Praise The Lord!

Praise is the recognition that life – all of it – needs to be accepted with gratitude.

Thank You, Father, in Jesus’ name, that I am set free from every evil work (Galatians 1:4). I choose to put my hope in my God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God (Psalm 42:5-6). He has put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to my God! “Blessed is the one who makes the Lord his trust.” (Psalm 40:2-4)

God wanted variety! The love and praise coming from each of us satisfies Him in a different way. Each of us is precious to Him, and will be for all eternity.

O my Strength, I will sing praises to You for You are my stronghold, my defense, the God who shows me loving-kindness (Psalm 59:17). I love You, O Lord, my strength! You are my [unmoving] Rock, my [surrounding] fortress, and my [ever-present] deliverer. You, my God, are my rock in whom I take refuge [from all my weariness]. You are my shield [from all unpleasantness] and the horn of my salvation [from all my difficulties], my [glorious] stronghold. I call to You, O Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies (Psalm 18:1-3). He is my God and I will praise Him; my Father-God and I will exalt Him. (Exodus 15:2).

What do praise and thanksgiving accomplish? The world begins to look different. In the atmosphere of worship we see more clearly what we should do, and our work becomes a daily joy instead of the daily grind. Praise is an affirmation of basic truth: God is good all the time. God is ultimate reality. He is the greatest factor in all that is real. When we let this truth about Him nourish us and remold our mind, it can revolutionize our life.

The joy of the Lord is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10).  That’s why so many believers are spiritually wimps.  They haven’t spent enough time in God’s presence to experience the joy of the Lord.

God, my Father, has given me all things that pertain to life and godliness; I am a partaker of His divine nature (2 Peter 1:3-4).

Since we are born corrupt, let us praise Him that He knows how to bring about good from evil, and can use even our dislikes as a source of virtue. Here’s a thought! God Himself will receive you up to glory! You — wandering, erring, straying you. Yet He will bring you safe at last to joy! This is your portion. This is why we praise Him.

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! (Psalm 150:6)