Tag Archives: praise

Praise for Answered Prayer

08 Friday Jan 2016

Posted by in Friday's Focus, Psalms

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I praise you, Lord, for answering my prayers (Psalm 28:6, CEV).

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September Iris, photo by David Kitz

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is praise.

If I did a quick one-question survey of Christians, here is the question I would ask:

Why do you praise God?

Here is the answer I would expect most often:

Because He answers my prayers.

Yes, we praise God because He hears and answers prayers. He has been doing it for thousands of years and He will continue to do it for eternity.

God’s faithfulness to answer our prayers calls us to praise Him.

Response: LORD God, I praise you because over and over again you have answered my prayers. You see me and listen to me. What a privilege it is to be your child. Amen.

Your Turn: Has God revealed Himself to you through answered prayer?

My Guide

07 Thursday Jan 2016

Posted by in Psalms, Thursday's Thought

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I praise you, Lord, for being my guide. Even in the darkest night, your teachings fill my mind (Psalm 16:7, CEV).

March 2014

Grey Nuns Park, Orleans, ON, — photo by David Kitz

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is praise.

When there’s a fork in the road, which path do you take? Sometimes the right answer is not obvious. Our internal GPS may not be functioning as it ought.

There are many occasions when I need the LORD to be my guide. I can’t make right decisions without Him. I praise Him because in times of confusion or doubt, he has sent His word and His Spirit to light my way.

Response: LORD God, I praise you for being my faithful guide. Give me ears to hear and eyes to see the path you have mapped out just for me. Amen.

Your Turn: What are some of the ways the Lord uses to guide you?

With All My Heart

06 Wednesday Jan 2016

Posted by in Mid-Week Medtiation, Psalms

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I will praise you, LORD, with all my heart and tell about the wonders you have worked (Psalm 9:1, CEV).

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Skaters, Rideau Canal, Ottawa, ON — photo by Karen Kitz

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is praise.

There is something both attractive and compelling about giving your all. A half-hearted effort draws no applause. But we stand and cheer when we see someone give their very best, whether it’s in sports, art or music.

The psalmist, David, gave his all in praise. He declares, “I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.”

God notices when we give our best to Him in praise.

Response: LORD God, I want to praise you with my whole heart. You are an awesome God, who hears and forgives. Thank you. Amen.

Your Turn: Have you been guilty of half-hearted praise?

The Song in Your Heart

04 Monday Jan 2016

Posted by in Monday Meditation, Psalms

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I will praise you, LORD! You always do right. I will sing about you, the LORD Most High (Psalm 7:17, CEV).

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Rideau Canal Skateway, Ottawa, ON -photo by Karen Kitz

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is praise.

Singing and praise fit together like a hand in a glove. They are made for each other. David, the psalmist praised the LORD with music and song.

Paul, the apostle, urged first century Christians to lift their voices in songs of praise. 

Let the message about Christ completely fill your lives, while you use all your wisdom to teach and instruct each other. With thankful hearts, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God (Colossians 3:16).

Let a song of praise spring up in your heart today.

Response: LORD God, as I begin this year and this work week I want to sing my praise to you. You are a good and loving God. Amen.

Your Turn: Do you have a favorite praise hymn or chorus?

My Heart Leaps for Joy!

18 Friday Dec 2015

Posted by in Friday's Focus, Psalms

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The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him (Psalm 28:7 NIV).

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Percé Rock. Percé, QC – photo by David Kitz

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is joy.

In Psalm 28 we read that David’s heart leaped for joy and he sang out his praise to God. But in this Advent season we read of someone else who had a similar experience.

Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist reports having this experience when she was greeted by the mother of our Lord, “As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” (Luke 1:44-45 NIV).

Jesus our redeemer is coming into the world. Leap for joy!

Response: LORD God, thank you for sending Jesus – a real flesh and blood baby into the world. You fulfilled all your promises and have come to dwell among us. Oh, what joy! Amen.

Your Turn: Is Jesus dwelling in your heart through the Holy Spirit?

Kingdom Conquests

15 Tuesday Dec 2015

Posted by in Psalm 68, Psalms

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Reading:                                     Psalm 68

Verses 24-31

Your procession, God, has come into view,
the procession of my God and King into the sanctuary.
In front are the singers, after them the musicians;
with them are the young women playing the timbrels.
Praise God in the great congregation;
praise the LORD in the assembly of Israel.
There is the little tribe of Benjamin, leading them,
there the great throng of Judah’s princes,
and there the princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali.

Summon your power, God;
show us your strength, our God, as you have done before.
Because of your temple at Jerusalem
kings will bring you gifts.
Rebuke the beast among the reeds,
the herd of bulls among the calves of the nations.
Humbled, may the beast bring bars of silver.
Scatter the nations who delight in war.
Envoys will come from Egypt;
Cush will submit herself to God (NIV).

