PRAISE THE LORD FOR HE IS GOOD!
“Let everything that has breath praise the LORD…” – Psalm 150:6
Every living thing has an obligation to appreciate and thank its maker and sustainer. I was taught in the Biology class that living things are characterized by certain features and qualities popularly represented by the acronym MR NIGER D. Biologists believe all living things are characterized by their ability to move, respire, take nutrition(eat food), respond to stimuli, grow in size, excrete body waste products, reproduce its kind, and then die. Obviously what the Scientists left out in this characterization is an essential element of living things, which is praise and thanksgiving to their maker. Psalm 150:6 lets us know that all living things must praise the Lord. The cock crows every morning to praise God for another new day. All animals have a way to praise God. The trees of the forest clap their hands, the birds of the air sing wonderful melodies to the Maker of heaven and earth. The flowers of the field let out their sweet odours to glorify the one that made them. Indeed everything that has the breath of life should and ought to, and must praise Jehovah, God Almighty. Furthermore, there is a special reason for humans beings to praise the Lord. The fact that God made man so special among all of His creations should elicit the utmost gratitude from every man that lives. God made us in His likeness, and gave us so much capacity and ability which cannot be matched by any other creations on earth (Genesis 1:26-31). Indeed everyone ought to praise God for the air He gives that sustains life free of charge. There must be more than enough reasons that we can see to praise God, and let us here consider a few.
God is to be praised for His awesome majesty and supremacy. We must stand in awe of His glory and power. He is God above all gods, none is like Him and there will never be. He is supreme and all power are His. In greatness, God is the greatest, in vastness God is the vastest. In wisdom, God is the wisest. Just look at the galaxies, the works of His awesome hands. The earth is surrounded by countless stars that lit the skyline every night, and can you imagine it? Astronomers tell that each star is bigger in size than the earth! Think of the oceans; they extend boundlessly over our sights, and can you imagine it still, that earth scientists tell us the lands and the rocks are all suspended on water? The most creative of all men comes nowhere near in concept, in beauty and design, as God, Creator of the universe. It will take all eternity to unravel the mysterious creations of God. Who will dare stand to scorn, mock, question or accuse God when even a little of His awesome majesty is shown forth? Certainly we all must bow down before Him in worship and offer to Him our utmost praise. Let us praise Him for His great love towards us. Certainly He who reigns from coast to coast and overseas all that happens in the planets should be too busy to care about you and me, but No, God knows every one of us by name while we were in our mother’s womb (Jeremiah 1:5). Shouldn’t we bow before Him who reigns on Highest and yet reaches down to pick the lowliest of men in the obscurest of places? You my friend, should have more than enough reasons to praise God!
God is to be praised for not only His greatness, but also for His goodness. God indeed is good and His grace is abundant and amazing. He lavishes His goodness on all creatures, even upon the bad as upon the good. He gives rain to fall for all men, both good and bad. Some vile men regard not His goodness to them and continue in wantonness and wickedness. Some see God’s goodness and are changed by it forever. God’s benevolence can never be in doubt. His mercy is great and enduring. He forgives sins and saves all who turn to Him (Psalm 103:3). His anger lasts but for a moment, but His favour is for a lifetime. He is a great provider for the needy. He feeds the hungry. He is the help of the helpless. He is the father of the fatherless and a husband to the widows. He makes rivers to flow in the desert just to quench the thirst of one thirsty soul (Genesis 21:15-20). He rescues and delivers those in danger from destruction. He heals the sick, restores sight to the blind and delivers the oppressed. He raises the death back to life and comforts the broken hearted. Praise Him for His free salvation offered to you by the death and resurrection of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Praise Him who has rescued you from hell and given you the blessed hope of forever dwelling with Him in heaven. In all things, God is good. Let us praise the Lord for His goodness to us. Look into your life friend, see how far God has brought you. Is He not worthy of your praises and adoration? It should be the greatest ingratitude to pass over these things as given, and never realizing that behind every provision is the mighty hand of God holding it out to us. It is time to open up your mouth in thanksgiving, in singing and in open testimony of God’s goodness in your life. Yes, praise God for He is good!
