Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Wednesday, July 27 - Kathryn

Today's reading from the Chronological OT/NT Reading Plan is Psalm 99-100, 102, Acts 17:16-34

It is good to praise the Lord.  I find it interesting that in the beginning of Psalm 99 David says that both the earth and the nations tremble or shake.  I know it's good and healthy that we, in our churches, have a 'friendly' relationship emphasis with the Lord, but I think we often lose sight of the magnitude of the Lord, His holiness, His purity, His justice, His strength.  I could go on, but you know what I mean.  God used many things to teach them about His holiness.  They could only go into the holy of holies once a year and that was one person and that was only after that person had been cleansed and sacrifices given for him.  If he was not properly prepared, adorned and in the right mind, God would strike him dead.  Some guy later on in the Old Testament reached out to steady the ark of the covenant and God struck him dead.  His intentions were good, but this man was unholy, not prepared to touch the presence of a Holy God.  We cannot begin to understand or comprehend who God is.  We see and know an inkling.  I think that's why David's psalms are filled with God's praises.  Because we cannot comprehend all we can do is praise.

Praising God is good for us too.  I've found that praising God and focusing on God helps to fight temptation.  It helps to run off those thoughts that irritatingly enter the brain and just. won't. leave.  Praising God brings healing in the midst of hurt and pain.  Praising God helps to bring perspective amid chaos and confusion.  Praising God shuts up satan and his lies.  And praising God brings us more quickly and deeper into the presence of God in our prayer time.  Praising God brings a soothing balm to the soul.

We praise God because He is worth it.  Oh He is so worth it.  But we praise God because we need it.  We need to praise God more than we need to ask Him for things.  Maybe that's why praise should, nay, needs to come first in our prayer time.  Praise brings perspective and focus.

Praise always seemed weak in other peoples prayers.  Not that they were weak, it just didn't seem like a 'good' prayer.  Now I know that praise can be more powerful than a wordy, heady prayer.  Sometimes praise is all we need.  Maybe that's why David is often seen praising the Lord at the beginning and the end of his most heart wrenching psalms.  There is great power and strength to be derived from praise.

Know this: there is no mistake in praising the Lord.  One cannot go wrong in praise.  It puts the Lord where He belongs and puts us where we belong.  Creator to creation, Savior to sinner, Father to child, Husband to bride.

Father God we lift You up!  We bless Your name!  You are most holy, most beautiful and awesome God.  We praise You.  We love You.  You are God.  We give ourselves to You.  Thank You for Your presence and Your salvation.  Amen.




 Tomorrow's passage: Psalm 104-105 - 1 Thessalonians 1

2 comments:

Pamela said...

I agree that sometimes we just gloss over how Holy God is. We see Him through so many lenses (as a protector, Father, giver, etc) that we sometimes forget the magnitude of Him.

This stood out for me:
8 O LORD our God,
you answered them;
you were to Israel[a] a forgiving God,
though you punished their misdeeds.

This reminded me that even forgiveness is not without consequence. Just because you are forgiven does not mean that you don't face the consequences for your actions. Sin's effects are far reaching even after forgiveness.

Tammy said...

That's a great verse for that Pam!

You're right Kathryn, praise is so necessary. And the reason it is so good for us is because it takes our focus off ourselves, and onto God, where it belongs!