Daily Devotionals
Daily Devotional: Psalms 113:1-9
Ps 113:1-9
1 Praise the LORD. Praise, O servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD. 2 Let the name of the LORD be praised, both now and forevermore. 3 From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised. 4 The LORD is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens. 5 Who is like the LORD our God, the one who sits enthroned on high, 6 who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth? 7 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; 8 he seats them with princes, with the princes of their people. 9 He settles the barren woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the LORD.
Eph 1:3-4
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.
Do we praise the Lord in all we do or say? To praise him is more than just saying the words. I once knew a person that always answered their phone with “praise the Lord” but their life did not reflect this sentiment. This does not honor God or promote his word. While we do need to say it, we must also live it. Nothing brings honor to God more than living for him with a genuine heart of devotion.
I saw recently where someone said that nothing was more repugnant than a mouth full of scripture with a heart full of hate. This is the attitude that Jesus so often condemned about the Pharisees. They went around condemning others for not keeping all the rules but were filled with self-righteousness and contempt for most of the people with whom they came in contact. Jesus said that his disciples would be known by their love for others. John said that God is love and when his love is perfected in us, we will show this love in all we do and say.
While there is a time for scripture to be in our mouths, it must be lived in our hearts or it is to no avail. We can claim love but if we do not obey him, we are not showing our love for him. If we love him, we will keep his commandments. This was said by Jesus and was repeated by the apostle John. Praise the Lord!
Heavenly Father it is with genuine love for you and for your word that I offer praise to you and seek to honor you. But I know I fail and sometimes show a bad attitude or say things in a way that I should not or do things that should not be done. Give me courage to speak up and defend your honor and to show my love for you by living for you. Help me to always be able to love others, even when I do not agree with them. Be with our nation and give us leaders who will respect you and your word so we can live quiet and peaceable lives. In Jesus name.
Robert
