Praise to the Lord

“And to stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord, and likewise at even:” (1Chr. 23:30)

We live in a very complex world today with changes happening at an ever accelerating rate. These changes are unsettling especially as we see our Godly values disappearing at an alarming rate. Through it all though we must trust in God and what He is doing. He knows the beginning from the end and He has everything under His control. A beautiful hymn I just heard says “You are the Lord my God, You are the Author of creation”. How appropriate, He is the Creator of all things and yet we doubt Him. Maybe it is time we stop concentrating on all the things that are wrong in the world and start thanking God and praising Him for all the things that are right and good in our world. In Numbers 14 we read how the Israelites were complaining of all the things that were wrong in their lives after God had answered their cries and brought them out of the land of Egypt. They were blaming Him for their condition. They did not trust Him to bring them through their troubles and therefore they suffered for it. Joshua and Caleb were the only ones that were spared and entered into the Promised Land. We suffer consequences when we lose our trust in God and think that we can change things ourselves. God wants us to humble ourselves and trust in Him. When we thank Him we show our trust in Him to handle the situation.

In the end complaining really gets us nowhere and only frustrates and demoralizes us. Jesus said “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matt. 11:28). These are comforting words and yet we so often still seem to concentrate on the bad things that are happening in the world instead of Jesus’ words and giving Him our thanks and our trust. Trust is really expressing our thanks to God and praising Him. Through our praise we honour Him. What we speak is really what is in our hearts and when we praise God we are expressing our love for Him and our trust in Him. We can therefore give the troubles of the world to Him and this brings us rest. He is the great I AM! Jesus left us with these comforting words, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”(Matt.28:18-20). He is always with us through the good times and the bad. He gave His life for us and the least we can do is trust Him and praise Him. The following opening stanza of a wonderful hymn expressing the words from Psa. 150:1-2. “Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.” I think the words express how we can show our praise to Him.

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
The King of creation
O my soul, praise Him
For He is thy health and salvation
All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near
Praise Him in glad adoration