June 13, 2011
Praise helps facilitate total surrender. The more you understand about the God of the universe, the more you understand that you really know so little. Then you begin to realize that (like I've written before), the mere human words of "Holy, Holy, Holy" can not begin to adequately describe or explain who God, the LORD Yawweh, truly is. Our human minds cannot comprehend the awesomeness, the surpassing greatness of God. I'm struggling to find the words to express what I even want to say. The more you know, the more you realize you don't know, the more you realize he is
He is God, we are not. The more you "get" this, the more you are willing (and even eager) to surrender; to bow down and lay your life before Him; to humble yourself (because just who do we think we are? This is God we are talking about!); and totally surrender all. It is the decision to trust Him, to put your life in His hands and trust Him—no matter what! We can't begin to know what plans He has for us and how He wants to use us to accomplish great things. When we surrender our lives totally to His control, then we start to see the hand of God working in our lives and we are totally astounded at His providence, His love, His greatness, His strength, His power, His plans for us, His hand. Is there any better way to live than having the Hand of God working in your life? I would rather live on the edge where either God does it or I fail then to try and be master of my own peon of a life, thinking I am somehow wiser and more able than God.
Praise. Glory. Honor. Majesty. Authority. Worship.
Thankfulness: The focus is often on what God has done for you. It is after the fact.
Praise: It's about who God is, was, and forever will be. It is surrender before we know what God has planned. It is trust. It is faith, before sight. It is believing. It is entirely about God.
Praise. It puts everything in the right perspective. In the right order.
Praise. First, before anything else. Before → thanks. Before → claiming promises. Before → requests. Before! Before anything else → → Praise!!
Psalm 145:1–8 - "I praise your greatness, my God the king; I will praise you forever and ever. I will praise you everyday; I will praise you forever and ever. The LORD is great and worthy of our praise; no one can understand how great he is."
"Parents will tell their children what you have done. They will retell your mighty acts, wonderful majesty, and glory. And I will think about your miracles. They will tell about the amazing things you do and I will tell how great your are. They will remember your great goodness and will sing about your fairness."
Everyone of these chapters begins and ends with: Praise the LORD.
Psalm 145 - Praise to God the King
Psalm 146 - Praise God Who Helps the Weak
Psalm 147 - Praise God Who Helps His People
Psalm 148 - The World Should Praise the LORD
Psalm 149 - Praise the God of Israel
Psalm 150 - Praise the LORD with Music
The LORD keeps ALL His promises. Everything He does is right. He is loyal. Three times in these chapters David says that God lifts up "those who are bowed down." Surrender. When we bow down in surrender and quit trying to be in charge, THEN God lifts us up. Another IF—THEN. It is an amazing phenomenon. The more we give up of ourselves, the more God gives.
Psalm 145:18 - "The LORD is close to everyone who calls on him in truth." The only way you can call on Him in truth—to truly pray to Him—is to understand the
relationship. He is God—I am not. Psalm 145:19–20 - "He gives those who respect him what they want. (Because what they want aligns with His heart.) He listens when they cry, and he saves them. The LORD protects those who love him, but he will destroy the wicked." (CF - Psalm 1)
There is always a flip side. Blessings—verses—Curses. (Her Name Was Jane)
Next Entry: Psalm 145:1 – 150:6 (Continued)
Praise helps facilitate total surrender. The more you understand about the God of the universe, the more you understand that you really know so little. Then you begin to realize that (like I've written before), the mere human words of "Holy, Holy, Holy" can not begin to adequately describe or explain who God, the LORD Yawweh, truly is. Our human minds cannot comprehend the awesomeness, the surpassing greatness of God. I'm struggling to find the words to express what I even want to say. The more you know, the more you realize you don't know, the more you realize he is
God
↓
and we are mere man.
He is God, we are not. The more you "get" this, the more you are willing (and even eager) to surrender; to bow down and lay your life before Him; to humble yourself (because just who do we think we are? This is God we are talking about!); and totally surrender all. It is the decision to trust Him, to put your life in His hands and trust Him—no matter what! We can't begin to know what plans He has for us and how He wants to use us to accomplish great things. When we surrender our lives totally to His control, then we start to see the hand of God working in our lives and we are totally astounded at His providence, His love, His greatness, His strength, His power, His plans for us, His hand. Is there any better way to live than having the Hand of God working in your life? I would rather live on the edge where either God does it or I fail then to try and be master of my own peon of a life, thinking I am somehow wiser and more able than God.
Praise. Glory. Honor. Majesty. Authority. Worship.
Thankfulness: The focus is often on what God has done for you. It is after the fact.
Praise: It's about who God is, was, and forever will be. It is surrender before we know what God has planned. It is trust. It is faith, before sight. It is believing. It is entirely about God.
Praise. It puts everything in the right perspective. In the right order.
God
↓
Man
Praise. First, before anything else. Before → thanks. Before → claiming promises. Before → requests. Before! Before anything else → → Praise!!
Psalm 145:1–8 - "I praise your greatness, my God the king; I will praise you forever and ever. I will praise you everyday; I will praise you forever and ever. The LORD is great and worthy of our praise; no one can understand how great he is."
"Parents will tell their children what you have done. They will retell your mighty acts, wonderful majesty, and glory. And I will think about your miracles. They will tell about the amazing things you do and I will tell how great your are. They will remember your great goodness and will sing about your fairness."
Everyone of these chapters begins and ends with: Praise the LORD.
Psalm 145 - Praise to God the King
Psalm 146 - Praise God Who Helps the Weak
Psalm 147 - Praise God Who Helps His People
Psalm 148 - The World Should Praise the LORD
Psalm 149 - Praise the God of Israel
Psalm 150 - Praise the LORD with Music
The LORD keeps ALL His promises. Everything He does is right. He is loyal. Three times in these chapters David says that God lifts up "those who are bowed down." Surrender. When we bow down in surrender and quit trying to be in charge, THEN God lifts us up. Another IF—THEN. It is an amazing phenomenon. The more we give up of ourselves, the more God gives.
Psalm 145:18 - "The LORD is close to everyone who calls on him in truth." The only way you can call on Him in truth—to truly pray to Him—is to understand the
God
↓
Man
relationship. He is God—I am not. Psalm 145:19–20 - "He gives those who respect him what they want. (Because what they want aligns with His heart.) He listens when they cry, and he saves them. The LORD protects those who love him, but he will destroy the wicked." (CF - Psalm 1)
There is always a flip side. Blessings—verses—Curses. (Her Name Was Jane)
Next Entry: Psalm 145:1 – 150:6 (Continued)
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