Tag Archives: praise

March 3
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“Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.”  (Psalm 100:2, KJV)

It is a sad day, indeed, when we adults — for reasons I can only begin to name — stop singing.

We sing as children, and love it.  In fact, who among us doesn’t remember the songs we learned and used to sing as children?

We hear birds sing, and love it.  In fact, their melodies are particularly welcome in the early Spring, when we yearn for any sign of warmer weather.

Most of us are fans of other people’s singing; but God has given each one of us a voice, and He delights in hearing our voices in song.  You needn’t sing like Adele.  You needn’t sound like Sinatra.  What to sing?  Sing of His faithfulness.  Sing of His love.  Sing of His greatness, His mercy, and His care of us.

Just sing.  It is music to our heavenly Father and it gladdens His heart.  – Luther

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August 27
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“Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, you his servants; praise the name of the Lord. Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.” (Psalm 113:1-3, NIV)

Today’s psalm reminds us that there is not a moment, nor a situation, within the day where God’s praise is out of place.

To “praise,” as we often hear in today’s vernacular, is to give “props” (which is derived from “proper respect”) to someone. When we praise the Lord, we are rendering the honor, glory, gratitude, respect, authority that He is due.

In the course of a day, we can — as Oswald Chambers often wrote — be a “practical atheist.”  We receive a blessing, but we act as if it is a random occurrence instead of a planned gift from God.  We reflect on our successes, despite obstacles and resistance from others, and we conclude that it is due to our own intelligence, persistence, and creativity.

Today, as you see the hand of God, give Him praise for His assistance.  As you see the work of God in others, give Him praise for His faithfulness.  As you see the grace of God in difficult circumstances, give Him praise for His mercy.

“Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore.”  – Luther

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July 14
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“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, ‘Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!'” (Acts 16:25-28, NIV)

It is axiomatic: When praises to God go up, the power of God comes down.

This is illustrated by today’s scripture. Even in the midst of their pain, and the apparent wrongness of their situation (they were doing a good thing, remember; for God, no less); Paul and Silas found reasons to pray and to sing!

Allow your prayer and your praises to God to rise in every circumstance, and you will see the power of God arrive and transform sorrow into joy.

Remember: When praises go up; power comes down.  – Luther

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