Tag Archives: praise

Shout Triumphantly!

29 Friday Apr 2016

Posted by in Friday's Focus, Psalms

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Shout triumphantly to the LORD, all the earth! Be happy! Rejoice out loud! Sing your praises!(Psalm 98:4, CEV).

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Streaming sunshine sings its praises — photo by David Kitz

Reflection

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

Who brings victory over death, hell and the grave? His name is Jesus. Who leads people in triumph over temptation, sin and addiction? His name is Jesus. Who defeated the devil and the hordes of hell? His name is Jesus!

Shout triumphantly to the LORD, all the earth! Be happy! Rejoice out loud! Sing your praises!(Psalm 98:4, CEV).

We have ten thousand reasons to thank and praise the LORD. Let’s not be shy about letting Him know that we love Him. We appreciate His marvelous creation. We rejoice in our redemption through Jesus shed blood. We are amazed that He would personally choose us and welcome us into His family.

What a wonderful God! He loves even me!

Response: LORD God, I am overwhelmed with gratitude. You send your undeserved love and grace streaming into my life. I praise you with uplifted hands. Amen.

Your Turn: Has the LORD brought joy and victory into your life? Do you praise Him even in difficult times?

Greater Glory

26 Friday Feb 2016

Posted by in Friday's Focus, Psalms

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All creation, come praise the name of the LORD. Praise his name alone. The glory of God is greater than heaven and earth (Psalm 148:13, CEV).

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Autumn Splendor, Gatineau Park – photo by David Kitz

Reflection

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

There’s a rather common saying: The sum is greater than its parts. While that may not be strictly correct in mathematics, it makes perfect sense in real life experience. The full picture is so much better than segments seen in sequence.

If I divided the autumn picture above into six equal portions, and showed you them sequentially, they would not have the same impact as the entire picture seen as a whole.

In the same way, our picture of the glory of God is like many small snapshots. I am not sure we could handle the full glory of God, if it was revealed to us. But today’s verse from the Psalms calls us to see that greater sum.

All creation, [me included] come praise the name of the LORD. Praise his name alone. The glory of God is greater than heaven and earth (Psalm 148:13, CEV).

Response: LORD God, let me catch glimpses of your glory today, but remind me too that you are so much bigger than I can think or even imagine. You are an awesome God! Amen.

Your Turn: Do you think your picture of God is too small?

Resurrection Restoration

23 Tuesday Feb 2016

Posted by in Psalm 71, Psalms

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Reading:                                      Psalm 71

Verses 19-24

Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens,
you who have done great things.
Who is like you, God?
Though you have made me see troubles,
many and bitter,
you will restore my life again;
from the depths of the earth
you will again bring me up.
You will increase my honor
and comfort me once more.

I will praise you with the harp
for your faithfulness, my God;
I will sing praise to you with the lyre,
Holy One of Israel.

 My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you—
I whom you have delivered.
My tongue will tell of your righteous acts all day long,
for those who wanted to harm me
have been put to shame and confusion (NIV).

Reflection

Typically Christians view resurrection as a New Testament concept, but here in the conclusion to Psalm 71, we can see that the Old Testament psalmist had a solid grasp of resurrection truths. Consider his words. Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again; from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up.

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Landestreu Cemetery, Landestreu, SK. — photo courtesy of Donald Adam

That sounds like resurrection to me. Jesus fulfilled the prophetic words of the psalmist when he stepped out of the tomb on resurrection morning. Elsewhere David spoke prophetically of Christ and his resurrection when he wrote, “I am your chosen one. You won’t leave me in the grave or let my body decay” (Psalm 16:10).

Peter sited this verse as proof of Jesus’ resurrection when he preached to the crowd that gathered on the Day of Pentecost. See Acts 2:22-36.

The resurrection filled the psalmist with hope and it should do the same for us. Because Jesus is alive now, we too will be raised to life. That thought should buoy us on tough days. When we lose a loved one, whose faith was rooted in God’s redeeming love, we can rest assured that our farewell is not forever. We will see them again at the resurrection. On that great day we can join with the psalmist and declare, “My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you—I whom you have delivered.”

Response: LORD God, thank you for the promise of resurrection. Thank you for the hope we have in Jesus. Through Jesus’ shed blood we have redemption and forgiveness. Hallelujah! Amen.

Your Turn: Why is the resurrection meaningful to you?

Despite Affliction and Pain

26 Tuesday Jan 2016

Posted by in Psalm 69, Psalms

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Reading:                                      Psalm 69

Verses 29-36

But as for me, afflicted and in pain—
may your salvation, God, protect me.

 I will praise God’s name in song
and glorify him with thanksgiving.
This will please the LORD more than an ox,
more than a bull with its horns and hooves.
The poor will see and be glad—
you who seek God, may your hearts live!
The LORD hears the needy
and does not despise his captive people.

Let heaven and earth praise him,
the seas and all that move in them,

for God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah.
Then people will settle there and possess it;

 the children of his servants will inherit it,
and those who love his name will dwell there (NIV).

Reflection

The word ‘despite’ does not appear in this final reading from Psalm 69, but despite its absence it’s at the core of what David is saying here.

But as for me, afflicted and in pain—may your salvation, God, protect me. I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.

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National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, ON — photo by David Kitz

Despite affliction and pain David resolves to praise God and give Him thanks. David decides to rise above his circumstances. He does not give into his troubles and sorrows. He does not yield to the complaints of his body. Not by the flesh, but in the Spirit, he rises above his afflictions.

Often I would rather wallow in my difficulties and coddle my discomforts. But the LORD calls us to live on a higher plane. It takes praise, thanksgiving and a song in our heart to lift us to that higher level. But before the song comes and the praise begins to flow, we determine our response. We must decide. We have a ‘but-as-for-me’ moment.

Despite opposition from our flesh, despite the doubts and misgivings of our peers, we determine that God is worthy of our praise. He is the God of the afflicted—not just the God of the feel-good set—so let the thanksgiving begin and praise burst forth.

Often God sees our heart and He intervenes and our situation changes. But if not, He is still worthy of whole hearted praise. Take time to praise and thank Him now.

Response: LORD God, in my difficulties I praise you. This pain-prone human flesh praises you. Thank you for this life you have given me. Your goodness and mercy never end. Amen.

Your Turn: Is praise difficult for you at times?

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).

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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?