Thought For Today May 16
Praise
By: Robert A. Searles

God is well pleased with his children when they open their mouths in praise to him. What could be more fitting for the children of the heavenly Father than to salute and greet one another with praises to God, along with a pleasant good morning? Of course, in order for this praise to be pleasing to God, it must truly come from our hearts, and not just from our lips. God is worthy of our praise.

 "Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God: him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name. He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen." Deuteronomy 10: 20, 21

God has done some great and wonderful things for us. He gave his son, he shed divine blood to pay our sin debt. He forgave our sins and reconciled us to himself when we were lost and without hope. He hears our prayers, he gives us our daily bread, and supplies all our needs according to his riches in heaven. When we praise him with our lips, originating in our heart from a true sense of gratitude, we are declaring to the listening ear, the greatness and glory and worthiness of God.

 "Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?" Exodus 15:11.

We ought always to be praising the Lord with our lips as well as with our lifestyle. What good is secret praise? Secret praise or unspoken words of gratitude are never heard, and how can they be enlightening or edifying to anyone else, that they might know how great we know our God to be?

"Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the Lord; I will sing praise to the Lord God of Israel." Judges 5: 3. "I will praise the Lord according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the Lord most high." Psalm 7: 17. "My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him." Psalm 22: 25.

My praise in the great congregation means that we praise him publicly, among all people, let them know that you are praising God. When you greet someone with praises to the Lord, you are saying to that person that you acknowledge God to be the source of all your benefits. This is pleasing to the Lord.

"Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright. O Praise the Lord with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. Sing unto him a new song; play skillfully with a loud noise. For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth." Psalm33: 1-4.

God has said that whoso offereth praise gloryfieth me.
When we glorify God, we receive strength and power for our own lives. Praising God is being obedient to God. Obedience brings God's good favor and blessing.

 "Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God." Psalm 50: 23.

Shall we covenant ,or agree with God, that: "I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together." Psalm 34: 1-3.