Let the People Praise the Lord

So much happens when God’s people praise Him! Praise changes things! It changes our mood from gloomy to joyful.  I remember when the infectious disease doctor told us that my husband’s foot was not better, but worse.  This came after certain pastors had anointed him with oil and prayed for his healing.  The Lord gave me Psalm 42:5, 11 and Psalm 43:5–Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.  After reading those verses, it was a bit difficult at first, but I did begin to praise the Lord for all that He had done to help us, for every miraculous working, for His love, mercy, grace, and for His presence with us, and my heart was changed from gloom to joy!  Praise also changes outcomes from disastrous to victorious.  In II Chronicles 20, King Jehoshaphat, all Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem were being besieged by a great multitude of their enemies. However, in verse 22, we can read that when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten. Their praise certainly changed their outcome!

We are exhorted in Psalm 67:5 to praise God, and the result of praising Him is found in the following verse: “Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us.”  Praising God changes things, especially our focus. Praise turned my attention away from the unfavorable medical report that had gripped my heart with fear and directed it toward the glory of the Lord, relieving my fears and filling my heart with joy in Him. Praise also turned King Jehoshaphat and the people’s focus away from their impending doom and toward their victorious God.

We have so much for which to praise the Lord! God loved us so much that He gave His only begotten Son, and the Lord Jesus Christ loved us so much that He obeyed the Father, laid down His life, and took our sins upon Himself so that we could once again have fellowship with the Father. Because His blood was shed on Calvary, we can be saved. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9). If you have received Jesus Christ as your Savior, I invite you to join me in praising Him today for our salvation and for Heaven, our eternal home. 

Many things can cause us to fear, many situations can cause us to become depressed, but there is One who can help us in any season of our life, and His name is Jesus Christ!  He is our help. He is our Friend.  He is our joy.  He is our strength.  He is everything to us. Therefore, when we turn our eyes upon Him and praise Him our hearts are not so heavy with depression even if our circumstances do not change.  Therefore, let me encourage you to sing His praises today. It will change your countenance, relieve your fears, and renew your hope.

We all need a lift sometimes–please share this with anyone who needs a reminder of hope today. Let’s raise a mighty chorus of praise unto the Lord!

Bible Challenges from the Tom Williams Ministry's app :

A Mouth Full of Praise

Psalm 71:8

"Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day."

If our mouths were filled with the praises of God there wouldn't be any room for complaining, slandering, gossiping, criticizing, or any other torrent of angry words spoken.  What is your mouth full of?  Fill it full of the praises of God every day!

A Sure Way Out of Trouble

Acts 12:10

"When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him."

Do the circumstances in your life appear hopeless?  Does it seem there is no way out from your troubles?  Remember the Lord does and will deliver.  There may not seem to be any earthly help available, but there is always Heavenly help to be obtained through prayer and praise!

Our Great Benefit

Psalm 113:1

"Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD."

"To forget to praise God is to refuse to benefit ourselves; for praise, like prayer, is one great means of promoting the growth of the spiritual life.  It helps to remove our burdens, to excite our hope, to increase our faith."-Charles H. Spurgeon

Are you benefiting yourself or not?  

On our app, we send out daily Bible Challenges like the ones shown above to bring help and encouragement. We also have Bible Promises, many of Dr. Williams' sermons, his radio broadcast, prayer requests, updates about the minstry and more! Click the picture below to download our app and be encouraged every day by God's truths!