Who Am I To Judge?

“Brothers, do not slander one another.  Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it.  When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting judgment on it.  There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy.  But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?”
James 4:11-12 (NIV)

Yesterday I mentioned that forgiveness is extremely difficult for me, because many times, I think that my forgiveness makes whatever they did seem okay.  By forgiving them, it’s like it never happened.  

Instead of forgiving those who wrong me, I choose to hold on to it as a way of getting back of them.  Through my bitterness I hold what they did against them and my unforgiveness fuels me to judge them over and over again.  

During times like these, it is also so easy for me to slander them to my friends.  I want everyone to know how horrible they are, how much they hurt me, and how worthy they are of my judgment.  

James 4 is so important because it reminds us that there is only one Judge.  Our Judge can save and destroy.  I have been struggling with unforgiveness for years, and in college one of my mentors encouraged me by saying, “Forgiving someone doesn’t mean what they did was okay, but its not your job to judge.  God is the only one who can judge and you have to trust that He is a just God.  Place this situation into His hands and trust and believe that He is God.”   

I don’t always take that route, but the times that I do, I feel as though a burden has been lifted from my heart and I can finally live and walk in freedom.

Who am I to judge my neighbor??  I always think I’m justified in judging my neighbor, friends, family, fiancé—pointing out their faults, dwelling on how their faults effect me, and holding it against them–but there is only one Judge.   

How I pray for a heart that is quick to freely love and freely forgive as opposed to a heart that freely slanders and judges.  For me, this can only be accomplished through continued prayer, but as we saw last week, “all things are possible with God!”

Lord, I’m so sorry that my heart is filled with slander and judgment.  I’m so sorry that it is so hard for me to forgive those who hurt me.  If I desire to love You more, I know I need to love all of Your children, even when they hurt me.  I pray for a heart filled with love for You and love for my neighbor.  As I draw near to You, I pray that You will be so near to me.   

Let Peace Rule

“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.    Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.”  Colossians 3:12-15 (NIV)

In looking at God’s incredible love for us, we have seen over and over again His incredible grace, mercy, and forgiveness.  Even though we don’t deserve it, we are “holy and dearly loved.”  Time and time again, I turn away from the Lord, I hurt Him, and I selfishly run after my own desires.  Each time, when I finally realize the error of my ways and ask for forgiveness, He never fails to shower me with His grace and forgive me completely.  

The Psalms say that God removes our transgressions “as far as the east is from the west”  
Praise the Lord that He does not withhold His forgiveness!  Praise the Lord that His mercies are new every morning!  Praise the Lord that He does not keep a record of wrongs!

As grateful as I am for the Lord’s mercy and forgiveness, I have an impossible time bestowing that same love on my friends and enemies who wrong me.  I can’t let it go, I can’t get over it, and many times I feel like I can’t forgive them because if I do, it makes what they did “okay”.
 
How can I expect for God to fully forgive me every time I wrong Him, and not bestow the same grace on those who wrong me?  

Colossians 3 calls me to “forgive as the Lord forgave me.”  I’m not God, so many times forgiveness is an extremely difficult uphill battle.  One thing that I know is this kind of forgiveness is only possible through prayer, and Colossians 3 is a great place to start.

Lord, thank you for the unconditional forgiveness that You provide me.  Lord, I confess that it is so hard to forgive people who hurt me.  I pray for a heart that freely bestows forgiveness even when I feel like they don’t deserve it.  Lord, I pray for a heart that sows seeds of love and unity instead of seeds of bitterness and dissent.  I can’t do this without You.  I pray that Your peace will rule in my heart and that Your love for me will compel me to love those who have hurt me.  Thank you for your incredible love, grace, and power.  Day after day, you never cease to amaze me!  

Freedom Through Forgiveness

For those of you in my Bible study, you know that over the past two weeks we’ve been reading about and praying through the spiritual stronghold of unforgiveness.  There are plenty of things in my life that I struggle with, but one of the hardest things for me to be free from is unforgiveness.  So many times I harbor bitterness in my heart that is so deep hard to let go of, and in many cases has taken years for me to finally experience freedom.  

