Begin With Thanks – Psalm 147:1

Wake Up Call

Are you one of those people who take to praise and worship as easily as a fish to water? If so, good for you – you have no trouble following the admonition from scripture: “Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful” (Psalm 147:1).

There is a well hidden secret out there though; one few will admit. Everybody doesn’t feel that way! For some who are of a more analytical bent (or for lots of other reasons) praise and worship is more often drudgery. For some it is boring to repeat over and over such things as “Praise you Lord, You are great O God” etc. While others seem to really get into it and be able to go on and on, there are those who feel relieved when things move on to something else.

If praise is hard for you and you don’t know where to begin or how to get to where “it is pleasant and beautiful”, I have a suggestion. Start with thanksgiving. Not just a generic litany of thanks – that is no better than the rote “Praise God.” Instead start with your best blessings. Start with those things that light up your heart when you think of them.

Thanksgiving leads to praise – that genuine awe of the greatness and goodness of God. Praise then leads to worship because how can you do less than bow your knee in adoration to one so worthy, so excellent, so wonderful? Once in the presence of Almighty God, you too become like a fish in the river of praise; which all began with a dip in the pool of thanks.

 

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