Ps 71:14-16 "But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. 15 My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure. 16 I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign LORD; I will proclaim your righteousness, yours alone." NIV
There are times when we must stand in the face of every obstacle with a bold confession of faith. The psalmist is taking just such a stand as he confidently declares “as for me, I will always have hope!” What a powerful confession! These are the words of a resolute heart and they reflect a life that has learned to stand in the strength of God’s power. “I will always have hope.” This confession stands in the face of every trial, every hardship with unmovable certainty. This confession declares “I trust my God and I shall not be moved.”
Let every saint of God live with such assurance of faith. Let every heart sing God’s praise with this same boldness. The song of an experienced faith is a song that understands that there is no limit to the measure of God. When a life has been shaped by the experience of God’s power and faithfulness it cannot help but tell of the mighty things that the Lord has done. In every life God is at work to establish a testimony of His goodness. In every heart the Spirit of God is speaking, calling us to recognize the power of His invisible hand protecting and directing. When we have tasted of the depths of God’s goodness and power we cannot help but hope. We cannot help but praise! Once you have the taste of God in your mouth your confession is changed forever to stand as a voice to testify of God’s salvation for the generations to come.
Get the taste of God in your mouth. Press the limits of your faith in Him. Lean upon the Lord’s promises and move into the realms of the miraculous as you see the power of God breaking out on the right and on the left of you! The book of James says in James 4:2 that we “have not, because ye ask not.” KJV If we never apply the principles of faith by standing on the promises we will never get a taste of just how big our God is! Let today be the day that you through of the acceptance of a mediocre life and press into the abundant blessing that Christ has promise us by standing on the promises of God, then you will have a testimony that burns in you so brightly that you can’t stay silent!
Friday
Psalm 69:30-31 - July 24, 2009
Ps 69:30-31 "I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. 31 This will please the LORD more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hoofs." NIV
True worship is the praises of the lips rising before God. True praise is a thankful heart in every circumstance. True praise is the sacrifice of a life of obedience! God does not take pleasure in the blood of bulls and goats. The blood of His son was enough! The sacrificial system of the Old Testament was a type and a shadow of the greater sacrifice of the blood of Christ which has been shed as the atoning sacrifice for all sins, for all ages! In Psalm 50 Asaph makes a clear statement of God’s priorities: Ps 50:13-15 “Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? 14 Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, 15 and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me." Lift up thanksgiving to the Lord and live a life that is truly dependent upon the Lord! This very act of dependence, when it is vindicated by His powerful interventions in your life brings Him honor before all men! When you are facing the fire and lean on Him instead of your own strength for your deliverance He is exalted in the eyes of all who see.
In Isa 1:1 & 15-17 Isaiah increases the clarifying of this principle: "The multitude of your sacrifices — what are they to me?" says the LORD. "I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats”. 15-17 “When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood; 16 wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong, 17 learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.” It is clear from these verses that God is more interested in clean hands and a pure heart offered as a sacrifice of praise than with the blood of animals offered in sacrifice instead. God states clearly that His pleasure does not come from the blood of animals. His pleasure comes from your upright life.
There is no gift that we can bring to God, no act of sacrifice that can replace the central priority of a surrendered life that worships from a pure heart that has said “yes” to God’s commands. In a confrontation with King Saul the prophet Samuel identifies God’s priority with great accuracy. 1 Sam 15:22 “But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.” The greatest pleasure that we can bring to God is to listen to His voice and obey what He asks of us. Saul was full of compromise due to His fear of man that he held onto as a greater concern than a right fear of God. Imagine offering a sacrifice to God that is itself an act of disobedience. We cannot please God with an act of worship on one hand while holding on to an act of disobedience with the other. “Lord, give us a sensitive heart that will bring praise that is pleasing from an obedient heart!”
True worship is the praises of the lips rising before God. True praise is a thankful heart in every circumstance. True praise is the sacrifice of a life of obedience! God does not take pleasure in the blood of bulls and goats. The blood of His son was enough! The sacrificial system of the Old Testament was a type and a shadow of the greater sacrifice of the blood of Christ which has been shed as the atoning sacrifice for all sins, for all ages! In Psalm 50 Asaph makes a clear statement of God’s priorities: Ps 50:13-15 “Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? 14 Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, 15 and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me." Lift up thanksgiving to the Lord and live a life that is truly dependent upon the Lord! This very act of dependence, when it is vindicated by His powerful interventions in your life brings Him honor before all men! When you are facing the fire and lean on Him instead of your own strength for your deliverance He is exalted in the eyes of all who see.