John 14:23 Jesus tells us, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.”  Later we are going to have a whole week dedicated to obedience, but right now since it has been stirring in my heart, I really feel compelled to focus on unforgiveness.   

The lessons we can learn from unforgiveness are directly linked to our love challenge.  How can we confess our undying love for the Lord and strive to love Him more, yet harbor hate and bitterness in our hearts for His children?  

To get started, I want to bring us back to a post my Mom did about two months ago…

Choosing to Forgive

By Lisa Robertson (my mom)

“If you love me you will do what I command…My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.  Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”
John 14:15, 15:13-14 (NIV)

One of the greatest challenges in my Christian life is loving Christ and living a life full of forgiveness.  Throughout my life, forgiving others, and forgiving myself, can be one of my greatest struggles and also one of my greatest victories.

Forgiving others does not happen once, but daily.  One way we grow in our love for Christ is by obeying His command to forgive. In Colossians 3:13 Paul writes, “Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love.” In the same way Christ forgives us daily, we are called to imitate His love and forgive those who wrong us—even when it’s hard.  Forgiving as Christ forgave us means that we don’t wait for others to apologize, or wait for them to admit they are wrong, rather we choose to forgive because we love God and He commanded us to forgive.
 
Unforgiveness can harden our hearts and cripple our capacity to love-others, yourself and most importantly the Lord.   In choosing to forgive, our lives will be filled with freedom, health, and joy.

As we get closer to Easter, pray that God would show where there is unforgiveness is your life.  Jesus’ life gives us abundant life and the freedom to love and to forgive.

Lord Jesus, thank you so much for the gift of life. Thank you for the gift of forgiveness.  Thank you for your grace and mercy that enables you to forgive me over and over again. Today, and in the days to come, shine your spotlight on my heart and reveal to me any pocket of unforgiveness.  Give me Your love and strength to generously forgive. Thank you for the promise that He who the Son sets free will be free indeed!  Free me to love and to forgive.  In the mighty name of Jesus Amen! 

Praise Him for His Power and Greatness

“Praise him for his acts of power, praise him for his surpassing greatness”
Psalm 150:2 (NIV)

This morning, I woke up and worried that I didn’t have a verse to post.  Most mornings, I read through a Psalm and today it was my day to read Psalm 150.  I opened it up and read, “praise him for his acts of power”…thank you God!  

Our God was, is, and will always be a mighty, powerful God.  Nothing is too hard for Him.  We stand in awe of His deeds daily.  Each day, He has the power to utterly amaze us and move mightily in the present day.  When we believe in Him, all things are possible!
Let’s delight in being His witnesses who know and believe in Him.  Let’s praise Him for His incredible acts of power!

Lord, I believe!  Help me overcome my unbelief.  I praise You because You are who You say You are and You can do what You say You can do. I praise you for your incredible power and your surpassing greatness!  You are so mighty in power, Lord, I pray for a heart that loves You wholeheartedly and delights in Your incredible power.  

Know and Believe Me

“You are my witnesses, declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he…I have revealed and saved and proclaimed…when I act, who can reverse it?
Isaiah 43:10,12-13 (NIV)

Lord, I deeply desire to be a witness for You. I want to know, and believe, and understand that You are the one true God. You are a mighty, powerful God. You reveal, save, and proclaim. There is none like You. I pray for a heart that believes and trusts in your incredible power. In the midst of all that you are able to do, thank you for taking the time to love me.

I Believe

“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
Mark 9:24

When it comes to believing in the power of God, this is one of my favorite passages.  In Mark 9, we see a father bringing his demon-possessed son to Jesus pleading in verse 22, “If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”

How does Jesus respond in verse 23?  “If you can? …Everything is possible for him who believes.”

