GodReflection: Power Words

Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; – Psalms 95:6

Praise is another word of power trapped far too often inside songbooks and inside church building walls.

It is easy to agenda my praise of the creator to a specific time and place.

Solomon, who arguably built the most magnificent house of worship ever includes the following statement in his dedicatory response to God: But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!

To praise that kind of God encompasses every aspect of my existence.

A limitless God deserves limitless praise.

Praise is the natural response to awe.

Awe happens on the inside and on the outside of worship assemblies.

Certainly, in the assembly my dedicated focus joined with fellow believers facilitates praise.

I find it’s my “outside of the temple,” time where I fail in my praise to our Creator.

With the noise that surrounds my daily walk, it’s far too easy to take life in stride while oblivious to praise as I barrel through a daily schedule.

I envision David bedded down for the night in a secure camp. Warmed by a glowing and crackling fire he looks up and see the sky ablaze with moon and stars.

He meditates on the protection by God’s hand felt throughout the day and on into his present. His mind starts to compose these words:

Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. . . .

The Lord is compassionate and gracious; slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

For David the grand God merits praise beyond human capacity. He merits the praise of angels and heavenly hosts. In short, He merits the praise of His creation.

The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all. Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word. Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will. Praise the Lord, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the Lord, my soul.

I desire each moment to increase my awareness of the all-powerful Creator God who loves me and forgives my sin. This God stands ready to defend rather than to accuse.

I hope to make my response exactly what God desires—around the clock praise.

Stay tuned.

Dr. Gary J. Sorrells – A GodReflection on the Power Word Praise.

Gary@GodReflection.org