Pastor column: God is worthy of our praise

Psalm 146 shows God is worthy of your love, your devotion, your obedience — the truth that He’s worthy of all your praise. To back up this statement, the Psalmist shows us why the person who knows the Lord has many reasons to praise Him.

“Happy is he who has the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the Lord his God, Who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; Who keeps truth forever” (vs. 5-6 NKJV).

We can always praise the Lord for His greatness, which is revealed in three special ways. First, by the greatness of His Presence. “Happy is he who has the God of Jacob” this describes an intimate knowledge of God and what the presence of God was all about. “Happy is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways” (Psalm 128:1 NIV). You see, there is a direct connection between happiness and fearing the Lord (intimacy with God). The Hebrew word happy or blessed describes the sense of happiness and wholeness that comes from living in a strong relationship with God.

His greatness is revealed, secondly, by the greatness of His Power. He’s the God of creation! He is the God Who said “Let there be …” and there was (Psalm 19; Isaiah 40:12). His power is awesome and it’s limitless. It’s this power that He extends to us in salvation and in our sustaining strength day by day. When you are overwhelmed by life, remember Who your God is and what He’s done. Remember that He’s still able (Ephesians 3:20). Trust Him. His power becomes your power.

The Lord’s greatness is revealed, thirdly, by the greatness of His Promises. We are told that God “keeps truth forever.” This has reference to the fact that God will stand by His Word. In other words, what God has promised, God will bring to pass. Believers need never to fear a single one of His promises passing away unfulfilled. God will do everything He has said He would do.

F.B. Meyer said, “If any promise of God should fail, the heavens would cloth themselves in sackcloth; the sun, the moon and the stars would reel from their courses; the universe would rock, and a hollow wind would moan through a ruined creation the awful fact that God can lie.”

Every promise from Him will be perfectly and completely kept. “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). “But my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). He keeps truth forever. You can count on Him. Therefore, He is worthy.

If you are behind in the praise department and want to catch up, you can begin that process right now and you will experience all the great things He can do in you and through you. Give God praise.

Rev. J. Patrick Street is the lead pastor of Redeemer Church in Marion. He can be reached at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Marion Star: God is worthy of our praise