PRAISE YE THE LORD
BY IRMA F. MATRAI

Receiving an honest praise makes a person happy. Similarly, God is happy also when we praise him. Not that he needs our praise, but because our praises show him how much we appreciate what he did and is doing for us, and how much we love him. Also, because - at the same time - seeing the positive results of our praise; makes us happy too.

According to Webster's Dictionary praise implies approval, and/or admiration. Keeping this in mind, let us examine who, how, when, how long, and why should praise God?

Who should praise God?

According To Psalms 148, "Praise ye the Lord from the heavens..." In other words, let "the angels"... "all his hosts"..."the sun"... and the "stars"... "the heavens of heavens"... and the "waters above the heavens" praise him. In addition, "Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons... vapours... wind... mountains... hills... fruitful trees... cedars... beasts... cattle... creeping things... flying fowl... kings..." but mostly "all people... princes" and "judges... young men, and children alike." Hence, everything and everyone should praise him; including you and me.

But how should we praise the Lord?

With our words and actions. When we praise him with our words, we usually do so in prayer or during a conversation with someone. In such cases we mostly praise him for who he is, for his grace, and for what he did for us. For such praises we find several examples in the Book of Psalms which we may use as our model. Let me quote a couple from Psalms 144 and 145, where we read:

Blessed be the Lord my strength...
my goodness and my fortress;
my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield...

I will extol thee, my God, O king;
and I will bless they name for ever and ever.
Every day will I bless thee;
and I will praise they name for ever and ever.
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
and his greatness is unsearchable.
One generation shall praise they works to another
and shall declare they mighty acts.

On the other hand when we praise God with our actions we mostly do it with our lifestyle. For, if - after inviting Jesus into our heart - his presence, our forgiveness, and the gift of eternal life we received, are truly valuable to us; we will also want to yield ourselves to him. In which case he will continuously rule, cleanse and use us by his Spirit. Thereby making us more and more like himself. Which in turn, will result in praise from people around us. Yet that praise is not going to be for us, but for Him, who turned us into a Christ-like person. In other words, when people will see Jesus behind our love, helpful attitude, forgiving spirit, faithfulness, joy, peace, temperance, and longsuffering; they will give God the glory for what he accomplished in us. This is how our Heavenly Father can receive praise through our actions.
However, when we talk about praising God with our actions, we may include the praises we may offer to him through singing and music as well. For the Psalmist encourages us to do these too, when in Psalms 149 and 150 he says:

Sing unto the Lord a new song,
and his praise in the congregation of saints...
let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.
Praise him with the sound of the trumpet;
praise him with the psaltery and harp...
praise him upon the loud cymbals...



But when should we praise our Lord?

We also asked. David decided to praise him continually, or always. That doesn't mean that he constantly repeated the words: "Praised be the Lord; Praised be the Lord..."(Psalms 34:2) Rather that his heart was always filled with praise and thanksgiving, whether he repeated those words or not. In addition, he also tried to glorify God continuously with his actions. Thus, we may choose to follow his example and praise him continually or always also.

And how long should we keep praising God?

The Psalmist gave us an example in that also when he said: "While I live will I praise the Lord..." (Psalms 146:2) This is something we too may want to do.

Finally we asked: Why should we praise the Lord?

Maybe we should have started with this question. But it's all right to talk about it now too. Why? Because: "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein" (Psalms 24:1); and because: "Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable." (Psalms 95:3)

In other words, we should praise him because he is the mighty Creator, and the one and only living, true God. Furthermore, because according to Psalms 100:5, "...the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth for all generations." In addition, because he "so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) And because he is the one "who forgiveth all" our "iniquities"... and "who redeemeth" our "life from destruction..." (Psalms 103:3- 4.)
Moreover, because according to Revelation 4:11 he is "worthy... to receive glory and honor and power..." and because
"Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing." (Revelation 5:12)

Receiving and honest praise makes a person happy. Even God. But not because he needs our praise but because with our praises we express how much we appreciate what he did, and is doing for us. Furthermore, because while we praise him, our heart fills up with joy also.

Consequently, let the nature, every created being, but mostly humans praise him. Let us praise him with our words and actions. Let us praise him continuously and as long as we live. For he is the only true and living God, our loving Creator, our Savior and protector, the Lord of Lords, and our Everlasting Father!

How wonderful the Lord is in all His acts!
Glory to His Holy Name!



JESUS IS MY LIFE
(song)

Jesus is my life, strength, peace.
Jesus is my companion, my joy.
I trust in You. You are the Lord.
I do not have any fears any more because You live in me.
I do not have any fears any more because You live in me.

Jesus lives! Halleluja! Maranatha!

Translated by Eva Varga

DICSÉRJÉTEK AZ URAT!

Soften my heart

Words and music Graham Kendrick

Soften my heart, Lord soften my heart;
from all indifference set me apart
to feel your compassion, to weep with your tears
come soften my heart, O Lord, soften my heart.


BIOGRAPHIES by Rozalia Makai
STORIES and TEACHING

Some experience with ill people by Istvan Gazdag

Edit by Rozalia Makai    http://www.vargamakai.com


Istvan Varga & Rozalia Makai website

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