DEVOTIONAL
Psalm 34:1-3
I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.
I just love when there are groups of people praying out loud in small groups and the voices are mingled together. I can’t imagine what that must sound like to the Lord, but I believe it must be a delight to Him.
At one time, and still sometimes, I am a bit intimidated praying aloud. It just seems like others have such eloquence in speech and mine is dry or monotone, fumbling and bumbling around for appropriate words.
Whenever that is the case, and I FEEL inadequate, the Holy Spirit touches my heart and reminds me that I am speaking, not to those around me, but addressing my Father. I should not be concerned with making an impression on anyone with colorful phrases or vocabulary.
I have been around some people who have either prayed, preached or taught in such a manner, I honestly needed a dictionary to find out what they were saying. Even sometimes when they added explanations, I sat and tried to scribble words or terms (discretely so hopefully those nearby wouldn’t recognize my ignorance). I just nodded my head and tried my best to fit everything into context, hoping perhaps I would eventually, through a series of connecting the dots, come up with a vague understanding!
So there you have it, even if you speak to me and I nod my head in agreement, the secret is out, I may or may NOT have understood a word you said! Just ignore the pencil and pad in my hand and the copious notes I am frantically attempting to jot!
Going forward, even for those who are not orators (aka, eloquent speakers), the Lord is more than capable of understanding us! He hears not only the mouth, but reads the heart.
Then there’s SINGING! Oh what joy I pray it brings to our King to hear our voices raised up, praising His Name, alone or in unison!
Maybe some of us are Barney Fife, others possibly more like my favorite, Etta James. Wherever you fall in there, know that when your lips are singing to the glory of our Heavenly Father, certainly His ears hear the sweet sound of His precious child!
So, on our own and together, wherever we are, whatever we are doing, let’s celebrate our Glorious King in word and song! What more delightful accomplishment could we have this day, than to bring a smile to the face of or Savior!
PRAYER
Mighty Lord
Our God
And King
We magnify Your Name
In our words
In our songs
We bring praise
Honor
And Glory to the Most High
To Jesus
Name above all names
King of kings
And Lord of lords
We worship
Bow down and adore You
To our Holy Spirit
We give thanks
For conviction and comfort
For peace
For encouraging us to persevere
O Divine Trinity
How we love You
How we long to be with You
Our hearts yearn for the day
We will be in Your presence forever more
Thank You for being with us
You are as close to us as our breath, O God
Never beyond reach
Thank You for the Word
For Its guidance
Instruction
Reminder
And the peace it offers
We can find nowhere else
You Are our Awesome God
Please accept our offerings of praise
Through the Cleansing, Saving Blood of our Redeemer, Jesus
AMEN
Songs
“Shout To The Lord”
“He Reigns”
“Sing Hallelujah To The Lord”
EXTRAS:
Barney in the choir
Etta James “At Last”
CREDIT: God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Scriptures, biblestudytools, google,support of friends and family
Image:https://www.google.com/search?q=praises+to+the+Lord&biw=745&bih=390&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=mYGoVNieHcmcygSvooKgAw&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&dpr=1.75#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=VC6irm14zwhV8M%253A%3B9IX2__maIA7a7M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Ftradingphrases.com%252Fimages%252FP%252FREL951PraiseTheLord.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.agodman.com%252Fblog%252Foffering-the-consummate-praise-to-god-for-the-recovery-of-christ-the-house-the-city-and-the-earth%252F%3B500%3B440, google images