Psalm 112:1 (ESV)
Praise the Lord!
Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,
who greatly
delights in his commandments!
Praise the Lord! Within those three words is the powerful
beginning and foundation of a blessed life. It starts with knowing who God is
and praising Him.
Praise is always a starting point. It means thankfulness — that is why we give
thanks before a meal and start church with songs of praise. Jesus began to thank God before Lazarus was
raised from the dead, and Moses praised God before He parted the Red Sea. Human
nature likes to wait until after an answer is received, but blessing begins
with praise.
The Word of God tells us to “Enter into His gates with
thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise” (Psalm 100:4). Yet praising the
Lord is not limited to singing a few songs once a week in a church service.
Worship is a lifestyle that embraces the entire spectrum of life.
You can praise God at any hour of the day, seven days a
week — in the car, the shower or the middle of night. It isn’t about singing a
particular hymn or reciting a prayer — it’s about a relationship with your
Heavenly Father who loves and cares for you.
People have different ideas of what God is like, and they
communicate with Him according to their perception. Those who think He is rigid
and austere keep their distance. Others, who see Him as formal and stiff,
usually approach Him in the same way. Yet those who know Him as Father and
Friend enjoy the blessing of a close, intimate relationship with Him — where
you can call on Him anytime. No matter what situation you may be in, you are
never alone.
Circumstances can begin to turn around when you start
praising God. Not only does praise put Him in focus, but it also causes you to
see things from a whole new perspective.
Praising God is more than a ritual or one-time event. It’s
a lifestyle of worship — it enables you to place your focus on God, and it
changes your perspective of the circumstances around you. So go forth today in
your God-given calling with this declaration as your foundation:
“Praise the Lord!”
Dear Lord, we praise You! Thank You for all that You do for
us. Help us to live our life with Praising
You as our foundation. In the Name of
Jesus, Amen.
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