I realize that there may be some people going through some turbulent times or some grievous situations, and who wonder why they should praise God. Satan who has done these evils in your life, works to make you accuse God for causing your uncomfortable situation. But consider it fully well, you will see that God is not the cause but the solution to your problems. Consider that if it were not for God’s mighty hand of restraint keeping back the evil plans of the wicked one, you will be totally consumed. It is said that some man had gone to hang himself and commit suicide because he had no shoes, but while facing the noose he had made, he looked down and saw a man who had no legs, so he discovered he was better off, so he did not kill himself. You may not be the best you could be right now, but praise God you are right now not 6ft below ground level. Praise God you are alive. Praise God for the bright future He has prepared ahead of you. Look intently to that future where God will wipe your tears and comfort you (Revelations 7:17, 21:4). It could be your present situation is part of God’s work of chastising the children He loves (Hebrews 12:3-13). David, the Psalmist, could say this “Before I was afflicted I went astray; but now have I kept your word. Thou art good and doest good….It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes” (Psalm 119: 67-71). Maybe you have wandered away from God, and this short difficulties you are facing is to bring you back to God and keep you from much worse happenings in the future. In all cases, the goodness of God will be seen, and we must thank God and praise Him for that. If you have backslidden in your commitment to God or you have never received the salvation of God through believe and profession in Christ, thank God you can make that commitment now as you whole heartedly pray to God. Will you surrender your life to Jesus Christ now?
Pray now.
“Dear God, I know I am a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son. I believe that He died for my sin and that you raised Him to life. I want to trust Him as my Savior and follow Him as Lord, from this day forward. Today I repent of all my sins (name the sins you know you've been committing), and I give up every sinful habit and lifestyle. Forgive me, give me a new life and a new heart. Guide my life and help me to do your will. I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.”
If you have said this prayer with the whole of your heart, then be assured God has heard you and saved you. You now need to seek out a church around you where you will get to know God more and be baptized so you can live the new life you have received by Christ death and resurrection. I pray that you shall not be cast into Hell, but shall be welcome into Heaven to live eternally with God when your life in this world ends. God bless you.
Pray now.
“Dear God, I know I am a sinner, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son. I believe that He died for my sin and that you raised Him to life. I want to trust Him as my Savior and follow Him as Lord, from this day forward. Today I repent of all my sins (name the sins you know you've been committing), and I give up every sinful habit and lifestyle. Forgive me, give me a new life and a new heart. Guide my life and help me to do your will. I pray this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.”
If you have said this prayer with the whole of your heart, then be assured God has heard you and saved you. You now need to seek out a church around you where you will get to know God more and be baptized so you can live the new life you have received by Christ death and resurrection. I pray that you shall not be cast into Hell, but shall be welcome into Heaven to live eternally with God when your life in this world ends. God bless you.
Let us all cultivate a thanksgiving and praise culture in our lives, always lifting our hands and hearts to God in praise. When you travelled on that journey and came back safely, praise God and thank Him for His goodness in keeping you safe. When you record successes in any of life’s ventures, do not at all go boasting about your special abilities and strength to accomplish such feats, rather praise and thank God who made it possible for you to have what you have. When you get well and recover from some sickness or disease, do not at all go boasting about the special medical care you got that made you well, no, praise and thank God for healing you. Why? There were many like you who had more expensive medicare but could not survive the attack. Friends let us all thank God for His goodness. Let us praise Him every day for He indeed is worthy. Above all, know that praise is an acceptable sacrifice before God for it is written: “The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me;…” (Psalm 50:23). Friends, with all that has been said, are you a living being? Raise your voice to God in resounding praise! “O for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer’s praise, the glories of my God and king, the honors of His name, the honors of His name.” (Hymn composed by Charles Wesley).
Go ahead and give God praise!
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