September 27
“Save with Your right hand and answer me so that those You love may be rescued.” Psalm 108:6 (CSB)
All 10 of our grandchildren live in the Metroplex. Sometimes when they come to our house, they’ll run in and immediately start asking to get on the PlayStation or watch something—without hardly saying hello. They rush into our presence without acknowledging who we are.
I find myself doing the same thing when I come into the presence of Yahweh. I start rattling off all my needs and requests without taking the time to acknowledge who He is and what He is about. I forget: prayer time always needs to begin with praise.
We see this in Psalm 108. Verse 6 (above) is the turning point of the psalm. After it, David is laying out his petition for victory over his enemies. But he keeps first things first: he comes into God’s presence with praise and adoration.
In v.1, David pledges his faith and trust in Yahweh, prompting him to passionately sing praises to Him: “My heart is confident in You, O God; no wonder I can sing Your praises with all my heart!” Our relationship with God is, at its core, a relationship built on trust. We come into God’s presence because He is trustworthy, and we believe He will listen and act.
In v.2, David, able to play multiple instruments, indicates that music is a beautiful way to worship Yahweh: “Wake up, lyre and harp! I will wake the dawn with my song.” I don’t play an instrument, but I do listen to praise music during my devotional time. Notice that David’s day is begun with this ritual. The wise have always sought God first thing in the morning.
In v.3, the psalmist pledges to not be a closet believer: “I will thank You, Lord, among all the people. I will sing Your praises among the nations.” True believers realize what we do in public validates what we say in private.
In vv.4-5, David finishes this flurry of praise by extolling God’s love, faithfulness, and glory: “For your unfailing love is higher than the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens. May Your glory shine over all the earth.”
Begin each day and each prayer with praise. Read over these verses now, out loud as a prayer of praise.
Amen
THANK YOU LORD.
THANK YOU PASTOR RUSS.
MAY THE ALMIGHTY GOD STREIGHT US TODAY....AND EVERY DAY.
IN JESUS NAME.