Praise Habit David Crowder

There is a sign in my favorite restaurant, 1424, which happens to be located directly across the street from my house, that hangs by the bar and states, in black letters on a pale-yellow background, “You Are Here.”…You often here or encounter inspirational art convincing you to live as if today is the last, to engage each moment as if it were all we had, but usually this is married to the idea that it is. That this is it. There is nothing more than now. All we get is what we suck out of this moment. But I disagree. I read, “You Are Here,” and I am equally inspired to be fully present in this moment, but it is not because that is all I have but because I am bringing something more. I am bringing the very kingdom of God. I read, “You Are Here,” and I, ignoring the dramatic punctuation of finality, think, “The kingdom of God is sitting at this bar, waiting to bring something better.”

We are to be rescue. We are to be redemption. We are to carry the story of God to the ones waiting. To the ones with their hands on their chest, begging you to notice that things aren’t right. And this is praise. You are the note sounding in a thousand different rooms. There are chords and reflective surfaces around you. There is context.