The Power of Praise

As someone who makes a regular practice of the "Note to self" application, I appreciate that the Psalmist invites us into his own inner workings.

"Why are you so downcast?" he says to his soul. "Why are you so disturbed?" If you are anything like me, you've got a list of things that you could rattle off at any given moment in answer to that question. Problems with money, marriage, health, kids, jobs, family... the list could go on and on.

This life is full of trials, in fact Jesus promises in John 16:33 that "In this world, you will have trouble". The problem comes when we take our eyes off of the Savior of the world, the one who has overcome all things and who's voice calms the raging storms.

When I gaze too deeply at the troubles that surround me, disturbed and downcast are the natural result. And so, like the Psalmist I speak to my soul and say: "Put your hope in God"

" I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart;

I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.

I will be glad and exult in you;

I will praise your name, O most High."

Psalm 9:2-1

Praise is how we take our eyes off the storm and put them back on the one who holds the universe together with the word of his power" (Hebrews 1:3). It is calling to mind the goodness and the power of the Almighty God and choosing to praise him through the trials.

But friend, it is hard to praise a God that we don't know. It is hard to trace his goodness in our lives when we have no idea what that goodness looks like. It is hard to look, with joyful anticipation, towards all that he has in store for you when you have never learned of his promises. If that is you, don't worry if you are starting at the beginning. Because whether you are just beginning a journey of faith or have walked this road for many years, The Gospel is the one thing that can put a song in our hearts, no matter what else we are facing.

The reality of my lost and sinful state that was redeemed by Jesus our Savior who took the sins of the world on himself and paid the ransom in full so that I could be restored to a relationship with God, how could that not make every trial of this earth pale in comparison to the hope that is before me. The promise of heaven, where every tear will be gone and every wrong made right, it lifts the weight of this world right off of my troubled heart. Fixing our eyes on Jesus and resting in his promises is what leads our hearts to joyful praise in any and all circumstances. It opens prison doors, it lifts the head of the downcast and disturbed and it puts a song on our lips.