One of my favorite songs currently is called Rejoice by Keith & Kristyn Getty. If you have not listened to this song, I highly recommend it. The chorus goes like this:
“With each breath He has given, praise the Lord
In these times we live in, we will praise the Lord
Throughout every season, I am sure
We have every reason to praise the Lord”
My two year old daughter will frequently ask “sing a song!” in which she is asking that we play music on the speaker. I will normally play this song first and get my guitar out to sing and play with my girls. Each of the girls will have a tambourine, or musical instrument of some sort to play along with. They enjoy banging it around, and if only you could see the joy on their faces!
Why am I telling you all about this random thing that happens in our home?
Well, because no matter the seasons of life we are in, we should rejoice and praise the Lord.
What other hope do we have, but that of which is found in our savior?
What else can save us from the pit of destruction other than the blood of Christ?
What reason do we have to not praise the Lord?
“Rejoice in the Lord always;
again, I say rejoice”
Philippians 4:4
“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials,
knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
And let endurance have its perfect result,
so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
James:1-2-4
If you think about your day to day life, how often do you find yourself rejoicing and praising God? Is it once a week, every day, or multiple times a day? For myself, I often get so caught up in my day to day tasks that it isn’t until my daughter says “sing a song” or “read the bible” that I realize I have been so consumed with my tasks that I haven’t even thought to pray! Isn’t it a blessing to have little people to remind us of what is really important?
Recently, I have been in what I’d consider a fairly tough season. I have four daughters from the ages of three and under (if you’re trying to figure out the math on that…two of them are twins!). It is pretty tiring and there are days full of discipline. I sometimes find myself getting angry, distant, and exhausted. I typically read my bible every day, but beyond that I too often am just trying to get through the days. Now, thankfully I have people in my life who care about me and will point me to what is true. Through the Holy Spirit and my friends and family, I have been able to see really how angry I was and my lack of joy in the Lord. I was not looking for God to be my strength. I was not rejoicing in my trials. I was looking to my own strength and abilities, instead of looking to God. Since then, I have been able to stop, pray and thank God for these opportunities to grow and learn. Then, praise Him for His goodness!
Maybe for you, it isn’t a season of mothering toddlers. Maybe for you, it is difficulty in school, work, relationships, death of a loved one, or something else. Yet no matter how hard my season of life may be, I have no reason not to stop and praise God. Nothing in my life is too great that it should inhibit my ability to rejoice and praise God. I should be praising God first because He is good and He gives great gifts. How can I not rejoice and praise Him when He has taken me from death to life? How can I not praise Him when He has given me far more than I could ever ask or think? How can I not praise Him in all circumstances?
Now, I write this to express how God’s people should be known by their love for Him. We should be frequently saying, “praise God” or expressing our gratitude towards God.
Do you rejoice and praise God? If so, where and how can you praise Him more? “With each breath”… If not, why not? God is worthy of all of our praise!
“Worthy are You, our Lord and our God,
to receive glory and honor and power;
for You created all things,
and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”
Revelation 4:11
“For great is the LORD and greatly to be praised;
He is to be feared above all gods.”
Psalm 96:4
“Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD from the heavens;
Praise Him in the heights!
Praise Him, all His angels; Praise Him, all His hosts!
Praise Him, sun and moon; Praise Him, all stars of light!
Psalm 148:1-3
Love,
Halie
