Praise You in the Storm

Praise You in the Storm (Psalm 145:2; Hebrews 13:15)

Psalm 145:2, “Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.”

David committed himself to praise God. He vowed to not let a day pass by in which he did not pause to praise His Redeemer and Saviour. That vow remains as a lesson for the people of God to this day. One cannot go wrong praising God. This is a commitment to praise God for eternity. What is worth noting is that eternity will not be long enough to adequately praise God.

God is the One Who is to be praised. Don’t be ashamed to praise the Lord to others. Don’t be embarrassed to tell unbelievers what God has done for you. Our society seems to think this is a bad thing to do and that it would be injurious to some people if we praised God. But, in truth, it will be very injurious to those who do not want to praise Him. Praising God for all that He has done will draw you closer to Him. You will sense His presence in your life.

When the Christian praises God, he can take circumstances that discourage and defeat him and turn them into victory. For example, on the eve of Hurricane Michael, Pastor John Blount of St. Andrew United Methodist Church in Panama City stayed in the church and helped shelter 25 people who stayed in two bathrooms and a small closet. The next morning, he began to access the damage to the building that was built in 1955. He walked in the auditorium and viewed the wreckage. He noticed the church Bible was still intact with minimal water damage to a few of the pages. He saw the blue sky and said, “God is God”. On Sunday morning the sun was shining down on the members. They lost their building, but not their faith. We too, can pick ourselves out of the wreckage of life by trusting in the Lord and rising above our circumstances. How can we truly praise God in the midst of severe trials? Our joy and praise enable us to endure.

Hebrews 13:15, “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”

1. A Voluntary Praise: We must make the choice to come into the presence of God and praise Him (Psalm 100:4). We only have ourselves to blame if we fail to praise Him.

2. A Virtuous Praise: Those that are pure and heart will have a good relationship with God and praise Him (Matthew 5:8). Rather than having a sour spirit filled with protests, have a sweet spirit filled with praise to the LORD.

3. A Victorious Praise: As we bear fruit for the LORD others will see our praise to His goodness (Psalm 145:2). Every day George Muller practiced this prescription of praise. He acknowledged that “the business of every day is first of all to seek to be truly at rest and happy in God”. When a heart is in obedience and submission to the Lord and His Word, praise will abundantly flow naturally.

We should offer up to the LORD songs and praise during worship in the church. However, may we also show forth our praise to Him outside the church in public. May we show our devotion to God and live in a way that truly brings honor and praise to Him in all we say and do. Our very lives should be “as living sacrifices, holy, acceptable and well pleasing to God” (Romans 12:1; Philippians 4:18).

Praising God for His blessings each day is a great way to start the day and express your gratefulness. You get your focus on the positives in your life instead of the negatives when you do this. You see that which is good instead of dwelling on that which is bad. Learning to rejoice and praise the Lord in difficult circumstances is one of the keys to overcoming frustration and worry because it directs your focus from your losses to the Lord. It creates an attitude of joy in your heart. One day we all will stand before the LORD. Above all things, I desire to hear, ‘’Well done, thou good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21).

Praise for the Lord has a strengthening effect upon us and others around us. Psalm 95:2, “Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.” Praising the Lord will help us to be firm in our faith and trust in Him. In 1853, a missionary society discussed the closure of a station in Ongole, India, because only ten people had been won to Christ in fifteen years. These Christians made up a single church which someone called the "Lone Star" of India. Samuel Smith, author of the U.S. national anthem, "My Country Tis of Thee," was a member of this mission board. As he contemplated this matter, he was moved to write the following bit of verse. Shine on, Lone Star, in grief and tears, and sad reverses oft baptized; Shine on amid thy founder's fears, Lone Stars in Heaven are not despised. The next day he read this poem to his colleagues and they unanimously voted to continue the work. Because of this decision, God moved in mighty power. Thirty years later the Ongole church had grown to 15,000 members! May God help us to offer sacrifices with both our lips and our lives.

Prayer: Father in heaven, help me trust in You and praise You, no matter how dark the storm rages. I desire to have hope in You in the midst of the storm. In Jesus name Amen.

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