Then, verse 24 reads, “Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

I love the way Jesus repeats the question to the man as if to say, “If you can??  Why are you even questioning me?  Don’t you know that all things are possible through me?  Don’t you know that I can do what I say I can do?  Believe me.  Believe me.  Believe me.”

Following this, the father doesn’t question, he doesn’t pause, he immediately exclaims, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”  With that, Jesus commands the spirit out of the boy and freed him.

There are so many times when I feel like the boy’s father.  There are things that I want to believe God for, but I question that He’s able.  Lord, if you can, will you open or close this door for me to walk in?  Lord, if you can, will you move in this horrible situation that appears hopeless?  Lord, if you can, will you forgive and restore my heart? Lord, if you can, will you restore this broken relationship?  Lord, if you can, will you heal my friend?
Everything is possible for him who believes.

Jesus, I believe in You.  Jesus, I pray that You will help me overcome my unbelief.  I want to believe that You are capable of doing immeasurably more than I can ask or imagine. Jesus, even when I don’t get the answers and results I want, I pray that You will show me how You’re moving.  I pray that I will trust and believe that Your ways are higher than mine and You are more than able to do what You say You will do.  I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!

Utterly Amazed

“Look at the nations and watch—and be utterly amazed.  For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe even if you were told.”

Habbakuk 1:5 (NIV)

When I read this verse, I don’t think I can truly comprehend what this would look like today, but I deeply desire a heart that believes it to be true.  I want to trust in the Lord and expectantly wait for Him to move in and throughout our world.  I want to be “utterly amazed” by the power and works of the Lord.

Lord, I stand in awe of You.  You are able to move in ways I can’t even begin to comprehend.  I pray for a heart that trusts and believes in You.  Lord, You alone are able to do “immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20).  I pray that my heart will cling to your promises.  I pray that my heart will be set on loving and believing in You.

Loving His Power

“Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord.  Renew them in our day, in our time make them known” Habakkuk 3:2 (NIV)

God is so worthy of our praise.  We serve and love an alive, mighty, and awesome God.  Our Creator, who made the heavens and the earth, is a powerful God.  
There is so much of God that I deeply desire to know and love.  One thing that I want to love and appreciate more is His power.  I want to know and believe that:

 1.  God is who He says He is
2.  God can do what He says He can do
3.  I am who God says I am
4.  I can do all things through Christ
5.  God’s Word is alive and active in me (Beth Moore, Believing God)

This week, let’s continue in our prayers and love for the Lord, and I pray that we will develop a refreshed faith that falls in love with just how powerful, mighty, and able our God is.
Lord, when I look at Your creation and Your ability to move in mighty ways, I am even more drawn to You.  God, I thank you for what a powerful God You are.  Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds.  I pray that you will renew them in our day, and make then known.  Lord, I want to see You!

He Is Mine Forever

By Mary Stafford

“My beloved is mine, and I am his.”
Song of Songs 2:16 (NKJV)

I want intimacy with Christ – I want to know him deeply – and to be moved by the way he loves me to a point of OBSESSION over him – I think truly, he may be the one thing that is worth obsessing over.  I quickly discount my formal Episcopal Church because I think it is stuck in the past, but NO, oh no…..this Sunday God wanted to reveal his intimate heart to me in the starch beautiful setting of our Liturgical service. 

We began to sing a hymn – being tone deaf – and not a music reader – I STRUGGLE with the hymns in church….and then out of now where, the most beautiful Episcopal Hymn I have ever heard sang a sweet sweet love song to Jesus from me. 

The King of love my Shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never,
I nothing lack if I am His
And He is mine forever.

Where streams of living water flow
My ransomed soul He leadeth,
And where the verdant pastures grow,
With food celestial feedeth.

Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
But yet in love He sought me,
And on His shoulder gently laid,
And home, rejoicing, brought me.

In death’s dark vale I fear no ill
With Thee, dear Lord, beside me;
Thy rod and staff my comfort still,
Thy cross before to guide me.

