REASONS TO PRAISE

Can I pray for you in any way? Send any prayer requests to faithhopegodlove@aol.com In Christ, Mark

"Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord: "I will sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him. The Lord is a warrior; the Lord is his name. Pharaoh's chariots and his army he has hurled into the sea. The best of Pharaoh's officers are drowned in the Red Sea. The deep waters have covered them; they sank to the depths like a stone. "Your right hand, O Lord, was majestic in power. Your right hand, O Lord, shattered the enemy. In the greatness of your majesty, you threw down those who opposed you. You unleashed your burning anger; it consumed them like stubble. By the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up. The surging waters stood firm like a wall; the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea. "The enemy boasted, 'I will pursue, I will overtake them. I will divide the spoils; I will gorge myself on them. I will draw my sword and my hand will destroy them.' But you blew with your breath, and the sea covered them. They sank like lead in the mighty waters. "Who among the gods is like you, O Lord? Who is like you—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? You stretched out your right hand and the earth swallowed them. "In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength, you will guide them to your holy dwelling. The nations will hear and tremble; anguish will grip the people of Philistia. The chiefs of Edom will be terrified, the leaders of Moab will be seized with trembling, the people of Canaan will melt away; terror and dread will fall upon them. By the power of your arm, they will be as still as a stone—until your people pass by, O Lord, until the people you bought pass by. You will bring them in and plant them on the mountain of your inheritance—the place, O Lord, you made for your dwelling, the sanctuary, O Lord, your hands established. The Lord will reign for ever and ever." When Pharaoh's horses, chariots and horsemen went into the sea, the Lord brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground. Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron's sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing. Miriam sang to them: "Sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea." Exodus 15:1-21

After Moses and the people of Israel are delivered out of Egypt through God's miraculous act at the Red Sea, we see in scripture where Moses and the Israelites burst into a wonderful song of praise. In this song, we can see reasons why we too should praise this Almighty, All Powerful God. Let's look at the praise highlights:

1. Praise God…for He is highly exalted. In fact, God deserves our highest exaltation. Nothing is of greater importance to us that the Father, His Son and the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we should worship nothing any higher than God who created everything. We should lift Him up in our lives and before others. We should bow down before Him in respect and admiration.

2. Praise God…for He is our strength. Do you think you make it through life on your own strength? The truth is that the only way we make it through any one day is with the strength of God within us. We should exclaim as the Psalmist, "I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." Psalm 18:1-2

3. Praise God…for he is our song. Do you have a favorite song? Why is it your favorite? Because it moves you emotionally in some special way. It has significance for you in your life, either past, present or future. When you hear that song, you can't help but want to sing out from your heart. It should be this way for us when we think of God as well. My favorite songs are the ones that life Him up in honor, glory and praise. Nothing helps my soul soar higher. He is the greatest song we have because He is the most significant thing in our life. Sing for Him and about Him at the top of your lungs.

4. Praise God…for He is our God. He is a personal God…a God who takes a vested love and interest in every one of His children. He is always there for us…always ready to guide and direct us. There is nowhere we can't find Him…He is everywhere at every time. And He is the only One we can truly rely and trust in. He is our God.

5. Praise God…for He is a warrior. We never enter life's battlefield, fighting alone. The full armor will not be effective unless God is in your heart as well. Satan can not stand against Almighty God…he will never have victory over us as long as we have God fighting Him alongside. Truly, if God is for us…and He is…who CAN be against us? The answer is no one.

6. Praise God…for His majestic power. There isn't anything He can't do. He created the heavens and the earth. He placed the stars and planets in the sky. He made every living thing on the earth. And He took a sea and divided it to allow His people to walk to freedom. What obstacle is in your way today? What are you up against that you can't take care of on your own? Know and trust that there isn't anything impossible with God and His majestic power.

7. Praise God…for His unfailing love. When someone does wrong to us, we get hurt. Sometimes we forgive. Sometimes we find it hard to ever forgive. Sometimes people continue to hurt is over and over and over again…to the point where we are numb…lacking feeling…lacking love. Now think about God for a minute. Every time we sin, we hurt Him. He gave His only Son to pay the price for our sins and yet we continue to violate God word and will. And we do it over…and over…and over again. Yet, still He loves us…and His love never fails. And that my friends, is amazing love. We should strive to love likewise.

8. Praise God…for He redeems us. Not only is His love unfailing…but so is His forgiveness. He gave us His only Son as a sin sacrifice and the blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, poured over us, washed us white as snow and delivered us from death to life. God didn't have to save us. He could have turned His face from us because of our sinfulness. But He didn't. Instead, He redeemed us.

9. Praise God…for He will reign forever and ever. There is no question who sits on the Throne of Heaven…no doubt who reigns. It is God and God alone with His Son Jesus sitting on His right hand side. And His kingdom endures forever and ever...both now and when Jesus Christ returns again. What an awesome King we have…the King of Kings!

Yes, there are so many reasons why we should praise our God. The Israelites cried out in their song, ""Who among the gods is like you, O Lord? Who is like you—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?" Indeed, who IS like our God? Who IS majestic in holiness, awesome in glory and working wonders? The answer is no one…because no one is greater than the Lord our God. Truly as Chris Tomlin, one of my favorite Christian singers, writes, "How Great is Our God?…Sing with me…How Great is Our God…and all will see how great…how great is our God." Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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