How many people do you know who live with open, childlike wonder at the greatness of God? It would seem that these are severe days for many; lock-jawed with grinding teeth, they seem to be satisfied with surviving another day with a sense of joy equal to that of a man who has removed a splinter from his palm rather than a sinner who has had his guilt removed from his soul. Others live their days aloof and indifferent, focused on things and accomplishments and events which have little value beyond the here & now. Even in our churches most of the weekly chatter is absent of joyful proclamation of the majesty of Christ and the beauty of His Father. Christians babble about television and traffic, politics and parties…struggles and sadness. Every now and then a Spirit-filled believer pipes up and stands among the brethren with constant and easy-flowing praise, focusing on things above the earth and outside of time. Unfortunately, this type of Christian can cause others to feel awkward so they are not fully appreciated nor heartily embraced.
We have come to the point of tolerating radical, praise-dripping saints but we no longer wish to emulate them. They are oddballs, relics of a generation when things were less complicated and sophisticated. We find their praise quaint but impractical. Truth be known, their zeal is often squelched…and they become just like us.
I’m personally hoping for a renaissance of vibrant praise-warriors. Churches are familiar with the term prayer-warriors – those who endeavor in intercession and petition whose lives are marked as such – but who can name a praise-warrior? Why is it that prayer is highlighted and emphasized at the expense of an equal focus on praise? God does not need anything and that includes the hearing of our praise. Yet the fact that He does not need it cannot eclipse the realities that He is worthy of it and has commanded it. He inspired His own psalmist to say of Him in Psalm 70:4, “May all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You! May those who love Your salvation say evermore, “God is great!”
God doesn’t merely want us to know that He is great. He wants us to tell it. The verse above tells us how to be (rejoicing and glad in Him), presents an issue to be examined (do we love His salvation?) and gives us an action to fulfill (say all the time that God is great). I’m going to give you an opportunity today to do exactly that. Take five minutes of your time in the comment box below and tell of God’s greatness to you. It is likely today that you will have dozens of conversations which may not afford you the chance to magnify Him in praise for His greatness unto you. Do it now while the moment is before you. Remind us of how He is great and let us magnify the Lord together. I’ll start us out:
God is great to me in that He is unspeakably patient when I am not triumphing in repeated areas of weakness. He is not fed-up with me but relentless in compassion and grace. He has taught me how to fear Him without being afraid of Him. In this, my God is great.
I am amazed by God everyday and I thank him and praise him for bringing me to the truth. Once he brings you to the truth and light of this world that he has created for us there is no turning back. I feel very blessed to be tested and guided everyday and reminded that God loves us. Thank you Lord for bringing me to you and showing me that there is no other way.
i lost the love for God and little by little he broke me down and i realize now i need Him in my life more than ever-i realized i put Him in a corner and tried to live life my way-right now im tearing up which tells me He’s real – im back on the path and im boldly moving forward and once again i see His greatness in every situation that faces me-i lost my job and i have no fear-only joy-i know He will protect my family and He will open a new and better door for me-i feel as if with this new time off was His way to say-“we need to get close again and now you have no excuse”–I thank him for you Jeff-i recently watched you on television and you touched my spirit and made me see a few things more clearly-you are truly a blessing from God
There is a favorite Proverb of mine that addresses what you are describing: “Blows that wound cleanse away evil; strokes make clean the innermost parts.” – Proverbs 20:30. Jesse, I’ve been exactly where you are more than once and I encourage you to keep viewing God’s discipline as an example of His incredible love for you. He isn’t interested in punishing you, but breaking you so that you will always recall the emptiness that comes when we wander. Some of us are slow learners but I’m trusting that you will build upon these difficult days and find relief which also brings Him glory. Thanks for sharing.
1 Chron 29:11 Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.
Ps 145:3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.
Ps 97:12 Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
Ps 8:3-4 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; what is man, that thou art mindful of him?
Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Eph 2:4-7 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Jude 1:24-25 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen
Where do we start? and where could we stop? That He has loved me & saved me & forgiven me & adopted me & is preparing a place in glory for ME, a sinner by nature & practice & inclination, is truly amazing. That’s why it is grace – utterly undeserved favour
I think your reply has motivated me to leave this same post up for tomorrow too. You said, “where do we start? and where could we stop?” I think too many of the TT readers either took today off from the blog or missed their opportunity to boast in the Lord. Maybe another day will allow for some others to join the time of thanksgiving and praise.
I am almost speechless when it comes to our Amazing Lord and God. Sometimes I wonder how He can love me so much, when I am a sinner and sometimes fall into the negative….but I am soooo grateful that He
forgives me, and still loves me and does not hold anything against me because of my failure. He is amazing.
I agree with John Newton – Amazing Grace -how sweet it is –
We share the bewilderment at why/how God could be so good to us when, apart from Him, there is not a thing worthy of that love. He is, indeed, amazing.
Luke 6:38 – Give and it shall be given unto you. Good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and RUNNING OVER, shall men give unto your bosom……Praising God this morning, first of all for our Salvation and that he ALWAYS keeps his promises when we follow his commands even when our sinful nature is to doubt . His ways are sometimes truly mysterious. We are overwhelmed w/ His grace and mercy – our health (especially Mark’s), roof over our head and food on our table. God is so good and worthy of our Praise in all things.
Important to remember the little things which don’t seem so little when/if we lose them, right?
Just listened to a few praise songs… “Jesus Messiah” and “How Great Thou Art” after reading today’s blog. Then my thoughts turned to Psalm 145 ( a favorite!) It is filled with praises to our God. I praise Him for His greatness, for His wondrous works, His mighty acts, His awesome deeds,His abundant goodness, His righteousness, His mercy, His steadfast love, His faithful words and the list goes on! I do not deserve any of the above yet they are mine because of His great provision of salvation through JESUS who is the promised One, the holy One and the only One. Oh that my mouth will bring forth His praise today!
Beautiful, Debbie!