“Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.” Psalms 118:28.

I praise the Lord for parents who loved God. They raised my siblings and me in the fear and the knowledge of the Lord. Church worship was not an option, we were in Church on Sunday mornings… and the organist would start the service by playing the doxology Praise God from Whom all Blessings Flow:

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him, all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!

Our expressions of praise to God gives Him our admiration because He is the Creator of all things and the Lord God Almighty… He graciously sheds His merciful acts and lovingkindness towards us each day. The bible teaches us who, why and how we should praise the Lord. Psalm 150:6 reads “Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD.”  Praise is comely or befitting of the upright. As the song writer states, “Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host!”

I can testify that God is merciful, loving, and good. Psalm 107:8-9 admonishes us “Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.”  His mercy does not just extend for the day, or even for the moment, but it endures forever.

Praising God is a personal act of thanksgiving for all that He has done, will do and above all just for who He is! It can be the lifting of holy hands for one, shedding a quiet tear and a moan for another, or even dancing like David danced…the praise is validated in the heart. God knows our hearts and He inhabits the true praises of His people.

Even the heavenly beings express their praise unto God. In Isaiah’s spiritual encounter with the Lord he saw the seraphim’s praising God above His throne. Isaiah 6:2-3 reads “Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.”

Let us praise and give glory to God in and through all things; as the gospel song goes, “just for who you are…king of kings, Lord of Lord, you’re Alpha and Omega!

My friends, He is our Sovereign Lord and to Him I give the glory, not for victories won…but oh Lord…just for who you are!

So, take time to meditate and think on the 100th Psalm today as you go along your way. It sums it all up for us:

“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations”

To God be the Glory…for Great is thy faithfulness