Praise The Lord 7.20.08 Hello My Friend/Guest, It is Sunday July 20, 2008 and today we are completing our studies on the book of Psalms. Please read Chapters 144-150 in your Bible or Click Here to read. Cut & Paste to your browser: biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20144-150&version=9 Today we will learn about David's praise for God's mercy and goodness; the benefits of trusting in God; all creation urged to praise the Lord; and triumph in the God of Israel. Today's message focuses on the importance of realizing that we need to praise God always as praising God give us hope and increases our faith in Him. The psalmist begins and ends each of the last five psalms saying, "Praise ye the LORD", which is the literal translation of the Hebrew word Hallelujah. He further proclaims, "Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul. While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being......Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God: Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever" (Psalm 146:1-2, 5-6). Praising God not only lifts Him up it also lifts us up as well, giving us the hope that we can get through our struggles. The more we are determined to truly put Christ first in our lives, the more we will experience interruptions which demand our time and attention. Many times, we allow even the good things to keep us from the best that God has to offer. Remember, God knows our hearts and also knows if we are truthful in our walk with Him. While we do not see beyond the surface, God does and no matter how good we look on the outside we can not hide the inside. The Psalms in this book make us aware that nothing comes into our lives by accident. Everything God permits satan to do to us is to develop His highest good in us. These closing psalms assure us we have a loving, Heavenly Father who wants the best for His children and all we have to to is call on Him and have the patience to seek and trust Him in all that we do. God has provided His Word as the One True Guide that reveals how we should live to please Him. Our Lord has provided His Church where we can sing praises to Him, share our testimonies with others who love Him, and receive instruction and inspiration from spiritual leaders. As Christians, we were never meant to be self-sufficient, independent loners, but responsible members of the Body of Christ, which is the Church. "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." (Ephesians 4:13-16). The Book of Psalms concludes by saying, "Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD." (Psalm 150:6). Today's Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus,
Instead of a murmuring and ungrateful attitude, I want to join with the multitude of believers and praise You. I will praise You, my great Redeemer, for who You are and for Your acts of kindness seen so many times throughout my day. I will never cease to praise Your name because You never cease to work on my behalf. Your mercy and love, Your strength and comfort, Your sustaining power and guiding hand endures forever and are only a tiny fraction of the many reasons that lead me to praise You. In your mighty name, Jesus.......Amen. Enjoy your day! God Bless, Christina Visit A Spiritual Guide
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