Praising God

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Psalm 8:1 An Excellent Name

O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth, who have set Your glory above the heavens! Psalm 8:1

Over time there have been men and women who have had excellent names that are known throughout all nations. They have been people who have done great things that impacted the entire world in some way or another. People all over the world talk about these great men and women and what they had accomplished. Monuments and buildings are often built in honor of these famous people. However, with all their great deeds, they are only temporary and on this planet alone.

David gives praise to God saying how wonderful His name is throughout the earth with glory above the heavens.

Everyone can probably name someone who has done something great locally, nationally and worldwide. Many will have been impacted by these others who have done something great. When people speak of these others, they lift them up and honor them with the greatest honor they can provide.

One name that is above all of these other names is Jesus. Although David did not know Jesus during his time, he lifted God up knowing that God would provide salvation someday. Jesus, being God Himself, came to the earth, died on the cross and rose from the dead to provide forgiveness of sins and eternal life to all who believe.

No person on earth has done anything greater than that! No one has done anything that will last for eternity as what Jesus had done for everyone, even while they hated Him.

How excellent is His name in all the earth! Believers need to see and recognize how excellent His name is. They need to give Him praise and tell the world about Him above all other good people.

You may or may not have a great name in your community, but you probably know some men or women who have great names, known for doing great things. Regardless of your name or who you know, there is One you need to know and recognize that is above all other names.

Jesus, God in the flesh, is greater than any other who has ever walked this planet in all of history. He has provided you with forgiveness of your sins and given you salvation that gives life for all eternity.

How excellent is His name to you?

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know how excellent God’s name is in Christ Jesus; that you will give God praise for His excellent name; and that you will honor God above all others.

Picture by Michael Krahn under Unsplash

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Job 37:5 Always Doing Great Things

God thunders marvelously with His voice; He does great things which we cannot comprehend. Job 37:5

It is sometimes amazing for a person to watch some expert do some great task. The average person cannot comprehend how someone is able to accomplish certain things. Some experts, in certain fields, are able to do things that most people cannot even understand what is being done but can understand that it is amazing talent.

Over time many great things have been done or invented by great minds. All most people can do is accept the things, rather than understand them.

Elihu tells Job that God thunders in a marvelous way with His voice as He does things that no one can comprehend.

Going through life it is easy for the average person just to live from day to day without seeing the amazing things in this life. Most things are taken for granted because they have always been there and there is nothing different. On the surface everything appears to be simple, but most people do not see the complexity of what goes on under the surface to make those simple things occur.

Each day people sit down to eat a meal, but not understanding what God had done behind the scenes to make that meal possible. God provides the nutritious earth, the sunlight, the warmth, the cold, the water and much more just to allow a plant to grow. Then there is also the complexity of the humans that grew it, prepared it and delivered the food, all under the working of God’s mighty power.

God is doing more than any person can every begin to comprehend. In spite of problems and challenges in life, believers need to stand back in awe and take notice how great God is.

Every day you are surrounded by many great things that God has done and is doing in your life. Most often these things are things that God is doing behind the scenes to make your life here on this earth possible.

Do not allow yourself to become overwhelmed with the challenges each day presents but be overwhelmed with what God is doing and has already done. This world and its problems are only temporary, and God is working out great things to bring you into eternity.

Give God the praise and worship due Him for all of His marvelous works that you cannot begin to comprehend.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that God will open your eyes to what He is doing in your life; that you will see what God is doing around you in this world; and that you will give God praise for His mighty work in your life.

Photo by Christian Cagni under Unsplash

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2 Chronicles 20:21 Sing Praise Going Into Battle

After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: “Give thanks to the Lord, for his love endures forever.” 2 Chronicles 20:21

For many people, going into battle is a time of fear and trembling. No one really does not know if they are going to survive the battle or not. It is often dangerous in various ways. The level of fear increases if the enemy is larger and more powerful in appearance.

Going into battle against Ammon and Moab, Jehoshaphat had some men lead the army of Judah with singing of praises to God. They were giving thanks to God and proclaiming that His love lasts forever.

Battles are a part of life for every person. Most battles are not ones of physical fighting, as the army of Judah were fighting, but battles of the mind and soul.

The enemy of every person is the devil, who is out seeking whom he can kill and destroy. His number one focus is against believers, striving to get them to sin against God.

Often the devil looks very large and dangerous. It appears that there is no way to win the battle and that one will fail. Many will run away in fear or give into the desires of the world.

Instead of giving into the world and devil, believers need to turn their focus upon God and sing praise to Him as the march into the battlefield. When giving God praise, the believer is putting His trust in God and not focusing on how large and dangerous the enemy may be. God will give the victory, when He is given the praise and thanks.

The world is out to destroy you and turn you away from God. It is a battle for your soul. Going into battle may is never easy nor fun, but with God all things are possible.

Do not allow yourself to focus upon what the enemy looks like, but put your mind upon God. Give God praise for who He is. Give God thanks for what He has done in your past. Give God thanks for what He will do. Remember His great love for you. Then trust God to give you the victory over the enemy of your soul as you go into battle each day.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will continually sing praises to God; that you will give thanks to God; that you will know His great love for you; and that you will see God give victory over the enemy of your soul.

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2 Chronicles 6:4 Praise For Fulfilled Promises

Then he said: “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who with his hands has fulfilled what he promised with his mouth to my father David.” 2 Chronicles 6:4

Often when someone fulfills a promise to someone else, they are thanked. Others will give praise about the person because he did what he had promised. People will talk good about him keeping his word.

It is often talked about even more because many people do not keep their promises. It is very common for promises to be broken for nearly any reason to not fulfill it.

As Solomon was dedicating the new temple of God, he told the people to praise God because He had fulfilled His promise to his father David.

It is difficult for people to trust anyone to keep their promises. When one does find someone who keeps his promises, it is often slightly to very shocking and unexpected.

God, however, has always kept every promise that He has ever made to anyone and everyone. He has never failed to keep His promises. While this is true, many believers do not always trust God to keep His promises and then forget to give Him praise for the ones He fulfills.

If one stops and thinks about it for a moment, he will probably be able to name of dozens of promises God has fulfilled in his own life recently. Promises of provision, of life, of joy, of forgiveness, of protection, of salvation, of His presence, of wisdom, of direction and much more.

Everyday God is fulfilling at least one promise to each and every believer, if one is really willing to see what God is doing in his life. Knowing this gives the believer reason to give God praise for what He has done and is doing and will continue to do.

Through the Bible, God has given you hundreds of promises. He may also have given you direct personal promises to in your spirit or through someone else.

Many things that occur in your life do not just happen by random chance or good luck, but by the promises and will of God.

Take time on a regular basis to think of what promises God has recently fulfilled in your life. Give Him praise for those fulfilled promises. Then go out and tell others how God is fulfilling His promises in your life.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know the promises of God in your life; that you will see when God fulfills a promise; that you will give God praise for fulfilled promises; and that you will tell others of what God has done in your life.