NOTES for Luk 13:10-17

A prayer of praise is a sign of spiritual freedom. We do not praise God for something; praise and thanksgiving are not the same thing. We can praise Him always, because praise is gratitude to God for being God.

We can praise God even in the most terrible circumstances, even when it seems that there is certainly nothing for which to give thanks. We can praise Him in those moments too, because God is still God; He is still glorious and worthy of praise. But often we are bent double. Sometimes we remain bent double for years, absorbed in ourselves, our ailments, and our grievances. We often ask God for something and sometimes even thank Him for something — for example, for granting our request — but we almost never sing His praise simply because He is God.

God also gives us the strength to praise. He can drive out the spirit of infirmity and give us a spirit of joy and praise. Let us ask Him to help us straighten up and begin to praise Him, for this is possible even after eighteen years of a bent and joyless existence.