The great reformer, John Wesley lay dying at the grand old
age of 88. People gathered around him to hear his final words and see what he
would say. Soon they realized that throughout his life, he had learned the
lesson of praising God in every circumstance. Though he was extremely weak, he
began singing the hymn, "I'll Praise My Maker While I've Breath."
What a great man John Wesley was! And he was always praising
God in every circumstance! But suppose I don't feel like praise God? Maybe I
can't think of anything to praise God for!! Have you ever had that experience?
Psalms 34 gives us 12 reasons to praise God! Let's discover
them!
#1 - He saves us from
fear. Psalms 34:4 says, "I
sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears."
We all experience being afraid of many different things, but here it says God
delivers us from our fears so they don't need to haunt us and make us troubled!
What a great reason to praise God!
#2 - He is our
example. Verse 5 says, "They
looked unto him, and were lightened..." Egw says, "By beholding
we become changed. The character is softened, refined, and ennobled for the
heavenly kingdom." Mount of Blessing,
page 85. The more we study about Jesus and His life, the more we are changed
into His image and become like Him! He is our example and another reason to
praise God for!
#3 - He answers
prayer. Verse 6 says, "This
poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles."
God answers prayer! When we cry to Him for help, He will hear us and save
us! Just like Peter cried to Jesus as he was sinking beneath the waves of
Galilee, and Jesus saved him, so it can be with us. We can praise God because
He answers our prayers!
#4 - He sends angels
to watch over us. Verse 7 says, "The
angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth
them." If the angels did not keep us safe and watch over us, we would
not be alive today! Angelic protection is very important and we should praise
God for it! Egw says, "In all ages, angels have been near to Christ's
faithful followers... From what dangers, seen and unseen, we have been
preserved through the interposition of the angels, we shall never know, until
in the light of eternity we see the providences of God." Desire of Ages, page 240.
#5 - He is our
Provider. Verse 10 says, "The
young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not
want any good thing." Jesus will provide all our needs! He has
promised it (Phil. 4:19) and He cannot lie (Titus 1:2). I don't need to worry
about my needs, because Jesus has promised to supply all I need! What a great
reason to praise God!
#6 - He convicts us
of sin. Verse 13 says, "Keep
thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile." Without Jesus
telling us through His law what is sin or evil, we wouldn't know! So He wants
to remind us to keep away from evil and from speaking bad things. Another
reason to praise God!
#7 - He reminds us to
do right. Verse 14 says, "Depart
from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it." Jesus doesn't just
tell us what is wrong, He always encourages us to do the right! We are to do
good and pursue peace! Keep on praising God!
#8 - He is watching
over us. Verse 15 says, "The
eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry."
God's eyes are upon us! He is watching over us to take care of us and help
us do what is right! Do we act like God's eyes are watching us?
#9 - He is our listening
ear. Verse 17 says, "The
righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their
troubles." What we really need is someone to listen to us when we're
in trouble, and God is that Person! What a comforting thought!
#10 - He cares for us
and sympathizes with us when we are sad. Verse 18 says, "The LORD is nigh unto them that are
of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit." When
we are sad and discouraged or overwhelmed by sin, Jesus comforts us and points
us to Him - the great Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (Jn.
1:29). Another powerful reason to praise God!
#11 - He is our
deliverer. Verse 19 says, "Many
are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them
all." We need deliverance from our troubles and deliverance from sin.
The promise is that the Lord delivers us out of ALL the troubles! Can it get
any better than that?
#12 - He is our Redeemer.
Verse 22 says, "The LORD redeemeth
the soul of his servants...." Yes Jesus redeems us from our sins and
someday soon He will save us from this earth!
Twelve reasons to praise God just from one chapter! Of
course, there are many more reasons to praise God, but let's remember these 12
to help us have sunny, peaceful Christian faces as we serve God today!
"Oh that men
would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the
children of men!" Psalms 107:8
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