praise god this holiday season!
The holidays are here and now is the time to think about being with family and friends. It is the time of year for turkey and all the trimmings, Christmas decorations, cookies, gifts, parties, carols, and fun times. While those things are perfectly normal and fine, it is important for us remember to praise God for that he has done for us. No matter where we are in our lives or what our situation may be, we have much to praise God for.
Psalm 150 closes out the book of Psalms on a high note of praise. In six short verses, we are commanded eleven times to praise God. It provides the “who”, “where”, “why”, and “how” of praising God and, thus, living a joyous and victorious life in Christ Jesus.
Psalm 150 reads:
Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.
Who Should We Praise?
The Psalm open and closes with a command to praise the Lord. This address the “who” question. Who are we to praise at all times? We are to praise the Lord. Psalms 34:1 says, “I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” The act of continually giving thanks to God throughout the day every day will keep God as the central focus in our mind and invite Him into every aspect of our sometimes messy lives. Praise also brings peace of mind as we express our love and trust in God and our mind remains fixed on Him. The Prophet Isaiah wrote, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
Where Should We Praise?
Next, we are told “where” we should praise God. Of course, the sanctuary refers to the Jewish Tabernacle or the Temple where the Old Testament followers of God went to worship. The “firmament” refers to the heavens. Today we meet together to worship in our church or home church; however, we should not limit praising God to the times we are attending services. The command to “Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power” means that we can praise God from any location because our God fills heaven and earth.
Why Should We Praise?
In verse two, we are told “why” we should praise God. We are to “Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.” In other words, we should praise God because He IS God. He spoke all of creation into existence. At the sound of His voice, the stars formed, the planets were created, and Earth and all therein came into being. At His command, the human body with all its intricacies took shape from the dust. God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and everywhere, yet even in all His power and majesty, God still loves us. The Old Testament describes innumerable mighty acts God wrought on behalf of His people. The New Testament contains the greatest and mightiest act of all – that God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world to save mankind. The Bible says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” John 3:16-17. After Christ’s resurrection, God sent the Holy Spirit to dwell inside of us to lead, guide, and empower us as we live for Christ. These mighty acts of God reveal His unfailing love, grace and mercy and we should praise Him for that every day.
How Should We Praise?
Next, we are told “how” to praise God. God loves music. The Bible says that there will be music and singing in heaven (Revelation 15:1-4). It is not difficult to imagine that there are probably instruments in Heaven that we have never seen or heard. Nonetheless, God loves to hear our praises, whether in song or in spoken word. Psalms 22:3 explains that God inhabits our praises. But the final verse sums it up, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!” Therefore, regardless of whether or not you are a talented musician or singer, lift up your voice and praise the Lord!
Summary
In summary, do not lose sight of what is important this holiday season. God deserves our praises and thanksgiving. He loves us, He has blessed us, and He sent Jesus to die for us. It is only through the soul-cleansing blood of Jesus, that we can be saved. Live your life in a constant state of praise and thanksgiving to your Savior. Choose Jesus Today!
May you and your family rest in the incomparable love of Jesus and abound in his blessings this holiday season.
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God bless!