September 16, 2009
Remember that old ’70s TV commercial about the laundry cleaning product called “Shout”? The lady on the commercial would squirt some “Shout” on a dirty shirt collar and say, “When it comes to dirt, I Shout it out!” And, lo and behold, when she pulled the shirt out of the washing machine the collar would be miraculously clean. Well, I believe there is a valuable spiritual lesson to be learned from that commercial. Let me explain…
Recently we were facing a very difficult situation in our business. A client was defaulting on a very large sum of money that will have a very significant impact on our business. Frankly, it was wrecking me. I was anxious, terrified, worried, overwhelmed, despairing, and hopeless – you know the feelings. I was praying and giving it to the Lord, but I was still finding it hard to cope. I ended up at our Christian book store and bought a worship CD – “A New Hallelujah” by Michael W. Smith. In my Jeep I began to worship along with the CD, and then came the song “Shout Unto God”. I started to sing along with Michael, the thousands at the concert – and with the great cloud of witnesses that Hebrews talks about, as well as myriad angels I’m sure.
Anyway, as I sang out loud to God and declared this truth, “The enemy’s been defeated and death couldn’t hold You down. We’re gonna lift our voice in victory, we’re gonna make your praises loud! Shout out to God with a voice of triumph. Shout out to God with a voice of praise. We lift your name up. We lift your name up.”, my heart shifted. Something broke and despair, hopelessness and terror lost their grip on me. I began to take my eyes off myself and my situation, and focused on who Jesus is and what He has accomplished for us. Suddenly my situation didn’t seem as big and nasty as it had previously. My perspective changed in the face of Jesus.
Now, the financial situation is not over yet, but my perspective has shifted. I see the bigger picture and I see who my God is. The power of the enemy is broken when we lift up our voice and declare the truth of who God is. Something happens in our hearts when we actually lift up our voice to the Lord – when we get loud about His truth.
Shout it out!
Psalm 95:1-3
“Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods.”
Strength and courage,
David MacLean