Thou spread’st a table in my sight;
Thy unction grace bestoweth;
And O what transport of delight
From Thy pure chalice floweth!

And so through all the length of days
Thy goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise
Within Thy house forever.

Henry Baker 1868

I am taken with my lover, my Jesus – that he breaks any boundaries and shatters my expectations – that he comes into this church setting and screams “I love you, I am the King of Love” and he runs into the high schools and says the same thing – AGH – these words – He is mine forever – no matter the context –

Thank you Jesus for being the King of Love – I cannot know love apart from you – you never fail me, you lead me and you are always with me.  Thank you thank you thank you.  Please give me a heart that sings your praise from a place of LOVE LOVE LOVE.

All Things Are Possible

“Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm.  Nothing is too hard for you”
Jeremiah 32:17 (NIV)

The summer before seventh grade was when I really began to experience what a relationship with Christ really looked like.  At a camp one night, the Gospel was presented to me in a very real way and for the first time ever I began to understand the sacrifice Christ paid for me by dying on the cross.  

That night I remember looking up at a clear sky filled with stars thinking, the God of the Universe who created and formed each one of those stars loved me enough to send His son to the earth to die for me.  I sat there and cried, because the love, power, and sacrifice were too much to comprehend.  In all of His power and glory, how did He have time to save me?

We love and serve a very real and powerful God.  Nothing is too hard for Him.  Just like the angel told Mary, “Nothing is impossible with God.”

We read that, but do we really believe that?  Sometimes it’s hard to fully trust.  Sometimes we grow impatient and think, “God, I know you say, ‘all things are possible’ but even this?”  Yes, even this!

I pray that as our hearts continue to fall in love with the Lord, we will have a deep love for His incredible power.  I pray that we will see what God is truly capable of and as our hearts grow in love, they will also grow in possessing an unwavering faith in our Creator.

Lord, I know You are worthy of my praise.  I believe that You created the heavens and the earth.  You alone are God.  I pray that I will learn to revere Your power and truly believe that “nothing is too hard for you.”  Lord, I want a heart that loves all of You.  Today, I pray for a heart that loves and believes in Your incredible power—all things are possible with You!

A Faithful Heart

“Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!”

Luke 1:45 (NIV)

Yesterday, we looked at Mary’s joyful heart of praise, and today we see her faithful, obedient heart. 
When the angel visits Mary to tell her that she is to give birth to the Messiah, she asks questions, but she never doubts, complains, or says, “No thanks, I’m not really interested.”  She believes the angel when the angel tells her that nothing is impossible with God and she replies, “I am the Lord’s servant…May it be to me as you have said.”
Following the visitation, she hurries to her cousin Elizabeth to tell her what has just happened to which Elizabeth replies, “Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!”
How I long for a faithful heart like Mary’s.  I want to fully believe in what God’s says.  I don’t want to doubt or grow a patient, but I long for a heart that willingly and joyfully obeys. 

Lord, thank you for who You are and what you are capable of.  How I praise You that nothing is impossible with You.  Today, I pray for a faithful heart.  I want to believe in You, and believe in the promises that You have given to me.  Thank you for Your power, Your might, and Your ability to fulfill your promises.  Thank you for the plans that you have for me.  May I have a heart that patiently and faithfully believes in You.  All things are possible with You!

Glorify The Lord

 

“My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” Luke 1:46 (NIV)

Mary, the mother of Jesus, inspires me in so many ways.  There is so much to learn from her faith, her obedience, and her heart.  

Put yourself in her shoes for a minute…In this passage, she is a teenage virgin betrothed to Joseph and an angel has just informed her that she will immaculately conceive the Savior of the world.  If it was me, my mind would be filled with questions, fears, and anxiety—is this really happening?  What will people think of me?  How am I going to explain this to Joseph?
 
