“Oh that men would praise the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men” (Psalm 107:15 KJV). God has created us and preserved us from death. Only bitterness would cause us to “curse God, and die” (Job 2:9). Only pride would prevent us from saying, “By the grace of God I am what I am” (1Corinthians 15:10). There are a multitude of daily events, where we are preserved from harm in our travels, or from ill by those, who continually seek to “break through and steal” (Matthew 6:19) from us. God’s restraining hand must be praised, even when we took precautions. Walk humbly. To do otherwise is not to walk in the Spirit. “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1Thessalonians 5:18). This is not a mindless repetition, but a heartfelt appreciation of what we understand of God’s wonderful actions toward us. For everything that we can see, there must be untold numbers of things which cannot be seen. “And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen” (John 21:25). Father, thank You for what You have done in creation, giving Your Law, establishing Your name in this earth, giving us Your Word, sending us Your Son, giving us Your Spirit, fulfilling Your Word, and concluding Your prophecies. Give us the inspiration of Your Spirit to conduct ourselves as Your children until You come to get us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
Praise
Occupy Till I Come
“Occupy till I come” (Luke 19:13 KJV). Our Master has given His instructions to us. Like the NT parable, He expects us to exercise our abilities and circumstances for His Kingdom. No one but a wicked servant has the right to a retirement of doing nothing, or worse, to live a life of self-pleasing. Occupying for the LORD is to be filled with “all things that pertain unto life and godliness” (2Peter 1:3). Our Lord expects us to walk obediently, sensitive to His Spirit, but more importantly, as though we loved Him for the wonder filled works He has performed for us. “Oh that men would praise the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!” (Psalm 107:15).
Be Still My Soul
The LORD is on the throne of my heart. There is none like Him! He speaks and therefore I understand. Before I ask, He already has answered. He surrounds me with His love.
“1 O LORD, Thou hast searched me, and known me.
2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, Thou knowest it altogether.
5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid Thine hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
7 Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from Thy presence?
8 If I ascend up into heaven, Thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, Thou art there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10 Even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from Thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to Thee.
13 For Thou hast possessed my reins: Thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will praise Thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are Thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
15 My substance was not hid from Thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in Thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
17 How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with Thee.
19 Surely Thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.
20 For they speak against Thee wickedly, and Thine enemies take Thy name in vain.
21 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate Thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against Thee?
22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Psalm 139:1-24 KJV
Praise From an Upright Heart for God’s Judgments (Psalm 119:7)
“I will praise Thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned Thy righteous judgments” (Psalm 119:7 KJV). Praise pours from an upright heart, when learning of God’s judgments. Even without the benefit of the NT Indwelling Holy Spirit, the Old Covenant Psalmist would praise God for His commands and judgments, instead of protesting God’s laws as chains and shackles. It has always been an issue of the heart, more than of our head or understanding. When we take pride in our intellect to the exclusion of our devotion to God, then we fall into the same trap as Lucifer, and need to seek God’s help for deliverance. “13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit” (Isaiah 14:13-15). Father, grant us Your help to avoid Lucifer’s mistake. Guard our heart. Cause Your Spirit’s influence to be felt not just within ourselves but in those around us, for good. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Thou Art Worthy (Revelation 4:11)
Humanism at its zenith is a fascination with self — falling in love with the picture in the mirror. No worse punishment can be pronounced for the humanist than taking the emphasis upon self and gazing upon the Almighty. John shows us a picture of eternity with a scene around the throne of God. “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created” (Revelation 4:11 KJV). His glory is His pleasure; and, our purpose for existence is for the pleasure of God. For this reason, how could we not be more delighted than to find the attention He lavishes upon us? “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him” (1Corinthians 2:9). How could Heaven be more attractive? LORD, You are worthy of the praise, honor, and glory given You. Satisfy our soul in giving You this worship. Teach us our poverty of Spirit, when we restrain our praise of You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Hallelujah or Alleluia
Hallelujah or alleluia comes from the Hebrew, meaning praise (ye) Jah or praise the Lord. Hallelujah is an interjection or exclamation of triumphal praise by the godly to the Lord. “Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth” (Revelation 19:6 KJV). Even the world unwittingly uses the word Hallelujah as a proclamation of exasperated triumph — often with the lateral shaking of the head and the roll of the eyes.
Practicing the Presence of God
In practicing the presence of God, “let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name” (Hebrews 13:15 KJV). Our praise will be turning into prayer, which becomes worship — drawing us closer to God. Let us continually act as if we believe the Spirit of Christ is dwelling within us, allowing us to continually commune with Him, and making us sensitive to “grieve not the Holy Spirit of God” (Ephesians 4:30 KJV) with foolish, irreverent, or thoughtless conversation. Father, guide us by Thy Word to think our thoughts as if we were pursuing Thee, and to aspire that our emotions would continually rejoice in Thee. Amen and amen.
We Need A Miracle 