365 Days of Praise
Praise God of the COVENANT
“And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.'”
Do you ever hurriedly read through familiar passages in the Bible? I often have to remind myself to slow down so I grasp the intensity of God’s words to me. Such is the case with Matthew 26:27-28; which is often read during Communion. When we slow down to read this passage, we realize that Jesus identifies Himself as the Covenant Maker. He makes a covenant with us and seals it with His blood. He literally dies for us, and His covenant with us is forever binding.
Lord Jesus, COVENANT MAKER, You not only made a covenant with us, but You sealed it with Your blood. We worship, praise, and adore You, our Lord and God.
Praise to the God of the Armies of Israel
“Then David said to the Philistine, ‘You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted.’”
Are you familiar with the story of David and Goliath? Most people are. The Biblical account of a winsome lad using a slingshot to overpower a mean giant is something like a Disney movie. But, it isn’t fiction. It’s a powerful historical account with thousands of eyewitnesses. I encourage you to open your Bible and read 1 Samuel 17 as if it were your first time. Among numerous things, one jumped out at me when I reread the passage this morning. David’s confidence that he could prevail over the giant wasn’t a whimsical wish. His confidence was rooted on past experiences when God had been there for him. The giant before him was different from his past battles, but God was the same present help to him.
Are you facing a giant? Does it seem insurmountable? Are you afraid you can’t win? Those around us may offer us their “armor” – what’s worked for them, and it might help. But, in the end, nothing man offers us compares with reliance on the God of the Armies of Israel. God is present to empower you and ensure victory. Look to Him.
Heavenly Father, You are the God of the armies of Israel who leads angelic hosts to prevail against all who are against You. Win the battles in our lives as we stand in Your name against the enemies of our flesh, Satan, and fallen world.
Praise to the GOD of ORDER
“‘Thus says the Lord, Who gives the sun for light by day and the fixed ORDER of the moon and the stars for light by night, Who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar; The Lord of hosts is His name.’”
Have you ever thought about how “order” is important to God? If not, look around. Order is important to our Heavenly Father. On a grand scale, we see His order in days, nights, and seasons. On the most minute of scales, we see God’s order in protons, neutrons, and electrons making up atoms. And of protons and neutrons being made of three quarks each.
Have you ever thought about God ordering your day and maybe even turning to Him to order and organize the moments of your day? Do you think perhaps He might do a better job of it than we might? Beginning our day with a prayer to the God of Order is wise.
LORD, You are a GOD OF ORDER. Please order our day so that we live fully for You.
Praise to GOD of the LIVING
“…regarding the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God: I AM THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, AND THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB”? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”
Jesus is the one talking. He has just told those who were asking Him questions that they were mistaken about some things. Imagine that! That we might ever be mistaken. Then, Jesus used the Old Testament to correct their thinking. To those who consider the Old Testament irrelevant, please consider its importance. Jesus often quoted from it as the authority of His teachings. And what did He quote? That GOD IS NOT THE GOD OF THE DEAD, BUT OF THE LIVING. Do you have a loved one who is no longer alive on earth? If so, be assured on the basis of Jesus’s words – your loved one is alive.
GOD of the LIVING, we praise You for receiving our loved ones into Your presence. Thank You, that we too will be alive in Your presence one day.
Praise to GOD of the JEWS
“Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also?”
“He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” is an American spiritual that was first published in 1927. However, long before the song, God revealed Himself to Abraham, Moses, and others as the God of the Jews. It is with great praise that both Jews and Gentiles celebrate, “God is our God!”
GOD OF THE JEWS, we praise You for being the God of the world.
Praise to GOD of the GENTILES
“…is God the God of the Jews only? Is He not the God of the Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also.”
Whew! And I don’t say that lightly. A thunderous applause should erupt upon hearing that God is not only the God of the Jews; He is also the God of those who are not Jewish. Have you given a hearty praise to God for including you in His plan of salvation?
GOD of the GENTILES, we praise You for including us in the blessings and inheritance given to the Jews.
Praise to the GOD of ALL GRACE
“After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.”
Do you ever feel incomplete or imperfect? Do you sometimes wish you were stronger in your convictions and more consistent in your walk with Christ? Do you ever wonder how God could love and forgive you? The answer to our questions is summed up in one word: GRACE. Notice that 1 Peter 5:10 doesn’t say that we will one day pull ourselves up by our boot straps and then be perfect, confirmed, strengthened, and established. Rather, the Bible states, “God Himself will.” The God of all grace has called us to His eternal glory in Christ and He will finish by grace what He began in grace. He is the God of ALL grace.
GOD of all GRACE, we love and praise you. Thank You for calling us to eternal glory in Christ. Thank you for taking it upon Yourself to complete what You began – our perfection, confirmation, strengthening, and establishment in Christ Jesus.
Praise to GOD
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
When we go to the beginning, to the very first way the ONE we worship is addressed, it is GOD; Elohim. Biblical scholar Charles Ryrie explains that it is “a generic term for deity as well as a proper name for the true god. Its basic meaning is ‘strong one, mighty leader, supreme Deity.’ The form of the word is plural, indicating plentitude of power and majesty and allowing for the NT revelation of the triunity of the Godhead.” That is the scholarly definition of the GOD we love and worship. But how would you explain who God is to you?
GOD, ELOHIM, we bow in worship and praise of You, for how You have revealed Your majesty to us; for how You’ve reached down and saved us; for how You will raise us up to be in Your presence one day. It is with unspeakable reverence we praise You!
Thank You, GLORIOUS GOD
“‘O may Your GLORIOUS name be blessed and exalted above all blessing and praise!’”
How do we “bless” God’s GLORIOUS name?
Nehemiah 9:6-8a provides a great example:
“You alone are the Lord. You have made the heavens, the heaven of heavens with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them.
You give life to all of them and the heavenly host bows down before you.
You are Lord God, Who chose Abram and brought him out from Ur of the Chaldees and gave him the name Abraham. You found his heart faithful before You, and made a covenant with him…”
Do we get it? We bless God’s glorious name when we recount what He has done and give credit to Him.
Bless God’s glorious name right now!
LORD, we bless and exalt Your GLORIOUS name! You are the One who….
Praise GOD, Who GIVES LIFE to the DEAD
“God, who GIVES LIFE to the DEAD and calls into being that which does not exist.”
There are many things we can give each other, but we cannot give life to someone who is dead. Only God can and does. How does that make you feel? What thoughts do you have as you ponder this attribute of God?
LORD, You who GIVE LIFE TO THE DEAD, we praise You and exalt Your name! Thank You for raising our deceased loved ones to eternal life. Thank You for the resurrection life we will one day experience. Thank You for the life eternal that You have already given us. We love You and praise Your holy name!