Read Psalm 150:1-6. 1Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! 2Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! 3Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! 4Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! 5Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! 6Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
As we said yesterday, the psalms end where we end, or should I say where we begin. This song book full of desire, lament, hope, and sorrow, leaves us at the finish line with nothing left but praise. After all is said and done everything with breath will praise the Lord. We will praise the Lord. You will praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord everywhere. From his earthly sanctuary to his heavenly sanctuary, praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord for everything. For who he is. He is Gloria in excelsis. For what he has done. For his mighty deeds through which we have been saved in Christ, praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord in every way. Praise him with all you’ve got. Formally and informally. Simply and technically. Solemnly and happily. Gently and fervently. Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord everyone. Literally let every breath praise the Lord. Everyone with breath? Yes. With every breath? Yes. Don’t waste your breath on anything that can’t become praise to Jesus for all he has done. He is worthy of all praise. Praise the Lord!
Your life in Christ will end in praise. That’s a promise. Christ in you is leading you on his path of praise. Don’t fight it. Embrace it. Join the song around his throne. This new year let every prayer lead to praise. Praise is our future, why not let it be your present. Let it be to live is Christ.
You: Have you been resisting praise this past year? How can you choose to praise the Lord this new year?
You in Christ: How does our union with Christ both allow us and teach us to praise the Father?
Christ in you: Jesus is leading you toward praise, don’t resist. Go there with him! Find reasons to praise God, starting with your salvation.
Pray: Father, you have given me so much this year to praise you for. You have given me so much in yourself to praise you for. Give me a heart of praise like the one I will have for eternity in your presence. Amen.
To Live is Christ 