It’s Time to Praise the Lord!

Many years ago I committed to learning several psalms by heart to recite when life was tough and I was in danger of losing focus. Painstakingly I learnt and recited Psalm 23, Psalm 91, Psalm 121 and today’s Psalm, 103. David’s revelation of God being His Shepherd gave me comfort. I clutched on tightly to Psalm 91 when I was afraid, and Psalm 121 reminded me that God was my helper. Psalm 103 brought to remembrance how blessed I was to be a Christian and how important it is to praise God for His goodness. I learnt that praise was a powerful weapon because it took my eyes off my present circumstances and re-focussed them on to God.

Gratitude overflows from a heart that brings to remembrance all the benefits of knowing and belonging to God. A grateful heart not only praises God for what He does but also for who He is – compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love (Psalm 103:8). When I recited Psalm 103, the difficulties and disappointments of the day began to diminish, and I could see the bigger picture again. I would thank God for all the times He had intervened in my life, provided, forgiven, healed, comforted, restored, renewed and strengthened. Faith would rise as I praised, and so did my drooping spirit. There was, and still is, so much to be grateful for. The longer I walk with God, and behold who He is and what He does, the longer my praise list grows.

My exhortation to you today is simple but life changing. In this world you will have trials – expect them – but don’t let them distract or inhibit you from praising God. He is worthy. He is good. He has showered each of us with more benefits than we realise. A heart that knows this is overflowing with praise. Let all that I am praise the Lord.

Prayer: Father God, I praise You because You are worthy and You have been so, so good to me. Specifically, today, I want to praise You for ... Amen.