Psalm 100

Walking was my exercise of choice that day.  Sometimes I feel like the great composer Ludwig van Beethoven when I walk.  Much like him, I walk with my head down and give a lot of thought to many things.  This day, I was pondering praise.  I don’t know what triggered the thought.  Perhaps it was the beauty of Bogue Sound or Bogue Banks.  Maybe it was the large amounts of animals that I encountered in that moment of time.  Maybe it was the change in the weather.  Psalm   says that the very existence of these things gives praise to God.  Regardless of what triggered it, praise was on my mind.

I began to ask myself questions.  What is the purpose of praising God?    Who benefits from praising God?  When do we praise God?  How do we praise God?  These are great questions to ponder and I encourage you to ponder them yourself.  Search the scriptures.  See why, when, and how God’s people offered praise to him.  Don’t know where to start?  The Psalms.  

The verse that screamed at me was from Psalms.  Psalm 22: 3 “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.” (KJV)  Our God inhabits praise.  He lives there.  When we praise Him, He is present with us.  We are set free from whatever binds us when we praise him because our troubles seem light as a feather in the light of  who He is.  

Who benefits from praise?  God does.  We do.  The world does.  The great hymn-writer, Fanny Crosby, said, “Praise the Lord!  Praise the Lord!  Let the earth hear HIS voice!” (emphasis mine)  Who is she encouraging to offer the praise?  Us.  Who’s voice does the earth hear?  God’s.  I was astonished at the revelation that I received that day.  God’s voice is heard when we praise.  

How will you praise God today?  Will the earth hear His voice when you offer your praise?

--Melissa Vincent