1 Chronicles 16:8-13 (NLT)
“Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim His greatness. Let the whole world know what He has done. Sing to Him; yes, sing His praises. Tell everyone about His wonderful deeds. Exult in His holy name; rejoice, you who worship the LORD. Search for the LORD and for His strength; continually seek Him. Remember the wonders He has performed, His miracles, and the rulings He has given, you children of His servant Israel, you descendants of Jacob, His chosen ones.”
Reflection:
Praise is a powerful weapon. It shifts our focus away from ourselves and our circumstances and onto the Almighty God. It reminds us of His character, His faithfulness, His love. He is unfailing and unchanging, even when everything around us is not. There is such security to be found in that; a steadiness that cannot be shaken as our feet are placed upon the Solid Rock.
In the piece of scripture, David is encouraging the people to “proclaim His greatness”. For David, we see this is the overflow of his heart; he cannot keep quiet about all that the Lord has done. In the Psalms we see that, no matter what the situation, David always resorts to praising God for who He is. God’s worthiness of praise is not dependent on our circumstances; He is and forever will be worthy of all honour and glory.In this challenging time, the world around us needs to hear about our God and all that He has done. As we have this time to draw closer to God and know more about who He is, let’s find ways to share that truth with those around us. “Let the whole world know what He has done.” Let’s find ways to declare the greatest truth ever known: our God saves.
Prayer outline:
Holy and sovereign God, You are worthy of praise. You are unchanging. You are the Alpha and the Omega. You are Creator God. You are all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present. You are magnificent and majestic. Your glory fills the earth. Jesus, as Easter draws near, help us remember all that You have done for us. May the overflow of our hearts still be a song of praise to You. In this time of desperation around us, and even within us, may our voice be a voice that declares Your greatness, Your unfailing faithfulness, Your sovereignty, Your eternal hope, Your salvation. Jesus, You are what we need and what the world around us needs so desperately. Holy Spirit, stir our hearts towards praise, towards declaring Your truth. Help us point the world to You, God. Amen.
- Write a psalm of your own declaring “God’s greatness” and His “wonderful deeds” in your own life.
- Listen to the song “Indescribable” by Chris Tomlin to help put God in perspective of how magnificent He is.