As I read God’s Word in the Old Testament, I see a lot of reference to sacrifices to Him that include burnt offerings. And then, I read in Psalm 51 that our sacrifices should be of spirit and heart.

“¹⁶For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. ¹⁷The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” — Psalm 51:16-17 (ESV)

This makes more sense to me in that I can find myself in a more genuine place than just showing the burnt offering and then turning back to my old ways until time to show the burnt offering again.

I think that sometimes we find ourselves pretending or showing that we are followers of Christ instead of being followers of Christ. We should be demonstrating daily that we are praising Him and our praise should be generated from within and not just an outward “appearance”. God does not like religion. He want our heart. David knew this as he grew in his relationship with the LORD. See above in the verses that David knew of God’s desire for our spirit and heart and what He is really looking for from us in to bring our brokeness to Him so that He can lend in the mending of that brokeness.

How do we share our brokeness with Him, through our words. We are to praise Him out loud and let him and all know in no uncertain terms that we are turning ourselve over to Him.

“¹⁴Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. ¹⁵O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.” — Psalm 51:14-15 (ESV)

It starts with our words to the LORD. I had an opportunity to speak with a friend who has been having a hard time of things. This friend is not necessarily a believer, however there is a searching within them for something to give peace and understanding. Our discussion was around transparency and outward expression of thanks to the LORD. We had a great moment of alignment in that we are to be thankful for everything in our lives and there was no pushback when I brought up giving thanks to God for just allowing me to wake up each morning. My friend is, as I can see it, making strides in life to find that which will bring joy daily, and I know that my work is to outwardly proclaim the LORD to show that God indeed is there for each of us, regardless of where we might feel we are at the time.

Our words are powerful actions for those around us to hear. They give the first account of what should be. It does not stop with just our words. I have to remember that my inner actions have to align with those words and that means that I have to give all of my broken spirit and heart to Him to ensure that keep moving all of me in the right direction. When my spirit and heart are moving the right way, so will the rest of me and those around me.

What are you praising in your life? Are you praising and then giving of your spirit and heart to allow God to heal? What if you praised allowed and then gave of your spirit and heart to the LORD so that others will see and make moves to the LORD as well?

“³He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.” — Psalm 40:3 (ESV)

My personality type is one that is much more reserved and I tend to keep to myself. That is not to say that is not powerful in the approach, I just approach differently than others. With that personality type, I am not out there letting everyone know my emotions and there may be a sense of lack of energy in those things I am involved. The reality is that I just hold those emotions and prefer to look at the facts of what is going on.

Now when it comes to praise of the LORD. I am certainly have plenty of it. I am thankful for all that He has provided and blessed me and my family with over the years and will provide and bless with in the years to come. I have to let others see my praise more. I have to bring the praise to others so they have an opportunity to place their trust in Him as I have.

“⁹I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O LORD. ¹⁰I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation.” — Psalm 40:9-10 (ESV)

David was not shy in presenting praise for and to the LORD. He was sure to let everyone know where he placed his trust and thanks. He did not hide from the people. He presented all that he had for the LORD to be seen by everyone. I have to do the same. I have to stay true to my personality type, but I have to be more overt with allowing others to see and experience my praise to the LORD for all that He has provided and blessed me and my family.

What does your praise to the LORD look like as others are watching? Are you making it clear to everyone that you are praising Him? What if you were to “put it out there” for all to see and experience the praise you have for and to the LORD so that they would have the opportunity to trust and praise Him for what He has done for them?

When do your send or express praise to the LORD? I feel like the overwhelming answer to that question is when we are delivered from something or something goes well based on what we are wanting to happen.

“¹I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” — Psalm 34:1 (ESV)

I look at the words from David here in Psalms. I should be praising the LORD, “at all times” and “continually”. Not just when I am delivered from something. Or, when I am able to accomplish something that I wanted. After all, it is not, nor should it be, about me. I am to be lifting praise to the LORD, FOR HIM!

