Hi there,
So there is something in common, between God and Man: both of them respond favourably to gratitude. I'm not exactly sure what the effect is called, but it has been established that flattery works, even when you know you are being flattered. In this sense, God is great at taking a compliment, in a similar way that Man is. Neither of them refuse flattery, or keep trying to resist it - when they know they are being flattered. At least not at first (they don't refuse flattery). Now, God might be quicker to put flattery in context, but the point is that it is supposed to come naturally - perhaps not to flatter, but to appreciate. If we can appreciate flattery and appreciation, to some extent, our whole mood will lift and light will come to our countenance.
Of course, if you go on too long, in flattery, the flattered person is going to say "go on, get to the point" or if the flattery is for no reason "what are you trying to hide?". The point is, God does not just immediately get mad, that you are buttering Him up; likewise Man, who has a greater facility for flattery, still does not set out to flatter and keep flattering at length (its not worth the time). This is actually an interesting way of discerning between faith as God calls it, and the lack of faith that the Devil mocks God with. If your flattery is reserved for God, and Man is wary of it being too great, the Devil will have a hard time saying no one should flatter, that is without invoking the reason that he thinks favouring God is a lie. Can you see the connection? Actual praise comes easier if it is not inhibited, the Devil counts of praise of God being inhibited.
Now, over time, we will always learn the best way to praise someone, but we may not learn the best way to flatter someone - so flattery may have a place, but it will always evolve into proper praise, should the Holy Spirit be willing to convict. Really we should be saying "Holy Spirit, teach us how to praise", but a more acceptable prayer might be "Holy Spirit, help us repent of needless flattery". At some point you have to clean house and flattery won't stand, but there are relationships that may be in place, through which praise can speak, if praise hasn't altogether been ruled out. Does the Devil's army, flatter each other? That certainly is their downfall, but again if they favoured God regardless, they might be delivered! It's just a thought: you are good at that, you take time to approach God with what you think He deserves, and you don't shy away from doing, what He would rather you do, whether you praise Him or not - right?
I just thought mulling this over might help, there are probably many things you praise God for, but how many times have you said by faith "God is going to have a great smile, a great joy, and great spirit"? Who knows - many of these things might come to pass in Heaven!
God bless.
So there is something in common, between God and Man: both of them respond favourably to gratitude. I'm not exactly sure what the effect is called, but it has been established that flattery works, even when you know you are being flattered. In this sense, God is great at taking a compliment, in a similar way that Man is. Neither of them refuse flattery, or keep trying to resist it - when they know they are being flattered. At least not at first (they don't refuse flattery). Now, God might be quicker to put flattery in context, but the point is that it is supposed to come naturally - perhaps not to flatter, but to appreciate. If we can appreciate flattery and appreciation, to some extent, our whole mood will lift and light will come to our countenance.
Of course, if you go on too long, in flattery, the flattered person is going to say "go on, get to the point" or if the flattery is for no reason "what are you trying to hide?". The point is, God does not just immediately get mad, that you are buttering Him up; likewise Man, who has a greater facility for flattery, still does not set out to flatter and keep flattering at length (its not worth the time). This is actually an interesting way of discerning between faith as God calls it, and the lack of faith that the Devil mocks God with. If your flattery is reserved for God, and Man is wary of it being too great, the Devil will have a hard time saying no one should flatter, that is without invoking the reason that he thinks favouring God is a lie. Can you see the connection? Actual praise comes easier if it is not inhibited, the Devil counts of praise of God being inhibited.
Now, over time, we will always learn the best way to praise someone, but we may not learn the best way to flatter someone - so flattery may have a place, but it will always evolve into proper praise, should the Holy Spirit be willing to convict. Really we should be saying "Holy Spirit, teach us how to praise", but a more acceptable prayer might be "Holy Spirit, help us repent of needless flattery". At some point you have to clean house and flattery won't stand, but there are relationships that may be in place, through which praise can speak, if praise hasn't altogether been ruled out. Does the Devil's army, flatter each other? That certainly is their downfall, but again if they favoured God regardless, they might be delivered! It's just a thought: you are good at that, you take time to approach God with what you think He deserves, and you don't shy away from doing, what He would rather you do, whether you praise Him or not - right?
I just thought mulling this over might help, there are probably many things you praise God for, but how many times have you said by faith "God is going to have a great smile, a great joy, and great spirit"? Who knows - many of these things might come to pass in Heaven!
God bless.
