Devotion by Mike Geiger originally published: May 3, 2013 on www.whataboutjesus.com
For this week’s Sermon from Cross & Crown (CLICK HERE)
Devotions based on the weekly sermon will resume on August 2, 2021.
My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord.
Let every creature praise his holy name
for ever and ever. (Psalm 145:21)
Pause to Praise (Part 2)
Good morning reader. Did you pause to praise this morning already? How did yesterday go? Did it give you a different perspective on your day?
Psalm 145 gives many reasons to praise the Lord – some expected, some unexpected. Here are four that stand out:
- Pause to Praise the Lord for his GOODNESS.
They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. (Psalm 145:7)
Too often we focus on what we don’t have and blame God for it. Look around you where you are right now. What do you see that is evidence of God’s goodness? Pause to praise him for it!
- Pause to Praise the Lord for his GRACE
The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. (Psalm 145:8)
How quick we are to get angry, point out others faults, or blame God as mean and unloving. How deserving we are of God’s punishment as a result. To realize that as sinful as I am, God has shown me his undeserved love by sending Jesus for me, to cover my sin, to die for me. Pause to praise God for his grace for you!
- Pause to Praise the Lord for his FAITHFULNESS
The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made. (Psalm 145:13)
Just a couple verses after this, the psalm writer mentions how all creation looks to God to provide…since the beginning of the world he has. How many promises do we break? God has kept all of the ones he has made. What promises do you know that God has made? How has he kept them for you? Pause to praise God for his faithfulness!
- Pause to Praise the Lord for his JUSTICE
The Lord watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. (Psalm 145:20)
We struggle at times to make sense of evil in the world, terrorists, criminals and devious individuals that harm us directly or indirectly. We seek justice and wonder if it will ever come. Remember, God will bring justice to the wicked, those who do not love him. Justice for evil will come. Praise the Lord for his justice…and the love he shows to us by not treating us as our sins deserve.
Two days don’t make a habit, but perhaps these two days have planted a thought to begin each day with a brief pause for praise. With a little thought, you’ll begin to realize a brief pause is not enough to give God all the praise he deserves each day!
PRAYER: Lord God, thank you for the countless reasons you have given to us to praise you. Forgive me for countless days of complaining. Help me with your Spirit, to establish a new habit to each day pause to praise you! AMEN