One of my favorite things when I’m out running errands is to see someone I know. This was especially true when I had a toddler and an infant, but even now that they’re both school-age, there’s just something about being seen and recognized that makes my heart a little lighter. Conversation doesn’t need to play a part; merely a silent nod of acknowledgement can be sufficient. I feel much the same way about treasured Scriptures when I come across them in my daily reading, and also much-loved hymns. About a year ago, I made a point to work with my girls on learning “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”, and when it came up in our nightly bedtime rotation recently, I was struck again by the richness of the lyrics.
If this particular one isn’t an “old friend” to you, you can hear Fernando Ortega’s rendition here, and find full lyrics on this page. It was impactful to me to 1) have laid out before me so many reasons why we should praise the Lord; and 2) recognize that all of these reasons, based in Scripture, were no less true in 1680 when Joachim Neander compiled them than they were when the Bible was written, and are no less true now. The Lord does not change, and I’m thankful for that. So below you’ll find a list, taken from this hymn, of ways in which the Lord is worthy of praise.
The Lord:
- is Almighty (Gen 17:1; Rev 19:6)
- is the King of creation (Ps 24:1-2, 97:5)
- grants physical health (Ps 103:2-3; Jer 30:17)
- saves us (Ex 15:2; Ps 3:8; Acts 4:12)
- reigns over all (Ps 93:1; Rev 19:6)
- shelters us with His wings (Ps 91:4)
- sustains us (and all things) (Ps 55:22; 1 Cor 1:7-9; Col 1:17; Heb 1:3-4)
- satisfies our longings (Ps 36:5-9, 107:9)
- prospers our work (Ps 127:1; Pr 28:25; 1 Cor 15:58)
- defends us (Ps 18:2, 91:14, 94:22; 1 John 5:18)
- daily provides goodness and mercy (Lam 3:22-23)
- befriends us with His love (John 15:13-15)
This list is, of course, far from exhaustive, both in reasons to praise Him and also the applicable Scriptures, but I appreciated having it laid out so clearly before me. I hope you find it as encouraging as I did.
Is one of these more meaningful to you right now than another, or has there been a time when one stood out really strongly? Let me know in the comments below, or send me an email about it at stewardofgrace1@gmail.com!
What a wonderful encouragement and inspiration to praise our God! And it makes me smile to think of you singing songs at bedtime with your sweet girls.
My favorite song is “It Is Well With My Soul”. Even though it was written in a time of great sorrow, the resounding chorus, no matter what, is it is well with my soul. How frequently we sometimes forget that when we face our own trails in life. Praise God it is well with my soul!