There is a song I recall singing that went something like this: “Put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Lift up your voice to God.” Taken from the Old Testament book of Isaiah, it is a prophecy spoken about the Messiah; a prophecy that Jesus quoted in the meeting place in Nazareth. This garment is like a mantle, or a cape.
I like the illustration of Dr. Strange’s cape in the Marvel movies. It is a tool designed to offer assistance when needed. This garment of praise is like that; it is designed by God to offer assistance when needed. When life comes down hard, or when there seems to be no way out, your garment of praise is there to wrap around you, to bring comfort and hope.
The difference between Dr. Strange’s cape, and the garment of praise, is that it does not magically intervene when needed. The garment of praise is a choice—sometimes a “void of feeling” choice—that you reach for. It is a decision made because of a promise given. It is something you must put on; and if you have ever attempted to wear it, you know that it is initially uncomfortable—seemingly useless—as you begin to wrap yourself in it.
There is a silly exercise that I used to put my family through. (I say used to, because as teenagers, our children now refuse to comply) I would have everyone say out loud, “he-he, ho-ho, ha-ha. It would be repeated until someone broke out laughing; which in-turn prompted everyone else to laugh.
The purpose of the exercise was—and remains—to put on this garment called praise.
Through the years, I have questioned why almost everything I am to do as a Christ follower is so difficult. I have come to understand that the answer has several parts. The first part is the fact that movies—like Dr. Strange—have conditioned me to believe that things happen quickly—but they do not. Secondly, as a Christ follower, I must understand that a spiritual component is at play. There is an adversary delighting in nothing more than discrediting almighty God; and as his child, I am the target of that attack. This is seen in the Old Testament story of Job. Thirdly, there is the element of faith, which every Christ follower must utilize.
To have faith is to have a belief—some have called it an assurance—that God is indeed God, and that as God, he will do what he said he will do. This faith is paramount in the lives of Christ followers. It is not enough to say something without believing it. It is not enough to belief something without acting on what you believe.
It is written in the Bible that joy—the Lord’s joy in our lives—strengthens us for whatever we will face in life. The garment of praise is a tool to help us when the reality of life sucks all strength from us. This generally leads to emotional pitfalls, like depression, fear or anxiety. This simple, yet powerful tool, enables God’s strength—an overcoming strength—to pump us up with an ability that is not our own.
The challenge is that the time to utilize this tool is at the worst emotional time in our life. The other challenge is a half-hearted, “I will try” it attitude—which usually ends in failure.
Therefore, the answer is to cry out to God, “I need your strength! And because I need it now, I am going to offer the best praise to you that I can muster! So, he-he, ho-ho, ha-ha!”
It sounds silly, I know; but it works—at least it has for me.