Tag: Song of praise

Your Song Of Praise

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Thankful, Thankfulness, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE WRITTEN: Thursday, 2021-03-25
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

BIBLE REFERENCE: Exodus 15:2, 11
TRANSLATION: Contemporary English Version (CEV)

BIBLE TEXT: 2 The Lord is my strength,
the reason for my song,
    because he has saved me.
I praise and honor the Lord—
he is my God and the God of my ancestors.
11 Our Lord, no other gods
compare with you—
    Majestic and holy! Fearsome and glorious!
    Miracle worker!

OBSERVATION: Included in our Scripture today is two verses of a song that originated in the heart of Moses and his people after they witnessed God’s miraculous, saving power from the Egyptian army. What might your song look like? It doesn’t matter if you could sing, or not, but how is your heart impacted after seeing God at work? First of all, sing it out to the Lord from a sincere heart, and secondly let me suggest that you write it down so you could later reflect on His blessings to you at this point in your life!

APPLICATION: I’m sure that when you fell in love, there were words of affirmation and praise that easily flowed from your heart for the most beautiful/handsome person that you had ever laid eyes on, right? That’s a pretty natural reaction from men and women whose heart has been moved by a wonderful person of the opposite sex. Moses and his people, the Israelites, had just encountered the greatest scare of their lives, when an army of trained men on horses moving at highest speeds, headed their way with swords drawn, and determined in their minds to change the direction of the multitude following Moses and Aaron. Moses was convinced that the same God who carefully engineered a plan to get them out of Egypt, would again take care of this oncoming army. However, God chose to do this while the Israelites looked back and watched in amazement. Imagine how their hearts sang for joy as they watched the impossible (at least in man’s eyes) transpire, and the battle being won for them as they simply stood still and watched the miraculous hand of God! This whole episode created a song in their hearts that had to come out as they sang praises to the Most Holy God. Now stop for a moment and bring this message home, as you apply this to your own life. You’ve read about how God has worked miracle after miracle in the lives of His people. You’ve sat and heard saints of God talk about how God miraculously protected them and cared for them. You may have stopped one day and realized that it was because of your prayers that God protected your spouse, healed your child, or restored your parent’s life to full health, so you too have become exposed to the miracles of a God that listens to the cry of His children. Would you share with the world what words sprang forth from your heart as you watched in amazement? As you felt healing in your body? As you saw that sick child or hurting parent jump to their feet without pain, and with limbs that moved as good as yours? I believe that God made our hearts to feel compassion, and appreciate His wondrous works. If only we will seek His face and ask Him to give us a clear view of Himself so that we might fight off the hindrances of Satan that causes us to muffle His praises and restrain our love for the Almighty.

PRAYER: Lord, we know you’re in and around us. Please humble our hearts to see Your face and to watch Your hand move in marvelous ways among our family and for our good. Moses and his people could never have thought to demand that You work against the Egyptian army as You did, so I am convinced that we are to simply place our burdens and our concerns at Your feet and ask for a miracle. Oh that we would be amazed in all that You do, and may our song of praise and thanksgiving be a natural reaction to Your works, without restraint of any kind by us or the advisory. Lord, we believe in the power of our awesome God. Please renew our strength when we grow weak in unbelief and unconcern. You are our Mighty God, and we praise You with all of our heart, soul and mind. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog at https://NuggetsFromGodsWord.org that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading or listening to this devotional, please go to the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and see all of my posts, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

Your Song of Praise

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Praise-worthy, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

Sunday, 2019-09-15

Bible Reference: Psalm 59:16-17
Translation: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

Bible Text: 16 But I will sing about your strength.
    I will rejoice in your love every morning.
You have been my place of safety,
    the place I can run to when troubles come.
17 I will sing praises to you, my source of strength.
    You, God, are my place of safety.
    You are the God who loves me!

OBSERVATION: When we’re about to receive thousands of dollars, we could probably assemble an unbelievable great song of praise to God! When our first grandchild is born, our hearts are so filled with the miracle of new birth that words of praise to our God would flow forth uncontrollably from our lips. But what about our song when we reflect on the ups and downs of our week? What about when our marriage is not going well, or when we’re overwhelmed with the stress of people out to ‘get us’? Should those times of praise look any differently? Meditate with me as we think about this.

APPLICATION: It is so easy for us to raise our songs of complaining about our finances; our health; our loved one’s hospitalization; and so on. All I know is, that no matter how hard one might have it, as for me, my situation is at a breaking point, so listen up dear friend as I unload on you!! To the contrary, can you imagine the feeling that must have come over the spies from Saul’s group as they snuck up to David’s house and overheard Him singing praises to his God? Friends, I don’t know about you, but I am very ‘human’ when it comes to stressful situations, similar to the situation David must have been facing at this time in his life where Saul was out to kill him. I become jittery inside, grouchy with those around me, and often become silent (to make sure I don’t say the wrong thing), so would I ever think of making time to glorify God in the middle of my pity party? Highly unlikely! But is it not true that Jesus never fought back, or showed anger, or hatred towards those who set out to harm Him? He knew it was the Father’s will that He should go to the cross, and He was prepared to honor Him in everything ordained by God. Could it be that God places us in certain situations to help us grow closer to Him, or perhaps learn to understand others, or perhaps get that chip off our shoulder? Scripture repeats itself in telling us that ‘in ALL things, give thanks’! Imagine with me for a moment that the same God who blesses us richly each and every day, is the same God that waits for our acknowledgment of His lordship even when things don’t seem to be going the way we expected. He’s in control Brothers and Sisters, so never turn your back on Him. Satan would love nothing more than to temp you with something and than see you fail, or at least falter in your faith. Be strong in the Lord and trust in Him in ALL your ways, my friend! This is a good day to strive for that goal! Prayerfully get before the Master and ask Him to help you make right decisions; read His Word for His answer back to you and the direction you should follow; listen to the spoken Word from Bible Believing pastors; and then be busy about His work. His ways will ultimately lead to a path that brings praise back to the Almighty. So seek my Lord while you are able to, and be obedient to His call. There’s nothing more satisfying in this whole world than to know that you are following the will of God, for this is what He desires of His children seeking to be with Him for eternity!

PRAYER: Oh Lord, I am truly reminded today to continue praising You in the good times, but also to never forget to praise You in the storms of life. You never promised us life without challenges, but you assured us that You will be with us at ALL times, and in every circumstance of life. Lord, You know the challenges that we face, and how overwhelmed we become at times. Please help us to always keep our heads up, looking full into the face of the One who loves us beyond compare, and reminding us that You will love us through the good, and the challenging times of life. Thank You for Your unconditional, sacrificial love for us, please help us to love You enough to never question Your ways and Your decisions. Please help those that will read this devotional and may not know you personally, to realize that You’re are every bit as awesome as I have tried to portray in this devotional today. For You are alone are God, and there is no one above or beyond You. AMEN!