The Screaming Me-Me's

Psalm 51:15-17
O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth Your praise.
For you do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it.
You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken spirit and a contrite heart----
These, O God, You will not despise.

Isn't it crazy all the things you did while you were drunk or high?
Things you screamed out loud for everyone to hear.....
Songs you thought you could sing but weren't very good at it.
Dancing and gyrating all over creation under the influence of whatever the drug du'jour was.

But let a little sobriety come into our life, and we clam up.
We have nothing to say...
Nothing to share.
Especially in a meeting (church or otherwise such as A.A. or Celebrate Recovery).
We become a silent witness for Jesus....
Secret Agents for the Lord......Double "O" Nothings.
Now I've been out at Rapha during football season.
I've have felt the very foundation of my office shake because someones team scored a touchdown. Screaming and yelling...jumping and shouting....over a football game.
Is that wrong? No. It's fun to let off a little steam and cut loose a bit.
But you know what?
It seems to me that what Jesus has done for us should bring out a little more demonstration of gratitude that it usually does.

Bible says we are to be filled with the Spirit and not drunk on wine.
Alcohol has a tendency to lower your inhibitions....
Would it not make sense that the Spirit of God in us would do the same....
Lower those inhibiting behaviors the devil is trying to stick us with.
I can hear him now (the devil).....
"Sit down and shut up. Don't you dare say a word and embarrass yourself."
What do we do? We sit down in rows of chairs or pews...and never show any response to the incredible gift God has poured out in us.

In the verses in Psalm 51....it sounds like David is a bit inhibited himself.
He is praying and asking God to open his lips so he can get all up into shouting praises to God.
Try it....
While your driving, just cut loose shouting out a whole bunch of "Thank You"s to Jesus.
Give a couple of "Whoo-hoo's" for the Lord.
My favorite is actually an old Sly and Family Stone song....." I want to thank You for letting me be myself....again!!!" Gratitude to Jesus. IT doesn't get any better than this.

In Psalm 51, you have a man, David, who is very much in touch with all the stinky-ness of his life.
In fact, he has just been uncovered in some really nasty sin. But David understands that God loves him enough to uncover David and not let him get away with anything. The need to repent and be restored won out over the need to hide the sin and hopelessly believe a lie that you may have, in fact, gotten away with it. Not David! He was quick to deal with his sin and then let the praise party begin. 

Just like the Psalm reads....the beginning of praises begin with a broken heart and spirit that is 
Contrite. What does "contrite" mean? Contrition or contriteness (from the Latin contritus 'ground to pieces', i.e. crushed by guilt) is sincere and complete remorse for sins one has committed. The remorseful person is said to be contrite.  Crushed by guilt? Ground to pieces....believe it or not, this is a good place for praises to start. Realizing that we can't do anything but mess up....and God can do everything. "You know what? I think I'll just do me a little praising all up in the house."

Don't let the enemy steal your praises.
Let them flow from you daily....
Praise God from whom all blessing flow. Praise Him all creatures here below.
Praise Him above the heavenly host. Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
Amen!!!!

God on you...
mb