That is not exactly what the title of the passage I am in this morning says, for me though, it really fits nicely.

“¹Praise the LORD!

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,

for his steadfast love endures forever!

²Who can utter the mighty deeds of the LORD,

or declare all his praise?

³Blessed are they who observe justice,

who do righteousness at all times!” — Psalm 106:1-3 (ESV)

I look at the whole passage of Psalm 106 and see all of the actions taken by God’s chosen people, the Israelites, and see nothing in their actions that demonstrate that God should be merciful and be all in with them. They were saved, by God, from Pharaoh and his army as they escaped Egypt. And yet they forgot and looked away from Him to idols. They put God to the test. They were again saved as Moses interceded for them, and yet they found another idol to worship. They were interceded again for by Phinehas and were saved again. And yet again they turned from Him, and angered the LORD.

After all of this, the LORD still loved His chosen people.

“⁴⁴Nevertheless, he looked upon their distress,

when he heard their cry.

⁴⁵For their sake he remembered his covenant,

and relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love.

⁴⁶He caused them to be pitied

by all those who held them captive.” — Psalm 106:44-46 (ESV)

God is good and He demonstrates that here in this passage. As much as His people turned away from Him, He did not give up on them. He loved them and cherished them and followed through on His promises to them.

And this should be a lesson to all of us. God loves us and when we have accepted the gift of salvation He freely gives, He will not turn away from us in the end. We are His and he loves us from now until eternity. That love does not mean that we will not disciplined when we are wrong, but it does mean that He will love us in spite of those wrongs and that discipline is the demonstration of that love.

The LORD is worthy of praise, for He is good and loving to us, even when we are not showing our love of Him.

“⁴⁸Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,

from everlasting to everlasting!

And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

Praise the LORD!” — Psalm 106:48 (ESV)

What have you done that may not be exactly deserving of the love of the LORD? Are you aware that He loves you anyway and will not turn away from you as you have accepted the salvation He freely gives? What if you allowed Him to demonstrate His love for you and you were to lift Him up in praise, for He is good for loving you?

I believe that too often, we expect things from others and yet do not provide an example for them to model after. God is not that way and it is important for me to use Him as the example as I progress through this world.

God provides for me as he is proud of me. I do His work and I can, in my mind and heart, see Him sitting on the throne just smiling with a glorious look on His face, the same as I do when I learn of something done by my boys. I can see Him in circles in heaven, talking up what He saw and praising the work that was done. I have to remember that image everyday and reciprocate it right back at Him.

“¹Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!

²Serve the LORD with gladness!

Come into his presence with singing!

³Know that the LORD, he is God!

It is he who made us, and we are his;

we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

⁴Enter his gates with thanksgiving,

and his courts with praise!

Give thanks to him; bless his name!

⁵For the LORD is good;

his steadfast love endures forever,

and his faithfulness to all generations.” — Psalm 100 (ESV)

I happen to be writing this morning on Good Friday. This is the day that Jesus was crucified. What a great day for me to praise Him for what He has done for me. I have to let it known that God sent His Son to die for me. I can just see Him in heaven beaming and talking it up and heaping praise to Jesus for doing just that. I have to model that example of what I see and throw additional praise to Him for the actions done to save me.

Praise is not just for today and at those significant events. It is for all time. I have to heap praise at all times on God for the work that He has done in my life. I have to lift Him up just as He lifts me up.

What are your thoughts on heaping praise on God? Are you only in the act of doing so when He does something significant in your life? What if you praised Him continually as He demonstrates with you?

This morning I was led to Psalm again as I study the word “praise”. I was reminded that God is bigger than any and everything else.

“⁵Let the heavens praise your wonders, O LORD, your faithfulness in the assembly of the holy ones!” — Psalm 89:5 (ESV)

The first part of verse 5 above tells it all, “Let the heavens praise…” I have to think of who else will be praising God. There are those that follow Him. There are those that celebrate, either deliverance, or success. There are those that are new converts. And there are those in verse 5 that are the greater than those of us in this world, the heavens themselves.