I am His servant and should be lifting Him up, not myself. I have to remember that the LORD is with me at all times, not just when things are their darkest. And yet, when they are darkest, is when I call on Him for deliverance, and then offer praise to Him for doing so. I have to remember that I did wake this morning. I have a job to go to so that I can support my family. I do have a roof over my head. I do have food to eat. I do have a wife I love and loves me. I do have boys that I love and love me. I do have the ability to sit here in the mornings and study His word and broadcast my thoughts to others, to bring encouragement to them. All of these are worthy of my praise to the LORD, not just the significant successes or deliveries.

I sit here this morning and think of all I have to be thankful for and where all of that comes from. It is from God and His love for me. I have to remember that and praise Him continually for those provisions and blessings. In my prayers, I have to remember to praise Him and give thanks for all that I have received and all I will receive.

What have you missed that you should have given praise for? Are you praising the LORD in just those times of deliverance and success? What if you were to praise the LORD continually and in all things instead?

“¹Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous ones; praise from the upright is beautiful. ²Praise the Lord with the lyre; make music to him with a ten-stringed harp. ³Sing a new song to him; play skillfully on the strings, with a joyful shout.” — Psalm 33:1-3 (CSB)

This morning as I read in my ESV Bible, as is the case often, I was questioning the message. I then went to my CSB Bible to get a different view of the passage and it all seemed to make more sense.

I am called to praise the LORD. Notice in the verses above that there is a direct call to God’s people to praise Him, “you righteous ones; praise from the upright”. I am directly called out to bring praise to God. I am spoken to here and have a responsibility to heed the message. And that message carries into the next few verses as to the cause for praise.

“⁴For the word of the Lord is right, and all his work is trustworthy. ⁵He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the Lord’s unfailing love.” — Psalm 33:4-5 (CSB)

I am to bring praise to the LORD because His word is “right” and “trustworthy” and as a recognition of His “unfailing love”. I am not just heaping praise for the sake of praise, it is to and for the deserving LORD and all that He has done and will do for me. In fact, in the margin of my ESV Bible I have written these words, “Thanksgiving for all that the LORD has done and will do for us. Make this your song to Him.”

I am but a servant of God in all that I do. I am here to do His work in this world. I am also called to praise the LORD for being here and doing for me. It is known that I am not worthy of the love that God gives for me based on the sins I have committed and those that I am yet to commit. But God loves me none the less and wants nothing but the best for me. I have an obligation to praise Him and bring Him glory. I should be making sure to heap praise on Him at every chance I can to show Him in return, the love that He provides for me. I am called to praise and the Cause is Him.

What or who are you give praise? Are you delivering praise at all and is that praise for a cause? What if you were to act on the call to praise and deliver that praise for the cause that is the LORD?

It is true that “when the going gets tough, the tough get going”. As things get more challenging, it is important to know that I may have to stand up and work harder to accomplish the tasks set before me. But, there is also the opportunity for us to stand firm, praise God and allow Him to do His part and not take it all on for myself.

Jehoshaphat was in a position of being taken over by the tribes around him and the people of Judah. He found himself and the people in an impossible situation. He turned to God for help.

“³Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. ⁴And Judah assembled to seek help from the LORD; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.” — 2 Chronicles 21:3-4 (ESV)

Not only did Jehoshaphat turn to the LORD, but he engaged all of Judah to do the same. He lead the people in the seeking of God and His help and guidance in the situation they were facing. And God responded through the Spirit of the LORD.

“’¹⁷You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the LORD will be with you.” — 2 Chronicles 21:17 (ESV)

The Spirit of the LORD made it clear that there would be no need to actually fight in the battle, that God would take care of it for them. Although this would be true, there was action required of Jehoshaphat and the people. They were to show up and stand against the enemy. They were to be there, present for the fight and demonstrating their willingness to do the work. They were to Stand in the presence of the enemy.

When the time came, Jehoshaphat and the people did just that. They went and stood firm to demonstrate they were ready to fight, as the Spirit of the LORD directed. When they arrived, they stood and praised God.

