I will praise you in this storm...///Micah Powers

     Though reading has not suited me these past arduous months paragraphs of pretty words sometimes catch my eye. On page 112-113 in book 5 of paradise lost I see a couple who despite tumultuous dreams leans into each other and furthermore into God. I love the series of actions we the reader behold in lines 146-152. In their pain they found themselves not in want of praising God yet they put aside what their desires were and followed through. Immediately following their prayer of praise in line 210 we see peace. I know by far our current Christian contemporary music should not be the foundation of our philosophy but I could not help to put together lyrics as I read this passage. The order of actions here is incredibly clear and it provides a wonderful framework for our personal hardship: Problem ➡️ Praise ➡️ Peace. I work at a church and I forget that if I take my problems and lay them on the alter when they happen how much it prevents stress in my daily life. My sister was talking to me the other day and she had mention how problems held on our shoulders will blister and weigh us down but that simple praise realigns us to see this burden isn't mine to bear alone. Here is a small collection of praise and worship lyrics that came to mind over that short section. (I commented on Emory and Braylen's blog)

   "I will praise you in this storm, I will lift my hands, for You are who You are, no matter where I am..." 

             -  Casting Crowns

    "Peace, bring it all to peace, the storms surrounding me..."

            - Mosaic MSC

    "You're so beautiful, I just can't contain this sound, You're so beautiful, my heart is screaming' now..."

            - Whittaker

    "Here I am to worship, Here I am to bow down, Here I am to say that Your my God..."

            - Tim Hughes

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