A Heart of Praise By Jeanne Theriault
Isaiah 29:30 The Lord says , these people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
God knows every persons heart, because he created us and knows every detail of our lives, our intentions and thoughts. God loves it when we seek to honor him wholeheartedly .
John 4:23 Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth.
David always directed his heart towards God by reassuring himself that God was his strength and his refuge.
Psalm 46 God is our refuge and strength an ever present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear.
Psalm 35:9 Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord and delight in his salvation.
We as children of God need to reassure ourselves that we can come to a place were we can rejoice and praise God and seek and honor him wholeheartedly. When he sees our hearts pure before him he will reveal himself to us.
Psalm 50:23 He who sacrifices thank offering honor me and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God.
Psalm 103 Praise the Lord O my soul all my inmost being praise his holy name. 2 Praise the Lord O my soul and forget not all his benefits. 3 Who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases. 4 Who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion 5 Who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagles 6 The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
David is saying here that there are benefits in praising God in the midst of our challenges in life. He forgives our sins and heals our diseases, he has redeemed us and delivers us, loves us and he gives us or hearts desires. Now isn’t that a good reason for us to give him praise!
Psalm 8:1 O Lord how Majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. 2 From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies to silence the foe and the avenger.
Lord we give you our hearts wholeheartedly. For you are the creator of all things. We bless your name not only with our lips but with our heart. We rejoice in your salvation , our mouth will be filled with praise declaring your goodness and splendor all day long. We offer you the sacrifice of praise continually and will proclaim aloud your praise and telling of all your wonderful deeds. To God be the glory! Amen