Mary chooses a different route—she praises the Lord!  What is sometimes called The Magnificat, or Mary’s Song of Praise, we see Mary’s heart overwhelmed with praise, and from verse 46-55, she praises the name of the Lord, telling of His deeds, and declaring “the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name.”
Lord, I deeply desire a heart like Mary’s.  I want a heart that sees and believes what you’re doing and rejoices in your mighty acts.  Each day, You are so worthy of our praise.  I pray today for a soul that glorifies You and a spirit that rejoices in You.  Holy is Your name in all the earth! 

This Is The Day

“This is the day the LORD has made;
       let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Psalm 118:24 (NIV)

Lord, thank you for this day.  I praise you that today and everyday, your mercies are new.  Thank you for the way that each day, you satisfy us with your unfailing love.  Lord, I pray for a heat that chooses to rejoice and be glad in today.  May my heart glorify your name!

My Honey Is Fine

 

By Meg Pittman

Psalm 119:103
How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Jeremiah 15:16
When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear you name, O Lord God Almighty.
 

  How sweet are God’s words for us! We are privileged to be able to enjoy such a fine delicacy because the gospel is foul and foolish to those who are perishing. We must read, pray and listen in order to receive his sweet honey, but we have the distinct delight to savor and drool over His precious truths.

Do I truly crave His words in that way? I have yet to get married and become pregnant, but apparently the food cravings during that time can be quite particular and strong. That inherent, inexplicable desire to achieve a certain taste at any cost is a good example, in a way, of how persistent and passionate our craving for God’s Word should be.

He has such dulce truths for us; such individual, personal, life-changing revelations await. If we only knew what sweet nothings He wanted to whisper into our soul, we would ravage the Bible cupboard for a taste. mmm!

  And as we see in the lives of Jeremiah and Ezekiel, the honey we receive is given ultimately in order to enlighten and bless others. God gives us wisdom, truth and knowledge in order to share, preach, prophesy and disciple. Jeremiah 15:19 says that, if we repent, we will be restored and become God’s spokesperson. Those who we share with may not gratefully accept convicting, confrontational, loving Truth, but we can delight in His words regardless. Period. We have been given some fine honey.

Oh Lord, thank you for your Word. From your lips to my soul, I cherish your encouraging promises and convicting truths. Search me and know me, open my eyes to any uncleanliness in my life. I praise you for your sweet sustenance. Thank you for feeding me daily. I pray that I may seek your nourishment with unbridled passion. I pray that you would fill my life to overflow on those around me. God, let me represent your sweet presence at home and work, in traffic and meetings, at the gym and at church. May others taste your sweetness through my life!

Praising God Through The Storms

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb and naked I will depart.  The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised”

Job 1:21 (NIV)

I don’t know about you, but for me, it is a whole lot easier to praise the Lord when things in life seem to be going okay than when everything seems to be falling apart.  What does that even look like?

In chapter 1 of Job, we see the first of his many tests.  He has just been informed that his servants, his sheep, his oxen and most importantly his children are gone.  Immediately following the news, verse 20 says “at this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head.  Then he fell to the ground in worship”   Can you imagine??  Job doesn’t hide his grief, but he also doesn’t forget who God is and how worthy he is of our praise.

The storms that we weather in life are hard.  I don’t think we should ignore pain and grief and cover it up with a big smile and a “that’s okay, Jesus loves me” when that’s not what our hearts are feeling.  Praise God that Jesus does love us, but in Psalm 142 we see David pour out his complaint before the Lord.  We’re called to pour out our hearts to the Lord and tell him when we’re hurting, angry, frustrated, confused—He longs to hear our hearts.

At the same time, even when we’re hurting, God is still worthy of our praise.  I once heard a woman named Jennifer Rothschild speak at a women’s conference.  At the age of 15, she learned that she had a degenerative eye condition that had no cure, and she would lose her sight within the year.  As she discussed her journey through pain and suffering, her words that day ministered to my heart and have never left me.  She said, “It might not always be well with our circumstances, but God has made it well with our soul.” 