In Isa 1:1 & 15-17 Isaiah increases the clarifying of this principle: "The multitude of your sacrifices — what are they to me?" says the LORD. "I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats”. 15-17 “When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood; 16 wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong, 17 learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.” It is clear from these verses that God is more interested in clean hands and a pure heart offered as a sacrifice of praise than with the blood of animals offered in sacrifice instead. God states clearly that His pleasure does not come from the blood of animals. His pleasure comes from your upright life.
There is no gift that we can bring to God, no act of sacrifice that can replace the central priority of a surrendered life that worships from a pure heart that has said “yes” to God’s commands. In a confrontation with King Saul the prophet Samuel identifies God’s priority with great accuracy. 1 Sam 15:22 “But Samuel replied: "Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.” The greatest pleasure that we can bring to God is to listen to His voice and obey what He asks of us. Saul was full of compromise due to His fear of man that he held onto as a greater concern than a right fear of God. Imagine offering a sacrifice to God that is itself an act of disobedience. We cannot please God with an act of worship on one hand while holding on to an act of disobedience with the other. “Lord, give us a sensitive heart that will bring praise that is pleasing from an obedient heart!”
Thursday
Psalm 69:13-18 - July 23, 2009
Ps 69:13-18 "But I pray to you, O LORD, in the time of your favor; in your great love, O God, answer me with your sure salvation. 14 Rescue me from the mire, do not let me sink; deliver me from those who hate me, from the deep waters. 15 Do not let the floodwaters engulf me or the depths swallow me up or the pit close its mouth over me. 16 Answer me, O LORD, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me. 17 Do not hide your face from your servant; answer me quickly, for I am in trouble. 18 Come near and rescue me; redeem me because of my foes." NIV
Have you ever felt like you were stuck in a situation that just kept getting worse, one that seemed to constantly be pulling you in further and further over your head? Well, you are not alone. Psalm 69 finds David crying out from this same sense of entrapment as he lifts his voice to God for mercy. Within the center of this cry for help David reveals the foundation of his peace; the great love of God. David is confident to cry out for help because he is confident that he is loved. It is truly amazing that even in the midst of a season where he feels this burden of decaying circumstances he is able to focus his attention of God’s favor and His love. He knows who he is before God and so he is able to cry out with confidence.
Listen to the language of his situation: "rescue me from the mire… deliver me from those who hate me…” floodwaters engulfing, depths swallowing him up, the pit closing over him. It is clear that David is feeling the pressure and pain of his circumstances and yet he is able to confidently turn to God and see past his circumstances to the great love and mercy of God. “Lord, give us those same eyes!”
David is very candid in regard to his need: “Lord do it quickly, I am in need!” The pain of life has a powerful way of stripping all of the extra words away at times. David needs an answer and he needs it now!! The comforting message held within the language of this prayer is that it is okay to feel this way. It is okay to talk to God that way. “Help me now Lord!!!” When we look at David we can see a man who is very intimate with the Lord but this intimacy is not wrapped up in flowery speech and religious jargon. David is intensely honest and direct with God. His heart is passionate and affectionate with the Lord but he knows the language of the street in his prayer life as well. This is such a great balance to the songs of other seasons in his life where he speaks majestically of God’s glory and revels in the majesty of God’s power and presence. In life it is important to know when to be a lover and when to be a fighter. The psalms of David are a great example of both. May each one of us learn to recognize which season we are in and give ourselves fully to the great needs of the moment that we are in!
Have you ever felt like you were stuck in a situation that just kept getting worse, one that seemed to constantly be pulling you in further and further over your head? Well, you are not alone. Psalm 69 finds David crying out from this same sense of entrapment as he lifts his voice to God for mercy. Within the center of this cry for help David reveals the foundation of his peace; the great love of God. David is confident to cry out for help because he is confident that he is loved. It is truly amazing that even in the midst of a season where he feels this burden of decaying circumstances he is able to focus his attention of God’s favor and His love. He knows who he is before God and so he is able to cry out with confidence.
Listen to the language of his situation: "rescue me from the mire… deliver me from those who hate me…” floodwaters engulfing, depths swallowing him up, the pit closing over him. It is clear that David is feeling the pressure and pain of his circumstances and yet he is able to confidently turn to God and see past his circumstances to the great love and mercy of God. “Lord, give us those same eyes!”
