I have a song in my heart this morning. "He's Coming Again" by Vicki Yo'he...I like to think that our praise, as are all good and perfect gifts, come from God, and that He sings over us when a song is on our hearts when we wake in the morning. For He is worthy to be praised! An ever-present help in time of need, God loves to hear us praise Him! Martha Munizzi says that He inhabits our praise, He actually is ushered in and "sits" on our praise. Our Pastor at VFC has preached twice in the last few weeks about that very thing: Praise. Judah means "Praise", and Judas Iscariot also meant "multiple praises". But did he praise God? The Bible recounted some of Judas' comments, and they did not. They reflected a man with a critical spirit, a complaining and mumbling attitude. This, when really all that God wanted was for Judas to live up to his name...to speak Praise of God when all the miracles and the signs and wonders took place.

Are we the same way? Sad to say, I have in the past been grieving God when I should have been praising Him! This entry will show you some of the "songs" of the Bible, and I hope that it will lift your spirits and give you a new determination to Praise Him in every circumstance. For when the Praises go up, the blessings come down!

In Exodus 15:1-18, Moses and the Isrealites sang a song of praise to God after their deliverance from the Egyptians in the Wilderness, as they fled for their lives. "Music played an important part in Israel's worship and celebration. Singing was an expression of love and thanks, and it was a creative way to pass down oral traditions. Some say this song of Moses is the oldest recorded song in the world. It was a festive epic poem celebrating God's victory, lifting the hearts and voices of the people outward and upward. After having been delivered from great danger, they sang with joy! Psalms and hymns can be great ways to express relief, praise, and thanks when you have been through trouble."

Then Miriam, a prophetess, and the sister of Aaron, took a tamborine in hand and began to sing, with all the women following her, "Sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted, The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea."

Moses' Song was recited in order to help the people to remember. In Deuteronomy 32:1-43 Moses had spoken three sermons, and then began to lead the Isrealites in a song about the brief history of Israel. "It reminds the people of their mistakes, warns them to avoid repetition of those mistakes, and offers the hope that comes only in trusting God."

Other famous songs of the Bible include: Numbers 21:17, which thanked God for giving them water in the desert;
                                                                 Deuteronomy 32:1-43, a brief history of the Israelites as God was about to lead them into the Promised Land;
                                                                 2 Samuel 22:2-51, a song of thanks when God had delivered David from the hands of King Saul, a self-proclaimed enemy of David;
                                                                 Isaiah 26:1, a prophetic song about how the redeemed will sing in the new Jerusalem;
                                                                 Luke 1:46-55, Mary's song of praise to God for the conception of Jesus;
                                                                 Acts 16:25, the report of Paul and Silas' singing hymns in prison;
                                                                 Revelation 14:3, the song of the 144,000 redeemed from the earth;
                                                                 Revelation 15:3,4, the song of all the redeemed in praise of the Lamb who redeemed them.

Ps 9:1ff "I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders."
Praise is the expression of our appreciation and understanding of God's worth to us. It is a way to say thanks for every aspect of HIs divine nature. Our inward attitude becomes our outward expression. When we praise God, we help ourselves by expanding our awareness of who he is. Look in Psalms for attributes or characteristics of God for which you can praise Him. 

We should be like David; beginning any task with praise and worship: In 1 Chronicles 15:16-25, David instructed the leaders of the Levites to sing joyful songs, accompanied by musical instruments: lyres, harps and cymbals. "It heightened the excitement, elevated the people's hearts and minds, and focused their attention on the event...It also sealed it in their memories for years to come." Developing a heart of praise will enable us to experience greater joy and the strength to face anything. 

Praise should be a regular part of our routine, not just for celebration. Because God loves it when we praise Him! 1 Chron. 16:4

In 2 Chronicles 5:13, the cloud of God was ushered into the Temple by the praise and worship of His children, the Israelites.

Give it to God and not yourself: In Ezra 3:10-11, after the foundations of the temple were formed, the Israelites did not try to get praise for what they had done in laying the foundations, but gave their praises to God, singing, "He is good; His love to Israel endures forever." In praise, we are thanking God for our talents, gifts and attributes, which we use for Him, because that gift is from above.

Commit youself to praise God daily. In Psalm 61:8, the Psalmist commits to sing praises to God daily, to commit his vows to God daily. Not just on Sunday and Wednesday. David found something to praise God for each and every day. When you do this, you "will find your heart elevated from daily distractions to lasting confidence."

"Why so downcast, o my soul?
Put your trust in God,
Put your trust in God,
Put your trust in God.
Oh, why so downcast, o my soul?
Put your trust in God,
And bless the Lord O my soul!"

I pray for you, that all your days will be filled praise! Put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness! Isaiah 61:3. And may God continue to bless you with every spiritual blessing, according to His riches in Glory. In Jesus' Name, Amen.