Raise a Hallelujah As You Learn to Lack Nothing

James 1:2-3
Consider it pure joy my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

The implications of this verse seem pretty obvious in the midst of our current global crisis.  We are certainly facing many kinds of trials right now, and it seems like there is a new element added to it every day.  I wanted to share with you this morning some words of encouragement that I have been singing out over the past couple of weeks especially - it's from the song Raise a Hallelujah by Bethel Music, and the chorus says:

I'm gonna sing in the middle of the storm
Louder and louder you're gonna hear my praises roar
Up from the ashes hope will arise
Death is defeated the King is alive

Throughout the song it talks about raising a hallelujah in unlikely places, in scary places - in front of enemies, in the middle of the darkness, in the midst of the unknown.  That is where we find ourselves right now.  We don't know what is going to happen in the coming days, weeks, even months.  James would tell us not to be fearful, not to go cowering into the corner during these times.  James would tell us to look to Jesus and to be joyful that our faith has an opportunity to be strengthened.  That we should see the opportunity for perseverance to work in our lives and make us more mature, more complete.

So let me encourage you to raise a hallelujah this week.
Raise a hallelujah in the middle of the living room.
Raise a hallelujah with no one else around you - because we have to keep our distance.
Raise a hallelujah because the God that we praise, the God that we serve, the God that we love - is still the same God.  He is still deserving of every hallelujah we could ever give Him - and though we may have to keep our distance from one another - we should embrace the opportunity to draw closer to Him. 

Love you guys - see you soon.

Click here to check out the whole song