David is very candid in regard to his need: “Lord do it quickly, I am in need!” The pain of life has a powerful way of stripping all of the extra words away at times. David needs an answer and he needs it now!! The comforting message held within the language of this prayer is that it is okay to feel this way. It is okay to talk to God that way. “Help me now Lord!!!” When we look at David we can see a man who is very intimate with the Lord but this intimacy is not wrapped up in flowery speech and religious jargon. David is intensely honest and direct with God. His heart is passionate and affectionate with the Lord but he knows the language of the street in his prayer life as well. This is such a great balance to the songs of other seasons in his life where he speaks majestically of God’s glory and revels in the majesty of God’s power and presence. In life it is important to know when to be a lover and when to be a fighter. The psalms of David are a great example of both. May each one of us learn to recognize which season we are in and give ourselves fully to the great needs of the moment that we are in!
Wednesday
Psalm 69:8-9 - July 22, 2009
Ps 69:8-9 "I am a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my own mother's sons; 9 for zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me." NIV
Passion for Jesus is the great dividing line in this life. What are you passionate about? What makes your heart burn? It is passion that separates mediocrity from a life of excellence, a life of vision. The Psalmist is speaking with a prophetic spirit in this passage as he speaks of his own zeal but is announcing the fire that would burn within the heart of the Lord Jesus Christ. After driving the money changers out of the temple Jesus’ disciples remembered this verse as a prophetic statement about the passion that would drive the Messiah. This image of the fiery hearted savior burning with holy offense at the hypocrisy that was polluting the temple through the actions of the money changers surfaces another significant principle of rightly directed zeal. “The things that offend you are a reflection of what you are truly zealous about!” If the condition of the poor offends you, it is a token of your heart values. If the state of the church or the typical family is a burden to your spirit then that is where your zeal is centered. The common problem arises however when we discover that most people are not offended by such noble issues. True zeal is reflected by offense at the unjust or unholy conditions affecting the world around us that move our hearts to action, but many people carry little zeal for such issues. Their offense is primarily self centered not other centered and most often flows out of self-indulgent desires that others fail to provide for them; simply wanting and not getting! Paul lifts our eyes to a higher standard in Rom 12:11 as he challenges us to “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”
The Lord was not understood by the members of his own household for a significant portion of His earthly ministry and much of this revolved around their perspectives in this very area. At one point his passion marked him so completely in the minds of his relatives that they considered the possibility that he had gone mad! At still another point of diverging from the common understanding of ministry found in John chapter seven his brothers are confused by his unwillingness to go and present himself publicly at the feast. Their concept of self-promotion was in direct conflict to the values system that lay behind Jesus’ zeal. His only ambition to be known was in context of the will of God. He was unwilling to “push” himself to the top of the pile using his great oratory skills and miraculous power. He was fully submitted to the will of the father in both destination and timing! His burning heart and surrendered agenda set Him apart in his own generation and for all generations to come.
How has your passion marked you in this life!? Are you living in a way that sets you apart from the crowd? We are called to be leaders in life! It is God’s desire to fill our hearts with a vision of Him that so compels us to live with a whole heart that we become an example to all of those who would be drawn to the fire that pours from our hearts. A life lived with passion causes people to have to make choices. The more completely we live for the high calling of God the more we become a sign post for the values and heart of God and others are faced with a direct revelation of the blemishes that mark both heart and mind in comparison to the purity of the Lord that is our standard and our goal!
Passion for Jesus is the great dividing line in this life. What are you passionate about? What makes your heart burn? It is passion that separates mediocrity from a life of excellence, a life of vision. The Psalmist is speaking with a prophetic spirit in this passage as he speaks of his own zeal but is announcing the fire that would burn within the heart of the Lord Jesus Christ. After driving the money changers out of the temple Jesus’ disciples remembered this verse as a prophetic statement about the passion that would drive the Messiah. This image of the fiery hearted savior burning with holy offense at the hypocrisy that was polluting the temple through the actions of the money changers surfaces another significant principle of rightly directed zeal. “The things that offend you are a reflection of what you are truly zealous about!” If the condition of the poor offends you, it is a token of your heart values. If the state of the church or the typical family is a burden to your spirit then that is where your zeal is centered. The common problem arises however when we discover that most people are not offended by such noble issues. True zeal is reflected by offense at the unjust or unholy conditions affecting the world around us that move our hearts to action, but many people carry little zeal for such issues. Their offense is primarily self centered not other centered and most often flows out of self-indulgent desires that others fail to provide for them; simply wanting and not getting! Paul lifts our eyes to a higher standard in Rom 12:11 as he challenges us to “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”
The Lord was not understood by the members of his own household for a significant portion of His earthly ministry and much of this revolved around their perspectives in this very area. At one point his passion marked him so completely in the minds of his relatives that they considered the possibility that he had gone mad! At still another point of diverging from the common understanding of ministry found in John chapter seven his brothers are confused by his unwillingness to go and present himself publicly at the feast. Their concept of self-promotion was in direct conflict to the values system that lay behind Jesus’ zeal. His only ambition to be known was in context of the will of God. He was unwilling to “push” himself to the top of the pile using his great oratory skills and miraculous power. He was fully submitted to the will of the father in both destination and timing! His burning heart and surrendered agenda set Him apart in his own generation and for all generations to come.
