“giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,”
Psalms 113:1 Praise the LORD! Praise, O servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD! Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised! The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens! Who is like the LORD our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth? He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people. He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the LORD!
Psalms 103:20-21 Bless the LORD, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word!
Psalms 134:1 Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, who stand by night in the house of the LORD!
Psalms 135:1-3 Praise the LORD! Praise the name of the LORD, give praise, O servants of the LORD, who stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God! Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing to his name, for it is pleasant!
Psalms 145:10 All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your saints shall bless you!
Revelation 19:5 And from the throne came a voice saying, “Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, small and great.”
Exodus 15:11 “Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?
Isaiah 40:25 To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One.
Jeremiah 10:6 There is none like you, O LORD; you are great, and your name is great in might.
Luke 1:52-53 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.
James 2:5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him?
Being mindful of what God has done, is doing, and will do ought to bring praise to our lips and faith to our heart, mind and soul. God is in control and His plans and purposes for each of our lives. He gives us free will (choice) to humbly serve, listen intently to whispers of His leading, faithfully follow and obey and to be used by Him. Praise grows within our heart and mind as we yield more and more to Him. It is easy to praise Him in good times. In tougher times, when our heart is broken, relationships are stressed, and consequences of our sinful nature overbear us, praise seems to be buried deep and far way from our lips. Many times David has stated in the Psalms how his heart was broken, situations were over bearing, and his friends had abandoned him. In these Psalms he cried out with these burdens and yet finished with – Praise to God for who He is, for His love, for His power, for His might, for His salvation, and for His promises. This is where overbearing burdens of this life turn into “Faith Praise”. This is where the heart, soul and mind, in faith, fully trust, yield, and place whatever the situation is into God’s hand. There is no other place to find peace for our soul than fully in His care.
