Only Praise

“The heavens declare the glory of God,
    and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” Psalm 19:1

“There is none like you among the gods, O Lord,
    nor are there any works like yours.
All the nations you have made shall come
    and worship before you,
    and glorify your name.
For you are great and do wondrous things;
    you alone are God.” Psalm 86:8-10

“Oh come, let us sing to the Lord;
    let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
    let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
For the Lord is a great God,
    and a great King above all gods.

Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
    let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!
For he is our God.” Psalm 95:1-3,6-7

“Oh sing to the Lord a new song;
    sing to the Lord, all the earth!
Sing to the Lord, bless his name;
    tell of his salvation from day to day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
    his marvelous works among all the peoples!
For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
    he is to be feared above all gods.” Psalm 96:1-4

“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
    break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
Sing praises to the Lord!” Psalm 98:4-5

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
    and his courts with praise!
    Give thanks to him; bless his name!” Psalm 100:4

What makes the heart leap and breath catch upon seeing a wide orange fingernail sliver of a moon cup on the horizon at darkening twilight? It is the spirit God has planted in us that is alert to His declared glory in the skies. What causes fresh ideation and inspiration as we imagine and discover and invent? It is the image of God designed into our being at work and creating through our will and intellect. Praise Him!

God is trustworthy in the whirlwind, in the turmoil, in the unknown and foreboding as well as the blissful seasons. We can expect that His will will be done, His hand will prove mighty, His light will be seen, His judgments will be executed, His love will hold fast, because they embody who God is and how He works. Praise Him!

Will we praise him in the flood of sorrow and the flood of a home? In the drought of hope and the drought of a land? In the crash of bad news and the clash of war? In a radiant sunset of life and blazing sunset of day? God reigns on high! He rides the heavens to our aid, and sees that all His plans come to pass. Praise Him! (Deuteronomy 33:26; Isaiah 14:24)

What difference would there be in countenance, attitude, outlook, the atmosphere of our home and workplace, if we set out to praise God this day?

“All creatures of our God and King,
lift up your voice and with us sing,
‘Alleluia! Alleluia!’
Thou burning sun with golden beam,
thou silver moon with softer gleam,
O praise Him, O praise Him!
alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! 

Let all things their Creator bless,
and worship Him in humbleness;
O praise Him! Alleluia!
Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son,
and praise the Spirit, Three in One;
O praise Him, O praise Him!
alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!” ~St. Francis os Assisi (1225)

Amen!