How has your passion marked you in this life!? Are you living in a way that sets you apart from the crowd? We are called to be leaders in life! It is God’s desire to fill our hearts with a vision of Him that so compels us to live with a whole heart that we become an example to all of those who would be drawn to the fire that pours from our hearts. A life lived with passion causes people to have to make choices. The more completely we live for the high calling of God the more we become a sign post for the values and heart of God and others are faced with a direct revelation of the blemishes that mark both heart and mind in comparison to the purity of the Lord that is our standard and our goal!
Tuesday
Psalm 69:6 - July 21, 2009
Ps 69:6 "May those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me, O Lord, the LORD Almighty; may those who seek you not be put to shame because of me, O God of Israel." NIV
What kind of life are you living! The cry of the psalmist in this passage is the cry of a noble heart. His longing is that he would live a life that never brings shame upon the name of the Lord. His passion is that he would live a life of such quality that no person would ever be embarrassed to call themselves after the name of the Lord because of his testimony. In this generation, particularly in western Christianity there have been many men and women who have gained a measure of visible prominence within the body of Christ only to live a life that has caused many to shake their head with sadness at the damage they have done to the reputation of Christ and His church.
In Col. 1:9-14 the apostle Paul prays an impassioned prayer for the sake of the church and her testimony. His prayer is that the Christians be filled “with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.” He continues his prayer by expressing the burden of his heart that we “may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way.” These passages reflect the need for our lives to be shining examples of the work that grace produces in the human heart. It is time for those who love the Lord to live lives worthy of the price that was paid for us. The life that you live as a Christian either builds up the work of God or tears it down. There is no irrelevant Christian!
It is time for every action to come under the light of the Holy Spirit’s scrutiny! Jesus encouraged us to let our lights “shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven,” Mt. 5:16.Whether we believe it or not, whether we notice or not, people are watching everyone who lives under the banner of Jesus Christ. It is God’s intention to shine through us and through the quality of lives lived for Him to reach this world and the souls of men that Christ was sent to die for. We are called to be a reflection of the cross in every facet of its many faceted message to the world. Let your life speak of the love and sacrifice of Calvary to others today through every decision that you make and every action that you take. Yes, people are watching!
What kind of life are you living! The cry of the psalmist in this passage is the cry of a noble heart. His longing is that he would live a life that never brings shame upon the name of the Lord. His passion is that he would live a life of such quality that no person would ever be embarrassed to call themselves after the name of the Lord because of his testimony. In this generation, particularly in western Christianity there have been many men and women who have gained a measure of visible prominence within the body of Christ only to live a life that has caused many to shake their head with sadness at the damage they have done to the reputation of Christ and His church.
In Col. 1:9-14 the apostle Paul prays an impassioned prayer for the sake of the church and her testimony. His prayer is that the Christians be filled “with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.” He continues his prayer by expressing the burden of his heart that we “may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way.” These passages reflect the need for our lives to be shining examples of the work that grace produces in the human heart. It is time for those who love the Lord to live lives worthy of the price that was paid for us. The life that you live as a Christian either builds up the work of God or tears it down. There is no irrelevant Christian!
It is time for every action to come under the light of the Holy Spirit’s scrutiny! Jesus encouraged us to let our lights “shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven,” Mt. 5:16.Whether we believe it or not, whether we notice or not, people are watching everyone who lives under the banner of Jesus Christ. It is God’s intention to shine through us and through the quality of lives lived for Him to reach this world and the souls of men that Christ was sent to die for. We are called to be a reflection of the cross in every facet of its many faceted message to the world. Let your life speak of the love and sacrifice of Calvary to others today through every decision that you make and every action that you take. Yes, people are watching!
