Devotionals

"Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness." (Psalm 150:1-2 KJV)Sometimes we get so busy asking God for things that we forget to praise Him. We can praise Him anywhere and in the verses above we are told to praise Him for His power and greatness. We praise God to glorify Him. The Bible says: "Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD." (Psalm 150:6 KJV) When we praise God we praise Him for who He is – His character and attributes. We should thank God for everything and praise Him continually. We praise God because He is worthy of praise. "And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?" (Deuteronomy 10:12-13 KJV) We are to fear the Lord, have reverence for Him. We are to obey His word and walk in His ways. We are to love Him and serve Him with all of our heart and soul. Although the Bible commands us to praise Him, praise should come naturally from a grateful heart. David praised God as his Deliverer and Savior. "And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence. I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies." (2 Samuel 22:2-4 KJV) In the New Testament we think of the word "Savior" as Jesus who saves us from our sins and gives us the gift of eternal life. That we surely can praise the Lord for. But in the Old testament, Savior referred to God delivering His people in time of danger and need. Oh, how we should praise Him for His help in times of trouble. The idea of praising God is giving thanks and honor to the One who is worthy of praise. The Book of Psalm is full of praises. "Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven." (Psalm 148:13 KJV) God wants us to come to Him for our needs and in times of suffering and trials, but He also wants us to praise Him just for who He is. If you know God as Your savior, that's a strong reason to praise Him. But He also restores, renews, heals, sustains, supplies, provides, strengthens…on and on we could go. The only reasonable response to all of this is "I praise You Lord!"