Almost everyone cries out to God in difficulties. There are people who, when in difficult situations, spend days and nights on their knees, in fasting and continuous prayers. They are ready to do everything to receive a miracle in the matter that troubles them. The Lord answers them according to His promises and because of His love and mercy. Some, having received their miracle, are grateful to God at the moment, and then return to their normal life. Others, inspired by the desired miracle, for a while attend the church and tell both friends and strangers about their miracle, but later, burdened by their daily cares, they forget everything. However, there is a prayer that must be lifted up before the Miracle Worker, our all-merciful Father, Who is the source of love. A few come before Him with this prayer. This is the prayer of gratitude and worship, which, when started, isn’t over only after a couple of sentences, “Lord, thank you for hearing my prayer…” This is a worship of someone who has experienced the greatness, mercy and love of the Lord. For this type of worship, a person separates himself, assigns a sufficient amount of time so that words of gratitude and words that exalt the Lord can flow from the depths of his heart.
Moses and his sister Miriam lifted up such a prayer and worship to the Lord, when the people of Israel were free from slavery of Egypt, and their eyes saw the destruction of the enemy that did not want to submit to the mighty God: “Your right hand, O Lord, has become glorious in power; Your right hand, O Lord, has dashed the enemy in pieces. And in the greatness of Your excellence, You have overthrown those who rose against You… And with the blast of Your nostrils the waters were gathered together; the floods stood upright like a heap; the depths congealed in the heart of the sea. The enemy said, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake…’ You blew with Your wind, the sea covered them; they sank like lead in the mighty waters. “Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?.. Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took the timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam answered them: ‘Sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!’” (Ex. 15:6-14; 20-21).
During worship, a new knowledge of God is formed in a person. He becomes more intimate with the Lord, trusts Him more, becomes bolder in doing the will of God. Because of such prayers, he becomes committed, always full of faith, having confidence that his King will never leave him. Due to such prayers, a person receives discipline from the Lord, does not run from Him and is not offended with Him.
David was humble at heart and received the reproof and discipline of the Lord, at the same time being confident that God hears him and is ready to help him. That is why he said, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake” (Ps. 23:1-3).
We must give God worthy gratitude and worship. Worship is not only humbling oneself and praising Him, but also telling others about His miracles. Our testimonies glorify the Miracle Worker and at the same time fill people with faith. Many of our hearers come boldly before the Throne of Grace, confident that the Lord is the same, and if He revealed His victory on the Сross to one of His children, He will do a miracle in their lives as well.
About 30 years ago, a famous minister gave me a prophetic word from the Lord, “I will do miracles in your life, and you gather people and tell them about who is God and what is faith.” From that day, many miracles happened in my life, both in spiritual and in physical and material spheres.
Six years ago, the Holy Spirit commanded me to start a blog and post messages from the Word of God and my personal testimonies. Before that, several times He spoke to me about it, but I did not do it, arguing that there are many preachers and teachers around the world with large audiences, who wonderfully communicate the revelations received from the Lord. At that time, the Lord did not suggest me, but He commanded it. When I tried to use the same argument, He responded: “Your testimonies will change lives.” He also reminded me the prophetic word, which I received years ago.
I followed the command of the Lord and, with the leading of the Holy Spirit, started to teach the Word of God, at the same time confirming the messages I wrote with my personal testimonies. I received many emails and testimonies not only from readers in Armenia, but also from other countries. I received emails from Sudan, Germany, the USA – from regions, in which I had no relatives or acquaintances. However, a period came when, heeding to the opinions of some slanderers, I thought, “Is it really necessary to use examples from my personal life each time? The Word of God is so convincing, that there is no need to show my personal life.”
For a while, I wrote my messages without personal testimonies. Suddenly my colorful life became gray. For a reason I could not understand, I felt restlessness in my spirit and I lost my peace. I fasted; I separated myself in my room and turned to God, expecting to hear the reason of this from Him. For long hours, I prayed, sang worship songs and magnified His Name. Seeing that the end of my fast was near, and I had not received my answer, I said, “Lord, although You revealed me nothing, I will still continue to pray and worship You.” Right then, I heard a question from the Holy Spirit: “How do you worship Me?” And there was sternness in His voice. At that moment, my hands were lifted up, as I usually do when I worship and praise. I responded, “Lord, I worship You with songs.” Once my sentence was over, the Holy Spirit said, “You do not worship Me with your testimonies; you stopped writing about the miracles that happened in your life.” I was terrified. I would have never thought that I could grieve Him with that.
Praise the Lord for His mercy! Right then, I stood on my knees, repented and asked for a message that I could write on my blog and spread the glory of God through it. Now I did not care how some negatively minded people would react on my testimonies. The most important thing was to reveal God’s nature and will to the people.
Peace was restored in my life. And I again started to receive responses and emails from people who praised the Lord.