“²⁰And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, ‘Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.’ ²¹And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the LORD and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, ‘Give thanks to the LORD, for his steadfast love endures forever.’” — 2 Chronicles 21:20-21 (ESV)

In this instance as with instances in my life, I have to be willing to stand firm and praise God, knowing that He will lead, comfort, protect, and provide. The enemy was defeated that day, not at the had of Judah, but at the hand of God. The people stood firm and praised God for what they knew He would do, all the while ready to do their part if/when called to do so.

What is going on in your life that you are taking into your hands that maybe God will take care of for you you? Are you even willing to do the work at all? What if you were to listen and be at the ready as you stand firm and praise God and allowed Him to do His work in and for you?

This morning I began to study the word “praise” and I began in Exodus just after the parting of the Red Sea. God had delivered the Israelite people from the hand of Pharaoh, drowning them in the sea after making it possible for Moses and the people to cross on dry ground. The people then sang praise to the LORD.

“¹Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the LORD, saying, ‘I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea. ²The LORD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.’” — Exodus 15:1-2 (ESV)

This was certainly a time to sing praise to God for the work He had done. But, it got me to thinking of the times when I sing praise to God. I have written in the margin of my bible the following: “Praise Salvation always, not just when delivered from the big things.” What a reminder to not only praise God and His Salvation when big things are done, but always, even when things seem insignificant. When they may go unnoticed.

I have to remember to be on the lookout at all times for those things that are praiseworthy of God. Really, on the lookout is not really needed as all things are praiseworthy of God. But I think what I mean here is that I have to be always praising God. All of me and all of my time and all of what I am and will be are praiseworthy of God. I am not to just praise Him when there is a significant victory where it may have been in question, that is the natural and expected time to praise Him. It is in those times we take for granted that I have to remember as well. The car started this morning, the rain came to water the grass, there was electricity which allowed me to post my blog this morning, I have the time in the morning to study God’s word. All of these may sound insignificant, but they all are praiseworthy of God for allowing them to happen.

I find myself praising God when the powerful things happen that all can see. But what about the little things. What about those things that led up to the big powerful things. All of life is granted by God and therefor should be praised.

When are you praising God? Are you praising Him in the big things, or all things? What if you just heaped praise on Him for all things, even those that lead up to the big things?

It is too easy to allow and commit deceit. As a human in this world, I want to ensure that I am not harmed. Sometimes telling a “little white lie” will aid in that avoidance. That cannot be a bad thing, can it.

“²²He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.” — 1 Peter 1:22 (ESV)

Yes it can. It is not a good idea to exhibit any deceit at all. Christ did not deceive even when he was being led to His death in a sham for a trial and conviction. He could have said and done anything to keep Himself from harm yet He maintained the truth even to His own death on the cross.

“²¹For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. ²³When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.” — 1 Peter 1:21 & 23 (ESV)

Christ was run through it all and suffered mightily for something that I did, yet He remained true. He provide that truth living as an example for me that I might find strength in remaining true.

I have, as I have noted before, created a “Mission and Values” to live by. The first of my values is to “Be the Example: Demonstrate what right looks like in any and all situations. Following the example provided by Christ Jesus.” His example is on full display for me to demonstrate in the verses above. I have to remember that deceit is not the answer to making it through. I have to be true in all to live as the example. I have to not have deceit in my repertoire. I have to be true to not only myself but to those around me so as not to cause another to stumble in their walk with Christ or at all.

What has gone on in your life that may have led you to deceit? Was the long term result a picture of the example of Christ? What if you removed deceit from your actions and lived a life as an example of Christ Jesus?

Wow that sounds so harsh when I write it down. I thought that God does not give up on people as He wants all to inherit His kingdom. Well, there is a caveat to God giving up. When we know and knowingly turn away, God may give up.

