Praise, from Mom Part 1

Praise did a short study on praise from Psalm 63.  Praise is such and integral part of our walk with the Lord, it's a great topic to delve into.  My prayer, my hope everyday is to change my complaints into praise.  Praise opens the door for God to work in our lives.  Wow.  There's a concept...If praise opens the door for God to work in me and my life, then the opposite is must also true....complaining opens the door for Satan to work....hmmm, just something to think about.  Here's Mom's take on praise from Psalm 63. 

1  O God, You are my God;

Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You;

My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land

Where there is no water.

2 So I have looked for You in the sanctuary,

To see Your power and Your glory.

3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,

My lips shall praise You.

4 Thus I will bless You while I live;

I will lift up my hands in Your name.

5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness,

And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.

6 When I remember You on my bed,

I meditate on You in the night watches.

7 Because You have been my help,

Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.

8 My soul follows close behind You;

Your right hand upholds me.

9 But those who seek my life, to destroy it,

Shall go into the lower parts of the earth.

10 They shall fall by the sword;

They shall be a portion for jackals.

11 But the king shall rejoice in God;

Everyone who swears by Him shall glory;

But the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped.

Verses 1-5:  Praise releases blessings and satisfaction.  Verses 2-6  This is an example of true worship.  Verse 5  My mouth shall praise You with joyful lips, look at the fruit.  

In verse 1, "God, You are my God," confirms our relationship.  "Early will I seek You," gives us clear priorities.  "My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You," shows deep intensity.  

In verse 2, "I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and glory," shows a desire for corporate worship.  

In verse 3, "Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You," is an appropriate response.

In verse 5, "My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips," gives the result.  My soul will be satisfied, my personal needs met.  

From me:

The Lord is good and worthy to be praised.  Praise helps us keep the right perspective, opens doors to blessing, focuses us on the Lord and allows us to remain in His Presence.  What could possible be better than that!  Praise comes from a decision not a feeling.  Trusting and praising goes beyond our circumstances, our feelings, our knowledge to the heart of who God is.  

Lord, I praise You this morning.  I know things in my life are not what I want them to be.  But You are still good, still kind, still wise, still in control, still loving me.  I know You are wonderful and creative and amazing and Your heart is perfect and for me.  Lord, help us all to remember to praise even when we want to run from everything, even when our hearts are broken.  Our circumstances don't change who you are.  And you are always worthy of praise.  There is none like You!!  

Meditate on Psalm 63.