“When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,When sorrows like sea billows roll;Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,

It is well, it is well, with my soul.”

I know my heart is far from Job and Jennifer’s, but I pray that my heart will be strengthened to love and praise God no matter what my circumstances.  Even when I’m hurting, grieving, or broken hearted; in the midst of the pain and suffering; through the exciting times and the hard times; we still have a Savior who loves us unconditionally, who has our best interest at heart, whose mercies are new every morning, who has forgiven us completely, and has paid the ultimate price through His death and resurrection.

“Blessed be Your nameOn the road marked with sufferingThough there’s pain in the offering

Blessed be Your name”

Lord God, you are always worthy of our praise.  Even when our hearts are broken and we feel like we can’t go on, you are the same God yesterday, today, and forever.  I pray for a heart that is real with you.  I pray for a heart that pours out my complaints to you, but God I also pray for a heart that always knows how good you are.  Even when it’s hard to see in my current circumstances, I pray that I will never forget how worthy you are of my praise.  Lord, strengthen my heart, and enable me to love and praise you no matter what.   

“Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the God our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.”
Psalm 95:6-7 (NIV)

Here I am to worship,
Here I am to bow down,
Here I am to say that you’re my God,
You’re altogether lovely,
Altogether worthy,
Altogether wonderful to me. Here I am To Worship by Tim Hughes

Lord God, here I am to worship.  You alone are worthy of my praise.  I stand in awe of you.  I pray that throughout this day, my heart will be long to worship and praise you.  Holy is your name in all the earth.

Sing His Praises

“Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.  Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.  Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.”

1 Chronicles 16:8-10 (NIV)

What was supposed to be our weekend post, has now turned into our Monday post due to the unreliable internet at 2123 California Street…
 

One of my favorite ways to commune with God and experience His presence is through worship songs.  My favorite part of church is singing.  I love standing together and singing songs that praise the Lord. 

In the mornings, I love listening to worship music when I first wake up.  Generally, I have found that the days that when I start off listening to worship music, my heart is uplifted throughout the day.

When my heart is broken and I don’t have energy to open up the Bible or pray aloud, I play songs that minister to my heart—there is so much peace when we’re still in the presence of the Lord.  Songs that sing of His healing, redeeming power can really help to strengthen our hearts. 

I also love driving in my car and singing worship songs.  I like how the sound is confined to the four doors of your car and you can sing as loud as you want and not worry about what you sound like, if your roommate can hear you, or if your neighbors will knock on your door and tell you to be quite.

God is so worthy of our praise and there are so many ways that we can praise Him.  We can read scriptures that declare His praise, praise him through our prayers, speak His praises aloud and tell of His awesome deeds, and sing praises to Him.  I pray that we will have hearts that long to love and praise the Lord throughout our days.  He is so worthy of our praise!!

Lord, I pray that Psalm 9:1-2 will be the cry of my heart.  Lord, I pray for a heart that longs to praise you.  I pray for a heart that is so excited to tell of your wonders.  I pray for a heart that is glad and rejoices in you.  I pray that I will sing praises to your name.  Lord God, you are so worthy of my praise.  With all that I am, I long to love you.      

If you’re looking for some good worship music, Kari Jobe has some amazing worship music.  If you go to her website, her songs automatically begin to play.  www.karijobe.com 

“With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness.  Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing.  My brothers, this should not be.  Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?”
James 4:9-11 (NIV)

  “I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.”
Psalm 34:1 (NIV)

As I began this post, my original intention was to only talk about Psalm 34:1 and speaking His praises.  However, as I continued, I felt a nudge in my heart to include James 4:9-11.  My heart became convicted and I realized, how can I only talk about the importance of praising the Lord, and not encourage us to tame our tongues?  

