What better way kick off the new year than with praise?
The psalms are full of praise, in its varied moods. Sometimes it bursts forth in response to a lightning-bolt blessing, or in response to the answer to a prayer or long-held hope. It’s a reasonable, acceptable response to elation, necessary to experience if fully. Although it can take some practice for it to become our response to happiness, it’s the easy praise. It’s not hard to thank someone when they give us something we like.
But we wouldn’t always choose the things God sends, or allows. We all know life hurts at times. But God is good. All the time. And all the time, God is good.
Yeah, I have trouble believing that, too. Too much of the time.
Praise when it hurts doesn’t come easy. It becomes easier as we learn to trust God and His character. He’s bigger than our circumstances. And, honestly, for me, that can make it harder for me to praise Him. I question. I get frustrated with His omnipotence that doesn’t accomplish what I think is good. And with His omniscience that knows exactly what’s going to happen, that knows every choice I’m going to make and all of its consequences. Even the ones I never know about, at least not in this life.
Sometimes God just plain confronts us with a glimpse of His magnitude. Sometimes in nature – the ocean or the endless sky, the beauty of His endless creativity, the cataclysm.
In the history of Israel, we see He is not a foe to ignore. Sooner or later, nations and peoples that lived in opposition to Him were destroyed. When they were allowed victory over God’s chosen, it was for His ultimate glory. Sometimes we can’t turn back to Him until all we take pride in is broken, until we’re broken. It’s hard to see the grace in our brokenness, in our pain, but it’s there.
Grace can be brutal.
Praise, like gratitude and generosity, is a choice.
David – shepherd, king, psalmist – is a great example of praise because, in, through, and despite.
Although the psalms aren’t the only place we see praise expressed, we’ll be hanging out here for the month. Thirty-eight psalms in thirty-one days.
Praise is the January 2019 Listen When He Speaks theme.
What is Listen When He Speaks? A different type of Scripture reading and writing plan. Learn more here or sign up here.
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Our suggested Scripture memorization for January is all of Psalm 100. Memorize in the translation of your choice. Here it is from the NASB:
Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful singing.
Know that the Lord Himself is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.Enter His gates with thanksgiving
And His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him, bless His name.
For the Lord is good;
His lovingkindness is everlasting
And His faithfulness to all generations.