“²¹For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened…²⁴Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, ²⁵because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.” — Romans 1:21 & 24-25 (ESV)

When we know better and still do it, that indicates a choice. That choice God has given to us creating for us free will. We can choose to follow Him or not. As with all choice, there are consequences to our choices, some good and some not so good. Choosing not to follow God and the principles He has for us will result in not so good consequences. God is not giving up on me, He is just allowing me to move forward with my choice and He will not support me in that endeavor.

“²⁸And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. ²⁹They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, ³⁰slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, ³¹foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.” — Romans 1:28-31 (ESV)

The unrighteous are filled with many things that turn them away from God. With those we have to recognize the consequence and know that God will allow us to choose those unrighteous things.

God may give us up to those unrighteous things, however that is not the end. We have the chance, always, to turn back to Him and devote our lives to Him once again. We are never forgotten. We are all God’s children and have the chance to come to Him at any time. When we do, He will welcome us with open and comforting arms.

What unrighteous things are you taking part in? Are you expecting that God will just stop you? What if you chose to honor God as opposed to being against Him, would you not avoid God’s giving you up to those unrighteous things?

“²⁰And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him.” — Mark 7:20 (ESV)

And who is “he”, Jesus! It is not what enters into a person that makes them less than the righteous person they can be. It is what comes from within and is expressed outwardly. I wrote before after being led to this same passage in Mark. I covered the same as I was looking at the word “envy”. It is what is inside of us that creates the negativity in our lives, not that which enters our bodies.

“²¹For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, ²²coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. ²³All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.” — Mark 7:21-23 (ESV)

Looking again at this list is eye opening and the fact that they all come from the heart is something certainly to take in as I study. I think of how did it all get there. What caused me to have all of this inside and why would I let it out if it would indeed harm another, not to mention bring negative attention to me. Well the answer lies in the evil one. He has created the opportunities for us to display these evil things and when we do, we are playing right into his hands.

I have to remember that which is inside me and what they are doing there. I have to remember to bring only to others that which will lift them up and leave the negative, evil things inside and allow God to deal with them in my life as I cover them with what is righteous and good.

“⁸Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ⁹What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” — Philippians 4:8-9 (ESV)

Paul identifies what is righteous and good that I should be filling my life with and allowing to be displayed for others to see. When taking action with these things, I am able to experience the peace that only God can provide. I am able to have joy in my life and bring that same peace and joy to those I am in contact with.

Deceit is one of those evil things that is inside and I have to lean on those things that are righteous and good to weed it out of my life. I have to know when the evil one is presenting opportunities to display the evil from within me and instead exhibit that which Paul identifies above.

What things of deceit are you allowing to escape your heart? Are you not taking the opportunity to identify those opportunities presented by the evil one? What if you did and then worked to exhibit the good and righteous things Paul identifies as opposed to the deceit and other evil things that are inside us all?

I see people with big smiles on their faces each and every day, and all the while they are experiencing difficulty in their lives and are only putting on a facade. How many do I know that are sharing beautiful scenes and things on social media and yet their own lives are in complete disarray. I believe that we have a problem in this world with deceit and lying and it is causing strife that will only be resolved with truth.

“¹⁹Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment. ²⁰Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil, but those who plan peace have joy.” — Proverbs 12:19-20 (ESV)

This morning reading in Proverbs I was brought again to a passage I have studied before and was hit in the face with reminders. How many lies lead to more lies and then to more? Why would we not just strive for peace and joy instead and avoid all of the deceit that is only pleasing in the moment.

I will admit that lately I have not been seeking peace and joy. I have not necessarily been deceitful and untruthful to others, but I have been with myself. Thinking that everything is fine and that all will be well is not really dealing with what is going on. I have to remember to be truthful and take the hard look at what is and understand that it may not be great on one hand, but dealing with it will allow for things to be resolved. I have to remember to seek truth and peace at every turn and that will ultimately bring joy in my life that I will be able to spread to others as I do the work of God.

What deceit and untruths are you harboring in your life? Are you using them to bring you momentary satisfaction and likely at the expense of another? What if you just set out to deal in truth and seek peace to carve out for the joy in your life?