My heart’s desire is for His praises to always be on my lips, but the reality of my heart is that I have fresh water and salty water flowing from the same spring.  It only takes seconds for me to switch from praising to cursing… when I’m leaving a great quiet time with the Lord, a time spent praying and praising His name, only to get up from the table, and spill your hot coffee all over myself—my mouth immediately switches from praising to cursing.
Or when I’m listening to praise songs on my iPod, running to the bus in the morning in the pouring rain, and the bus driver closes the door in my face and drives away.  Once again, praise words aren’t exactly pouring from my mouth.
Or when I leave a meeting where my coworker drives me absolutely insane and all I want to do is run into another office to talk about how annoying they are.

I’m not saying we should praise God even when our heart aren’t feeling it—the last thing I want is for my heart to praise the Lord in vain.  Rather, if we want hearts and mouths that speak and declare the praises of the Lord, we need to tame our tongues as well.


I promise you, I am the absolute worst.  My tongue has been a weapon since I was old enough to speak. In talking about the importance of praising the Lord and speaking His praises, it would been completely hypocritical of me to only talk about the importance of offering praises to the Lord and not about the importance of taming our tongues.  

My prayer for all of us is that we will have tongues filled with fresh, living water.  I pray that when we feel the salty water about to flood out of our mouths, that we will clothes our mouths, take a deep breath, and pray,

“Lord, I desire for your praises to be on my lips.  Please “set a guard over my mouth and keep watch over the door of my lips” (Psalm 141:3 NIV).

Lord, you are so worthy of our praises!  My hearts desire is for your praise to always be on my lips.  Throughout the day, I want a heart that loves to praise you.  I confess that there are so many times when my tongue is out of control.  There are so many times, when instead of praising you, I am cursing, criticizing, and complaining.  Lord, this is such a struggle for me, but I pray that you will strengthen me to have a mouth that declares your praises.  Lord, may my mouth be filled with fresh words that bless and glorify your name.  You alone are worthy of my praise.  I pray that today, my heart will love and glorify your holy and awesome name.

Praise His Greatness

“I will proclaim the name of the Lord.  Oh, praise the greatness of our God!  He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just.  A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.”
Deuteronomy 32:3-4 (NIV)

In the big things and in the small things, God is always worthy and deserving of our praise.  


He is our Rock—He supports and sustains us.  


His works are perfect—He knows the plans He has for us.  


All His ways are just—He is fair.  


He is a faithful God—He will never leave us and He will fulfill His promises.  


He does no wrong—He is perfect.  Upright and just is the Lord.


Lord God, may my lips proclaim your name.  May my heart praise your greatness!  You are my Rock!  All your works are perfect and your ways are just.  I praise you that you are a faithful God who does no wrong, you are a just and upright God.  Lord, you are most deserving of our praise.  I pray for a heart that praises you for who you are and a heart that never stops falling in love with you.  

Let Everything That Has Breath Praise The Lord

I will exalt you, my God the King;
     I will praise your name for ever and ever
 Every day I will praise you
     and extol your name for ever and ever.
 Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
     his greatness no one can fathom.
 One generation will commend your works to another;
     they will tell of your mighty acts.
 They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty,
     and I will meditate on your wonderful works. [b]
 They will tell of the power of your awesome works,
     and I will proclaim your great deeds.
 They will celebrate your abundant goodness
     and joyfully sing of your righteousness.
 The LORD is gracious and compassionate,  
      slow to anger and rich in love.
  The LORD is good to all;
       he has compassion on all he has made.
 All you have made will praise you, O LORD;
       your saints will extol you.
 They will tell of the glory of your kingdom
       and speak of your might,
 so that all men may know of your mighty acts
       and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
       and your dominion endures through all generations.
       The LORD is faithful to all his promises
       and loving toward all he has made.
The LORD upholds all those who fall
       and lifts up all who are bowed down.
The eyes of all look to you,
       and you give them their food at the proper time.
You open your hand
       and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
  The LORD is righteous in all his ways
       and loving toward all he has made.
The LORD is near to all who call on him,
       to all who call on him in truth.
He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
       he hears their cry and saves them.
The LORD watches over all who love him,
       but all the wicked he will destroy.
My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD.
       Let every creature praise his holy name
       for ever and ever. Psalm 145 (NIV)

As I began reading and praying through Psalm 145, my original intention was to post highlights from the Psalm and just a few excerpts.  As I read over it, and tried to look for some select verses to highlight, I got so excited about all of it, that there wasn’t anything that I could even begin to think of cutting out…it’s all so rich!