Reflection

All of Psalm 68 is a hymn of triumph—national triumph. In today’s reading it is apparent that this psalm is a triumphant processional song penned by David. The enemies of Israel have been vanquished and God’s army has returned victorious.

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Percé Rock, Percé, QC — photo by David Kitz

For Christians today, does this psalm hold a deeper significance? Does it signify more than a celebration after a military conquest?

The King we serve—the one born in a stable—didn’t come to establish an earthly kingdom by means of guns and war. In his defence before Pilate Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place” (John 18:36).

Make no mistake; Jesus calls us to be citizens in his heavenly Kingdom. It is a Kingdom that is headquartered in heaven, but its address on the earth is the human heart—your heart—my heart. Furthermore, that Kingdom grows in power and influence as we yield our will to God and joyfully become more like His son, Jesus. For followers of Jesus, battles are won as we submit our will to God.

There are nations—Egypt and Cush (the upper Nile region) are mentioned here—that will submit themselves to God. But personally for us today, submission must first come from our own stubborn heart.

Response: LORD God, I yield my will to you. Conquer my heart with your love. Through Jesus sacrifice on the cross I am yours. Amen.

Your Turn: Have you been conquered by the love of God?

Who Bears Your Burdens Daily?

08 Tuesday Dec 2015

Posted by in Devotionals, Psalm 68

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Reading:                                            Psalm 68

Verses 15-23

Mount Bashan, majestic mountain,
Mount Bashan, rugged mountain,
why gaze in envy, you rugged mountain,
at the mountain where God chooses to reign,
where the LORD himself will dwell forever?
The chariots of God are tens of thousands
and thousands of thousands;
the Lord has come from Sinai into his sanctuary.
When you ascended on high, you took many captives;
you received gifts from people, even from the rebellious—
that you, LORD God, might dwell there.

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,
who daily bears our burdens.
Our God is a God who saves;
from the Sovereign LORD comes escape from death.
Surely God will crush the heads of his enemies,
the hairy crowns of those who go on in their sins.
The Lord says, “I will bring them from Bashan;
I will bring them from the depths of the sea,
that your feet may wade in the blood of your foes,
while the tongues of your dogs have their share” (NIV).

Reflection

There is one thought from today’s psalm reading that jumps out at me and here it is: Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.

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Weeping willow, Grey Nuns Park, Ottawa, ON — photo by David Kitz

Why would or should God our Savior bear our burdens? He sits enthroned in heaven above the fray. Why should He entangle Himself in the affairs of humanity? But apparently He does.

Jesus our Savior gives us this invitation, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

Jesus is inviting us to step into the harness with him. Then he assures us that he will do the heavy lifting and pulling. I’m not sure that was a wise offer for Jesus to make. Did he really know the extent of my burden? Did he know all that burden bearing would lead him directly to the cross? He must have known, but he did it anyway. What a foolish man! What a foolish God!

Some Saviors will do anything for love.

Response: LORD God, thank you for being foolish enough to love me. Thank you, Jesus for bearing my burdens to the cross and beyond. My hope rests in you. Our God is a God who saves;  from the Sovereign LORD comes escape from death. Amen.

Your Turn: Has the Lord lifted some of your burdens recently?

Angels Praise Your Faithfulness

03 Thursday Dec 2015

Posted by in Psalms, Thursday's Thought

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Our LORD, let the heavens now praise your miracles, and let all of your angels praise your faithfulness (Psalm 89:5 CEV).

San Remo 2014-11-11

Central Park, New York, NY — Photo by David Kitz

Reflection

In keeping with the Advent season, this week’s I Love the Psalms theme is faithfulness.

If sinless angels—the messengers of heaven—have reasons to praise the LORD for His faithfulness, then what about you and me? God sent His son to suffer and die in our place. Then on the third day, He raised Jesus from the dead. What a miracle! What a demonstration of God’s love!

Response: LORD God, I join with the angels to praise your faithful love to the children of men. Amen.

Your Turn: Has the Lord shown you his miracle working power?

Who Deserves Praise?

30 Monday Nov 2015

Posted by in Monday Meditation, Psalms

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We don’t deserve praise! The LORD alone deserves all of the praise, because of his love and faithfulness (Psalm 115:1 CEV).

CP Lake 2014-11-11

Central Park, New York, NY — Photo by David Kitz

Reflection

In keeping with the Advent season, this week’s I Love the Psalms theme is faithfulness.

I must admit I like to be praised. It stokes my ego. But do I deserve praise? That’s not always the case. But there is One who is always worthy of praise—the Creator of the universe and the Redeemer of my soul.

Response: LORD God, I thank and praise you for your love and faithfulness. You have been my help in times of need. Amen.

Your Turn: Has the Lord shown you His love and faithfulness in recent days?