God is good. He is so good that even the heavens praise His wonders. Those that are with Him now. God is there as the head of all that is and that should be recognized. I have to remember that God is bigger and that “Jesus is Better” (taken from a sermon series by John Free from Curry Creek Church).

The LORD is due praise and where that may start small with me, it comes from the bigger and more prominent. Those who are with Him are praising Him also. I am here to do my part and praise Him so that others may see. I am responsible for sharing God and all of His greatness to the world so that they will have the chance to praise Him. I have to demonstrate that He is worthy of praise from everyone, and show that even the heavenly beings are praising Him, so you can to.

What approach to praising God are you taking? Are you holding back, thinking that you somehow are not worthy to praise Him? What if you recognized that if the heavens can praise Him, you certainly can?

Praising God is vital to the success of our lives here in this world. That praise is not just for those times of deliverance and or wins, but at all times in this life. This morning I was reminded that praise is not something that is in the now, but should have been with me from the beginning of my life and to the end of my life as well.

“⁴Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,

from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man.

⁵For you, O Lord, are my hope,

my trust, O LORD, from my youth.

⁶Upon you I have leaned from before my birth;

you are he who took me from my mother’s womb.

My praise is continually of you.

⁷I have been as a portent to many,

but you are my strong refuge.

⁸My mouth is filled with your praise,

and with your glory all the day.

⁹Do not cast me off in the time of old age;

forsake me not when my strength is spent.” — Psalm 71:4-9 (ESV)

Praise for and to the LORD began even before I was born into this world, as noted in verse 6 above. No, I was not praising Him at that time, but I did have reason to praise Him and that carried into my youth as noted in verse 5 above. I then recognized the glory of the LORD “all the day” as noted in verse 8 before carrying into my “old age” as noted in verse 9.

Praise is for a lifetime, and not just for those times when it “feels right” to praise Him. Whether or not the timing is right, is of no consequence. It is the praise to and for the LORD that matters. When it comes to the praise of the LORD, the time is always right.

From the beginning of my life and into old age, as I journey there, I must remember to praise the LORD. I am responsible to bring praise to Him and demonstrate that praise for all to see. I have to be overt in my praise so that there is no question, where and to whom my allegiance lies, the LORD. I need those from small and young to the youth and young adults and those that are of my age and beyond to see that the LORD is great and greatly to be praised.

What is getting in the way of your praise for the LORD, regardless of your age in life? Are you looking for the right opportunity to praise so that someone might see you in action? What if you just demonstrated your praise for all to see, regardless of their age and for sure, regardless of yours?

In my study of the word “praise” I have found that it is important that I praise, not only for my good, but also the good of others. I have to display my praise for all to see and know that they can and should praise as well.

This morning I realized that I have make it known to all that they should be praising as well. My actions are not the only demonstration of praise, I have to speak it as well. I use the phrase “speak it into existence” when I am training classes to ensure that everyone knows to verbalize their questions and thought to be sure they are getting the answers they need. I have to remember to take my own advice and speak praise into existence as well for all to experience.

It is not only important for me and Christ followers to praise, but for all to praise and experience the LORD.

“¹May God be gracious to us and bless us

and make his face to shine upon us, Selah

²that your way may be known on earth,

your saving power among all nations.

³Let the peoples praise you, O God;

let all the peoples praise you!

⁴Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,

for you judge the peoples with equity

and guide the nations upon earth. Selah

⁵Let the peoples praise you, O God;

let all the peoples praise you!” — Psalm 67:1-5 (ESV)

This passage, a call to all for praise, is one to keep top of mind as I progress through my days. I have to remember to not only call on God for His praise (having Him shine his face on us), but also to shower Him with praise. I also have to remember to not only shower Him with praise, but I must do so out loud for all to hear and call on all to praise Him as well.

What have you been doing in the way of praise to the LORD? Are you keeping it all to yourself in the privacy of your own little world? What if you were to praise Him out loud and call on others to do so as well and encourage them to do so out loud and often as you?

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?