Monday
Psalm 68:32-35 - July 20, 2009
Ps 68:32-35 "Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the Lord, Selah 33 to him who rides the ancient skies above, who thunders with mighty voice. 34 Proclaim the power of God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose power is in the skies. 35 You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!" NIV
This psalm is an exhortation to praise! It is a call to the nations of the earth to recognize and lift up praise to the God who rules over all nations. God has made every tribe and every tongue. He is the author of all peoples and therefore He is worthy of praise. Verse thirty-three calls us to reflect on the nature of God’s eternal presence. The boundaries of nations come and go. The power, wealth and strength of any particular people is a transient reality that fluctuates according to the times and seasons, and the rulers over each nation during those periods of time. All of this stands in contrast to the timeless creator of the universe. This passage celebrates the Lord’s timelessness by creating the image of God riding upon the skies above that know no time! The heavens are not conscious of time and their only ruler is God Himself who was and is and is to come. The language of God riding on those skies reflects the reality that it is the master who is the rider and it is God who rides upon the skies. This reality positions Him as the only being worthy of praise. The uncreated God stands eternal and unchallenged in every attribute that we could imagine as being worthy of praise.
Consider the voice that created all things. Genesis one informs us that God created all things through the power of this voice as He spoke the worlds into existence. This is the second attribute that is extolled by the writer of this psalm. The psalmist calls us to reflect on the thunderous sound of the voice of our creator God! The same thundering voice of God that commands all things to be has turned towards us, and called us to God Himself. When God speaks nations tremble. When God speaks the earth is silenced before the power
of His voice. God’s power is revealed by what He does throughout the earth and all that He does comes forth through the power of His voice. It is this mighty power that we are compelled to praise. Every act of God compels us to declare His greatness throughout the earth. The nations are waiting for a testimony of God to arise in the earth that will give Him the glory that He deserves. His power shows forth throughout the heavens and all men are held accountable
by that voice.
This vision of a God worthy of praise is enlarged by the psalmist as he turns our attention to the sanctuary. Our eyes are first lifted to the visible realms of the heavens where the Lord rides above all created things. He is not content to stop there as he considers the wonders of God however. He calls us higher still, as if to say, “Lift your eyes beyond the visible to the invisible!!! See the glorious God reigning in His heavenly sanctuary.” The most compelling motivation to praise of all is God in His holy dwelling place. The glorious king surrounded by the splendor of His throne room. We are encouraged by He. 4:16 to come into this glorious atmosphere with a bold and confident heart. Today make a decision to lift your eyes higher than ever before and behold the beauty of God.
This psalm is an exhortation to praise! It is a call to the nations of the earth to recognize and lift up praise to the God who rules over all nations. God has made every tribe and every tongue. He is the author of all peoples and therefore He is worthy of praise. Verse thirty-three calls us to reflect on the nature of God’s eternal presence. The boundaries of nations come and go. The power, wealth and strength of any particular people is a transient reality that fluctuates according to the times and seasons, and the rulers over each nation during those periods of time. All of this stands in contrast to the timeless creator of the universe. This passage celebrates the Lord’s timelessness by creating the image of God riding upon the skies above that know no time! The heavens are not conscious of time and their only ruler is God Himself who was and is and is to come. The language of God riding on those skies reflects the reality that it is the master who is the rider and it is God who rides upon the skies. This reality positions Him as the only being worthy of praise. The uncreated God stands eternal and unchallenged in every attribute that we could imagine as being worthy of praise.
Consider the voice that created all things. Genesis one informs us that God created all things through the power of this voice as He spoke the worlds into existence. This is the second attribute that is extolled by the writer of this psalm. The psalmist calls us to reflect on the thunderous sound of the voice of our creator God! The same thundering voice of God that commands all things to be has turned towards us, and called us to God Himself. When God speaks nations tremble. When God speaks the earth is silenced before the power
of His voice. God’s power is revealed by what He does throughout the earth and all that He does comes forth through the power of His voice. It is this mighty power that we are compelled to praise. Every act of God compels us to declare His greatness throughout the earth. The nations are waiting for a testimony of God to arise in the earth that will give Him the glory that He deserves. His power shows forth throughout the heavens and all men are held accountable
by that voice.
