Praise the Lord!

That’s what we say when he answers a prayer or gives an unexpected blessing. But how do we respond in hard places when we see no reason to praise?

In such a place I began making a list of reasons to praise. Immediately I found six in the first six verses of Psalm 103. The Lord…

• Forgives all my sins
• Heals all my diseases
• Redeems my life from the pit
• Crowns me with love and compassion
• Satisfies my desires with good things so my youth is renewed like the eagle’s
• Works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed

Verse 8 reminded me, “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.” This truth inspired me to back up to the beginning and read through the book of Psalms, marking attributes of God and what he’s done for me.

I found a multitude of reasons to praise!

If you’re looking for a Bible study, try this one: “Getting to Know Awesome God.”

If you’re looking for a Bible study, try this one: “Getting to Know Awesome God.” Click To Tweet

Starting in the first chapter of Psalms, read through the book, marking every reference to the following (use a different color for each topic or a different mark, such as underline, circle, box, brackets so each topic is easy to recognize in the future).

• I cry…He hears
• I trust in God
• God is my refuge (strength, shield, defense…)
• God is good
• I praise, extol, exalt Thee because
• God repays vengeance to my enemies
• God loves (is pleased with)
• God hates
• I wait on God
• I hope in God
• I will not fear
• Blessed is the man who
• I pour out my soul, heart, complaint
• God’s strong arm, mighty hand
• Guide, lead, teach me

By reading five chapters a day, you can read Psalms every month.

Choose five topics for your first study. Choose five more for second reading and the last five for third reading. As you uncover these precious truths, list them in a notebook by topic and refer to the list when you need a reason to praise.

If you follow this guideline to study the Psalms, you’ll be well acquainted with awesome God. He is worthy of our praise, regardless of our circumstances.

God is worthy of our praise, regardless of our circumstances. Click To Tweet

When you find yourself in a difficult place and you don’t feel like offering praise, do it as a sacrifice.

“Through Him. Therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name” (Hebrews 13:15 Amplified).

Would you please tell me about an experience when praise transformed your situation? And please share this study with your friends.

© Dianne Barker 2018