My mind thrills with praise toward my God, who is beyond the imagination of those who do not know Him. I find pleasure, direction and comfort by reading and contemplating words of praise, all through the Scriptures. Today I ask the Holy Spirit to direct my thoughts and words, as I contemplate several passages of praise, born out of the experience of the writer.
Psalm 113: 3 – 6 “From the rising of the sun to its going down the Lord’s name is to be praised. 4 The Lord is high above all nations, His glory above the heavens. 5 Who is like the Lord our God, who dwells on high, 6 Who humbles Himself to behold the things that are in the heavens and in the earth?” It is only as over the years as I have come closer to God that I begin to more and more to appreciate His Majesty, and absolute power, combined with total purity. His whole nature is love manifested in every way, for there is nothing sinful or mean in His nature. He works for the good of everyone, so that we can be saved from our miserable sinful existence, which always must end in death, unless we accept His offer of salvation from sin, and humble ourselves before Him as God. For all who accept God, and put aside wrong doing, and believe His promises as they pray for them for themselves, He will answer their prayer of faith. All will learn firsthand to understand that the blessings of God come upon them every day. Praises to Him will then be a natural energizing joyful response.
Hannah after some years of sorrow and repining took her problem whole heartedly to God in prayer. In the temple she prayed silently to God with so much emotion, that when observed by Eli, he thought she was drunk. Eli learned this was not so, and that instead she carried much grief in her soul, 1 Samuel 1: 17 “Then Eli answered and said, ‘Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.” She believed God had heard her request, and went upon her way without her previous downcast countenance. Some years later she returned to the same priest in the temple with an amazing gift to God. I wonder what he thought when she revealed her story and thoughts, Verse 27, 28 “For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. Therefore I also have lent him to the Lord, as long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord. So they worshiped the Lord there.” Her prayers for a child had not only been answered, but had wrought a change in her mind and spirit. She was no longer a down cast person, even though she was about to be separated from her precious child of a very young age. In the first 2 verses of a longer verbal prayer, Hannah now speaks from her heart a different prayer than the first, 2 Samuel 2: 1, 2 “…..”My heart rejoices in the Lord, my horn is exalted in the Lord, I smile at my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation. 2 No one is holy like the Lord, for there is none besides You, nor is there any rock like our God.” Here is another example that illustrates ‘that it is true to know God, is to love Him’ and brings about a desire to tell others about His goodness.
David, who was chosen by God to be the king of Israel, and could have been continually sad and oppressed, because his life was in constant danger from the current king Saul, who wanted to kill him: and life was hard. God was so close to him during this time, and for most times of his life, that there are more words of praise coming from him than any other writer in the Scriptures. Psalm 86: 8 – 10 “Among the gods there is none like You, O lord; nor are there any works like Your works, 9 All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, and shall glorify Your name. 10 For You are great, and do wondrous things; You alone are God.”
Please dear God, keep ever before me, as I read Scripture and assimilate the words into my inner being, that You in all circumstances, give great joy that overflows into prayers of gratitude and praise. ‘To know You, is to love You’ and will change me personally and bring forth words of praise, privately and to others; so that they also can come to know and appreciate the one and only true God.