Simply waking up in the morning, I realize how blessed I am to embrace a new day, even if one doesn’t feel like starting it quite yet on my feet,  much to the cat’s disappointment… I like to start my day by embracing our God who gave me rest to be my best. I’ve yet to do many things, but I WILL start with the best morning activity I have in trying to please Him more – SIMPLY TO GET TO KNOW HIM BETTER. In us He WILL give us a new day, so in Him we should PRAISE.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.

We tend to think of OUR problems, OUR issues and of course OUR deliverance. Even that great scripture “Be Still” – we think of that as ‘people-centric’ as ‘Be Still and God is working things out FOR US’… And yes, He IS, but in reality read the Psalm 46 full text, it is referring BIGGER than that – it is that God telling us to Be Still, He WILL be EXALTED even by those who didn’t think He was handling everything… He WILL get credit where credit is due. Let’s start that now.

That is another reason to jump on the PRAISE bandwagon, be an optimist of God’s deliverance of the whole situation on earth, and praise of the little things too. Be still knowing – Be still PRAISING. 

All in All, have faith in God being Whom He is. This does allow us to ask for help… Yes, we have much company in people who reach out to God to ask for help – and in the asking is also the faith – in the knowledge of deliverance… So, Psalm 18 is yet another great opportunity for David to sing of the Lord’s deliverance and His Victories even to the next generations…

As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God?

Remember that God was telling David that He was favored, He would have a whole line of people (including the greatest King, Savior to Jews and Gentiles, Jesus) come after him in his bloodline – David was being told that Jesus would be connected to him, a remnant of Judah even if Judah was just in rags by then (God predicted the ongoing strife and exile). David already knew to speak of the Lord as “my Lord”, and God promised fulfilment…

Psalms 18, 19, 20, 21 all are of God’s Amazing Power deserving of PRAISE. We too should say “My Lord” in appreciation for it is true and for the appreciation that God is good. Psalm 46 is the Be Still psalm… We can find familiar phrases in our psalms of praise. That’s how I’m starting this day… Knowing and PRAISING..

Amen!

(These psalms below are worth the read!)

(OK, cat has spoken, time to get going and move out the Christmas decorations!)

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Psalm 18:25-36

To the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the devious you show yourself shrewd. You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty. 

You, Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.

As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God?

It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights. He trains my hands for battle; my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

You make your saving help my shield, and your right hand sustains me; your help has made me great. You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way.

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Psalm 19

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.

In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth.

The law of the Lord is PERFECT, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.

The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward. But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression.

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

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Psalm 20

May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion. May he remember all your sacrifices and accept your burnt offerings. May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. May we shout for joy over your victory and lift up our banners in the name of our God.

May the Lord grant all your requests.

Now this I know: The Lord gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but WE TRUST IN THE NAME OF THE LORD OUR GOD.

They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm. Lord, give victory to the king! Answer us when we call!

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Psalm 21

The king rejoices in your strength, Lord. How great is his joy in the victories you give! You have granted him his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. You came to greet him with rich blessings and placed a crown of pure gold on his head. He asked you for life, and you gave it to him— length of days, for ever and ever. Through the victories you gave, his glory is great; you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty. Surely you have granted him unending blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence. For the king trusts in the Lord; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken.

Your hand will lay hold on all your enemies; your right hand will seize your foes. When you appear for battle, you will burn them up as in a blazing furnace. The Lord will swallow them up in his wrath, and his fire will consume them. You will destroy their descendants from the earth, their posterity from mankind. Though they plot evil against you and devise wicked schemes, they cannot succeed. You will make them turn their backs when you aim at them with drawn bow.

Be exalted in your strength, Lord; we will sing and praise your might.

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Psalm 46: God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.

There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations he hath made in the earth.He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.