Let’s think of the reasons for which we would praise the Lord and honor His name. Let’s think of the opportunities we have to share the love of God with others. Let’s be ready to sing with all the nations in united worship to our God! We are all servants of an awesome God, there is no reason to hide that.
DATE POSTED Wednesday, 2022-07-13
WRITTEN AT: O Brien, FL
BY: Ed Algreen
SCRIPTURE FROM: Psalm 96:1-6
TRANSLATION: The Living Bible (TLB)
BIBLE TEXT: 1 Sing a new song to the Lord! Sing it everywhere around the world! 2 Sing out his praises! Bless his name. Each day tell someone that He saves. 3 Publish His glorious acts throughout the earth. Tell everyone about the amazing things He does. 4 For the Lord is great beyond description and greatly to be praised. Worship only Him among the gods! 5 For the gods of other nations are merely idols, but our God made the heavens! 6 Honor and majesty surround Him; strength and beauty are in His Temple.
APPLICATION: Let’s think for a moment about the reasons we find to celebrate certain events with our family a friends: 1) Our child is born; 2) Our child graduates high school; 3) Our child graduates college; 4) Our child’s engagement party; 5) Our child’s wedding shower; 6) Our child’s wedding; 7) Our child’s baby shower; 8) Birthdays for ourselves and our family; 9) Our wedding anniversary; 10) Christmas party; etc, etc. I believe you can see that you must always be ready for a celebration of some sort, especially with a few family members and a few friends! Just as in each of the above instances where our meetings are new, fresh, and exciting, the Psalmist is teaching us that our God deserves an even greater preparation for praise when we plan to meet and celebrate His goodness towards us. It hurts me when we meet together with fellow believers and it’s like pulling teeth to really get a reason for praise and/or thanksgiving from each member. Friends, please allow me to challenge you to always have your praises for our God available right at the tip of your tongue. Encourage others by sharing those experiences, and always be ready to praise, bless, and thank God each and every day. Always be ready to praise Him in the church for His gracious love and miracles in your life. Remember, when a child of God asks for God’s blessings, and we see His blessings unfold, never think about calling it ‘good luck’ as the world might do, but instead shower God with your praises and thanksgiving for His answered prayers. It’s OK to pray one for another, but when asked to participate in praise and thanksgiving, it’s time to celebrate your personal blessings. I remember someone opening the door for me at my workplace on a Monday morning as I arrived for work. As in all courtesy greetings, I asked how the individual was doing. They said, ‘I’m good, but I can tell from the smile on your face, that you must have enjoyed a great weekend?’ I shared a few reasons why I felt so blessed at that very moment, and they soon shut me down! Let’s learn to show off our wonderful Jesus who blesses us with way more than we deserve or expect. It’s a ‘new song’ for us, for we were blessed beyond measure yesterday, and we can’t wait to see what God has in store for us today! As for the ‘earthly praise’ spoken of by the Psalmist, let’s get over ourselves in thinking that our beliefs are the only right interpretation of the Bible, and our church is the best and only church for us, and we won’t be tainted by mixing with other ‘Christians’. God sees only His children and we are all at the one level in His eyes. When we bow at His feet in heaven, there will be no segregation, just redeemed children of God. Let’s practice on that while we are here on earth!
BLESSING(S) NOTED: Shout it from the rooftops – the goodness of God and the many answers to prayer that has been our portion. In being quiet, other believers might think that we either don’t know the same Lord as they do, or we are totally out of tune with Him. Jesus lives, reigns and blesses me each and every day, and I’m sure He also does the same for each believer who looks for His blessings and praises Him each day for His almighty hand at work!
PRAYER: Blessings and honor and praise belong to You, oh Lord, for You have been so good to me! Please Lord, instill an attitude of praise into the hearts of each born again child of God, so that we will always praise You and honor Your most powerful name. Forgive us Lord when we whine because our prayers are not answered how we dictate. We should actually praise You in these instances, for You found ways to bless us even more than we could have imagined or asked for! What an awesome and powerful God You are, and we are most appreciative for You loving and blessing even us. May we learn to look for, expect, and rejoice in Your blessings each and every day. May we not only share our praises with the church, but also with those who look on and still question Your authority and Your power. Blessing us should result in blessings to those in our circle of family and friends, so that they too might desire relationship with You. For the unsaved reading this devotional, please enlarge their minds to believe in Your miracle-working blessings to Your children and also have a deep desire to know You personally. We will be careful to praise Your all-powerful name, oh Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer! AMEN!