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This sermon – Praise and Thanksgiving – was originally preached 2014.02.02 by Leon Yoder.
Psalm 67:1-7
Do I praise the Lord in a way that he would be pleased with my praise? We understand that the world around us doesn’t praise God. Too often though, the people of God don’t praise the Lord either.
How often do we experience a blessing and thank God. Soon though a trial appears and our tendency is to complain. To grumble and blame God.
Complaining is not what God’s people are called to.
Philippians 2:14-15
We are called to praise. To thanksgiving. To worship. We are to offer our thanks to God continually.
Isaiah 61:1-3
We praise God for salvation.
God can bring us to a place of beauty, of praise, instead of heaviness. This praise is for the beauty of deliverance and a new life.
In heaven there will be perfect praise. Our desire should be that we praise God more.
We praise God for his mercies.
We praise God for his light.
We praise God for his presence.
We praise God for his knowledge.
We praise God for his unchangeableness.
We praise God for his wisdom.
We praise God for his faithfulness.
God is not a museum or exhibit of a historical person who did a lot of great things. God is now! God is wonderful and personal and for me now! God is involved in my life, in your life, in your circumstances.
Cultivate your praise. Read passages of praise. Make time for praise. Make list of your blessings.
There are benefits for praising God. The things that we praise God for become richer and more real to us. It can bring a stronger sense of God’s presence in our lives as well as a deeper communion with him.
Expressing praise increases our gratitude. When we tell a loved one that we love them, it isn’t just a little psychological trick… an expression of affection helps make it more real. It helps it grow.
God works in the heart of the one who praises him from a heart full of sincere gratitude.
Psalm 71:14
As we praise the Lord and grow in our praise we will see knew and fresh reasons for praising him.
Praising God brightens the testimony of the Christian.
May the Lord help us praise him more each day.