshugge for my Mashiach

Trickle or drench?

A friend of mine who recently went to Israel came back with a small bottle of rose-scented anointing oil for me, labeled, "Rose of Sharon." Needless to say, I was delighted. As I was reminded of the sweet scent of roses from the oil, the lyrics from a Cece Winans song popped into my head:

"And I've come to pour my praise on him,
like oil from Mary's alabaster box.
Don't be angry if I wash his feet with my tears,
and dry them with my hair...
You weren't there the night he found me.
You did not feel what I felt,
when he wrapped his loving arms around me, and,
you don't know the cost of the oil...
You don't know the cost of my praise...
You don't know the cost of the oil in my alabaster box..."

The cost of my praise. It's not often that i think about praise in terms of what it takes from me, in terms on an expense. Praise is often related only to happiness, to abundance, to blessing.

In doing so we have stripped praise of its power.

The author of the book of Ecclesiastes writes; "When times are good, be happy. When times are bad, remember; God made the one as well as the other."

We should strive to praise even when, especially when, times are bad. Our praise, the pouring of oil on Yeshua's feet, should not be dependent on our happiness.

For praise in the midst of suffering has power to break the enemy's strongholds. It reminds him that you know the One in whom you have placed your trust, and you are holding on to his promises.

The flip side of that is knowing that when you are consistent in blessing Elohim's heart with praise, the struggles that fill your life will be intensified, as the enemy tries to get you, like he did with Job, to curse Elohim. Messiah tells his talmidim to rejoice when we are persecuted for his name, "for great is your reward in heaven." Sha'ul (Paul) teaches that we are to rejoice in our sufferings, for if we share in Messiah's suffering, we will also share in his glory.

Isaiah puts it aptly: "Though he slay me, I will yet praise Him."
I often say that, but last summer I had to live it out everyday. And it hit home. It was intense, and scary, and definitely not a joyride. I could wallow in fear and doubts and anger and despair... Or I could trust, and praise in the midst of my fears, knowing that Abba would remain faithful.

What does it cost you to praise Adonai? Is there a price you are unwilling to pay for your oil?

Like Miriam pouring her jar of perfumed oil at Messiah's feet and wiping his feet with her hair, I want to be able to let go of my pride, my self-importance, my sense of entitlement, my education, my religiousity, my knowledge, my wealth, my good deeds, my desires and longings, my fears, my plans, my life...to bless Abba's heart with my praise.

I want to drench Him with rose-scented oil.

posted by Handmaiden @ 2:00 pm