This vision of a God worthy of praise is enlarged by the psalmist as he turns our attention to the sanctuary. Our eyes are first lifted to the visible realms of the heavens where the Lord rides above all created things. He is not content to stop there as he considers the wonders of God however. He calls us higher still, as if to say, “Lift your eyes beyond the visible to the invisible!!! See the glorious God reigning in His heavenly sanctuary.” The most compelling motivation to praise of all is God in His holy dwelling place. The glorious king surrounded by the splendor of His throne room. We are encouraged by He. 4:16 to come into this glorious atmosphere with a bold and confident heart. Today make a decision to lift your eyes higher than ever before and behold the beauty of God.
Sunday
Psalm 68:24-27 - July 19, 2009
Ps 68:24-27 "Your procession has come into view, O God, the procession of my God and King into the sanctuary. 25 In front are the singers, after them the musicians; with them are the maidens playing tambourines. 26 Praise God in the great congregation; praise the LORD in the assembly of Israel. 27 There is the little tribe of Benjamin, leading them, there the great throng of Judah's princes, and there the princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali." NIV
God has ordained praise! Praise is a part of God’s divine economy and it is central to the identity of God’s people. God has established a testimony in the earth through having gathered to himself a world-wide assembly of saints who have committed their lives to lifting up praise into God’s presence. From nation to nation, from tongue to tongue there is a testimony of praise for all nations to see a people that know their God and love to tell of His greatness and all of the good things that He has done for them.
These are the two foundations of praise. We praise God for who He is and we praise God for what He has done. The person of God is intrinsically worthy of praise! He is Holy! He is righteous! He is loving! He is beautiful! He is wise! And for each of these things and many more we lift up our praise. In addition to His person, God’s works demand that we praise Him. He has created the heavens and the earth with such majesty that we are compelled to worship Him. He rescues those who are bound. He heals the sick. He provides for the poor. He brings forth justice in the earth. And for each of these things He is worthy of praise!
We are called to praise God when we come together with the saints and we are called to lift up praise when we are all alone. This is a universal command. Both princes and priests, both adults and children are created to lift up a cry. Jesus quoted the psalmist and Matt 21:16"Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read," 'from the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise '?"
The act of praise releases divine activity into the spiritual realms. In II Ch. 20:22 the Lord instructed the people of Israel to send the people who were assigned to praise the Lord into battle first. As the people praised the Lord He set ambushes for the enemies of God and defeated them on behalf of His people. It brings God glory to fight for those who praise Him. Perhaps the people of God would experience more victory in their daily lives if they would be devoted to a life that spent more time praising the Lord and less time fighting in their own strength. If God rises up to fight our battles then many times we won’t have to. Consider the options; resting with a heart of praise or laboring in the strength of our own human effort. Give God room to rise up on your behalf today as you praise Him for all that He is and has done!
God has ordained praise! Praise is a part of God’s divine economy and it is central to the identity of God’s people. God has established a testimony in the earth through having gathered to himself a world-wide assembly of saints who have committed their lives to lifting up praise into God’s presence. From nation to nation, from tongue to tongue there is a testimony of praise for all nations to see a people that know their God and love to tell of His greatness and all of the good things that He has done for them.
These are the two foundations of praise. We praise God for who He is and we praise God for what He has done. The person of God is intrinsically worthy of praise! He is Holy! He is righteous! He is loving! He is beautiful! He is wise! And for each of these things and many more we lift up our praise. In addition to His person, God’s works demand that we praise Him. He has created the heavens and the earth with such majesty that we are compelled to worship Him. He rescues those who are bound. He heals the sick. He provides for the poor. He brings forth justice in the earth. And for each of these things He is worthy of praise!
We are called to praise God when we come together with the saints and we are called to lift up praise when we are all alone. This is a universal command. Both princes and priests, both adults and children are created to lift up a cry. Jesus quoted the psalmist and Matt 21:16"Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read," 'from the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise '?"
The act of praise releases divine activity into the spiritual realms. In II Ch. 20:22 the Lord instructed the people of Israel to send the people who were assigned to praise the Lord into battle first. As the people praised the Lord He set ambushes for the enemies of God and defeated them on behalf of His people. It brings God glory to fight for those who praise Him. Perhaps the people of God would experience more victory in their daily lives if they would be devoted to a life that spent more time praising the Lord and less time fighting in their own strength. If God rises up to fight our battles then many times we won’t have to. Consider the options; resting with a heart of praise or laboring in the strength of our own human effort. Give God room to rise up on your behalf today as you praise Him for all that He is and has done!
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