Praise God, everybody! Applaud God, all people! His love has taken over our lives; God’s faithful ways are eternal. Hallelujah! Psalm 117 The Message

 

Tucked in the middle of the Bible, in the smallest of Psalms and chapters, is a simple message—
God’s loving-kindness prevails over us; His faithfulness has no end!

From the beginning of Genesis, we have reason to praise the Creator of the heavens and earth. Everything God made was pronounced good. He looked beyond Israel’s borders and delivered His people from oppression. He gifts redemptive Truth. Sin and death were conquered through Jesus’ shed blood. The curse of Genesis ends; and victory is had in the revelation of Jesus Christ and a new heaven and earth. One day we will drink from the River of Life, and there will be no more pain and sorrow. What God has promised, He will fulfill. 

We have reason to worship. We are seen, known, forgiven, and loved! 

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so is God’s great love for those who fear Him. He is good and faithful to all generations. (Psalm 103:1; Psalm 100: 5; Psalm 146:6)  

John MacArthur states, “Worship is honor and adoration directed to God.” It’s giving to God through our songs, praises, work, ministries, and gratitude. Worship is seen in how we relate to our friends, neighbors, coworkers, earthly families, and brothers and sisters in Christ. It’s also observed in how we handle tests and trials, losses and heartaches, failures and victories. We choose to worship despite our circumstances. 

Like an infected flesh wound, an emotional wound can’t be ignored, dismissed, or forgotten. When hurts remain, changed circumstances don’t ease our pain or redirect our focus. Instead, our pain often comes out sideways in the form of spewed words and/or harmful coping strategies. Our wound must be cleansed well; and lies re-framed with Truth; or else, we return to Egypt. 

God delivered Israel the long way, through the wilderness, so they wouldn’t return to Egypt. Likewise, our healing journey isn’t a destination, but a process; and it gives us reason to worship. We choose praise in the middle, before we see or understand what lies beyond the next bend. For worship is a way of life. 

The light of the Savior, His love and Truth, restores our souls. 

Who are we that God has brought us thus far?  

Shout a Hallelujah! Praise Yahweh. He is the breath of our very existence. Intimacy defines His divine nature.

Jesus, You alone are worthy. You heal our waste places. The voice of the bride, Your church, gives thanks for You are good! 

Singing Your praises,

Lily Mae

“Thus says the Lord, ‘Yet again there shall be heard in this place of which you say, “It is a waste” . . . the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who say, “Give thanks to the Lord of Hosts, for the Lord is good, for His loving-kindness is everlasting.” Jeremiah 33: 10, 11NASB