Joyfully Praise God
All of Creation Magnifies His Name
Luke 19:37-39 NIV, “When he [ Jesus] came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: ‘Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!’
Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, rebuke your disciples!’
‘I tell you,’ He replied, ‘if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.’”
Joyfully praising God is our natural response to who He is and all that He has done—for all the miracles we have seen. Praise shouldn’t be dependent on our feelings, situations, circumstances, or the influence of the world. Praise stands apart, based upon the holiness of the Lord. All of creation testifies to His greatness. All of Heaven gathers round His Throne, worshipping His mighty Name, day and night. We have the awesome privilege of joining in the joyful eternal chorus.
Praise is an act of obedience that is met with abundant blessings for those who participate. Hope, peace, joy, and love flood our hearts and also reframe our minds. It ushers us into the glorious Presence of God. It reassures our spirits that God is sovereign over all. It refreshes, revives, and blesses our lives and gives God the honor that only He deserves. Praise is an outward expression of gratitude, and as children of God, we have so much to be grateful for. Praise is essential to spiritual revival!
Read Psalm 148:1-14 aloud:
“Praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights above.
2 Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his heavenly hosts.
3 Praise him, sun and moon;
praise him, all you shining stars.
4 Praise him, you highest heavens
and you waters above the skies.
5 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for at his command they were created,
6 and he established them for ever and ever—
he issued a decree that will never pass away.
7 Praise the Lord from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
8 lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
stormy winds that do his bidding,
9 you mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars,
10 wild animals and all cattle,
small creatures and flying birds,
11 kings of the earth and all nations,
you princes and all rulers on earth,
12 young men and women,
old men and children.
13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.
14 And he has raised up for his people a horn,
the praise of all his faithful servants,
of Israel, the people close to his heart.
Praise the Lord.”
I took this photo from the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. It features the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed before going to the cross. Also seen is the Mount of Olives where Jesus began His journey to the city and was greeted with people waving palm branches and proclaiming Him as King.
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