Similar to the last two Psalms, this passage is full of the incredible goodness of the Lord—He is so worthy of our praise!  He is great, He is mighty, His works are wonderful, He is so powerful, He is good, and He is righteous.  Praise the Lord!

He is gracious, He is compassionate, He is slow to anger, He abounds in love, He is good to all, His acts are mighty, and His kingdom is glorious.  Praise the Lord!

He is glorious, His kingdom is everlasting, His dominion will endure through all generations, He is faithful to His promises, He upholds those who fall, He lifts up the humble, He feeds the people who look to Him at the proper time, and He satisfies the desires of every living thing.  Praise the Lord!

He is righteous in all His ways, He is near to those who call on Him in truth, He fulfills the desires of those who fear and revere His name, He hears the cries of those who fear Him and He saves them, and He watches over those who love Him.  Praise the Lord!

May our mouths speak in praise of the Lord.  Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!

Lord, you are SO worthy of my praise!  Thank you for who you are.  I praise you that you are loving, righteous, and mighty.  I praise you that you open your hand and feed me at the proper time and you satisfy my desires.  Thank you that you are rich in love.  Lord God, how I love you!  May my heart fall deeper in love with you every day of my life and my lips never stop declaring your praises!

Declaring His Praise

   I will extol the LORD with all my heart        in the council of the upright and in the assembly.    Great are the works of the LORD;        they are pondered by all who delight in them.    Glorious and majestic are his deeds,        and his righteousness endures forever.    He has caused his wonders to be remembered;        the LORD is gracious and compassionate.    He provides food for those who fear him;        he remembers his covenant forever.    He has shown his people the power of his works,        giving them the lands of other nations.    The works of his hands are faithful and just;        all his precepts are trustworthy.    They are steadfast for ever and ever,        done in faithfulness and uprightness.    He provided redemption for his people;        he ordained his covenant forever—        holy and awesome is his name.   The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;        all who follow his precepts have good understanding.

       To him belongs eternal praise.

Psalm 111 (NIV)

Yesterday morning, I sat at my kitchen table and I experienced such delight through Psalm 111.  First I read it to myself and really mediated on the words.  Then, I read it out loud—I have found that there is such power in reading aloud the word of God.  Lastly, I turned it into a prayer and prayed the words aloud.  When we turn God’s Word into prayers, it becomes personal and real.

As I sat there are really meditated and focused on this one Psalm praising the Lord, I was filled with joy and I experienced His presence in a very real way.  My prayer is that as we continue to love the Lord through our praises, He will be so near.

Lord, I long to praise you with all of my heart.  Your works are so great; they are pondered by all who delight in them.  Your deeds are so glorious and majestic, and your righteousness endures forever. You have caused your wonders to be remembered; you are so gracious and compassionate.

Lord, You provide food for those who fear you; and you remember your covenant forever.  How I thank you that you have shown us the power of your works, by giving your people the land of other nations. 

I praise you because all the works of your hands are faithful and just; all your precepts are trustworthy.  Your works and your precepts are steadfast for ever and ever, and are faithful and upright.

I praise you for the redemption you provided for your people; thank you that you ordained your covenant forever—how holy and awesome is your name!  Lord, I praise you that when we fear, revere, and acknowledge you, we begin to see a glimpse of what the beginning of wisdom is.  Lord, I want to be a woman who reveres your name. 

Thank you that those who follow your precepts have good understanding—I pray that my heart will delight in your precepts.  Lord, you are worthy of praise!  I pray that my heart will never stop worshiping you for who you are.