friend, may praise spring forth from your mouth!

As we start a new week, I’d like to talk with you about the importance of praise and worship. I’ve learned to praise God and thank Him at all times, whether the sky is blue or gray...whether I’m in a good or bad season...and do you know why? Because He is good and deserves all the glory! Praising God is also an amazing way to be encouraged and lifted up. How much we’ve needed this, too, during this season of change and uncertainty! I pray that these texts and music videos will bring great joy to our Father and to you. :-) How good it is to praise God! While we do it first and foremost to glorify the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, I have come to realize how much it also does us good. Yes, praise frees us and enables us to soar to the heights!    The Word says that it is God’s good pleasure “to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” (Isaiah 61:3, NKJV)   Hallelujah! Yes, this beautiful garment of praise is all for His glory!   Jesus is truly worthy of being praised at every moment. And the Bible encourages us to do so! Proclaim these verses with me from the Psalms. Declare them with all your heart!  

• “Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, and His praise in the assembly of saints.” (Psalm 149:1)  
• “Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful.” (Psalm 147:1)  
• “Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty firmament! Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to His excellent greatness!” (Psalm 150:1-2)  
• “It is good to praise the Lord and make music to Your name, O Most High, proclaiming Your love in the morning and Your faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp.” (Psalm 92:1-3, NIV)   

Isn’t our God marvelous? Amen!   friend, today, I encourage you to sing forth the high praises of God with Kari Jobe and Bethel Music with the song “Forever.”     Let’s praise the Lord now and all throughout this day!