Elevate

Psalms 145

Have you ever had something amazing happen in your life?  Something that you couldn’t wait to tell everyone about?  We all have things to be thankful for.  Blessings in our lives that just wouldn’t be possible without God’s grace and love.  For me the sheer fact that I am sitting here today writing this is only possible because God loved me and continued to love me, way before I ever loved him back. 

Sometimes I sit in awe of the awesome, unfailing love of God.  We turn our backs on him, curse his name and run and hide from Him, yet he never gives upon us.  He never stops pursuing, never withholds His love and keep calling us back to Him.

When David wrote the book of Psalms he filled it with praises to God.  In times of joy he praised and gave thanks to God, and even in times of sorrow or great pain he elevated God to a place of greatness in his life.  How often do we do the same?

When things go well in our lives do we stop and praise the very God the gives us breath in our lungs.  When things go wrong do we blame God for not protecting us or do we thank Him for all the blessings that we do have? 

Elevating God to a place of greatness in our lives is not an easy task.  We are so selfish by nature.  Sin has corrupted everything in this world.  The world tells us that our successes our ours and ours alone. The world also has taught us that when we fail, there is always someone else to blame, and often times we place that blame on our loving and ever forgiving heavenly Father. 

How do we learn to elevate God in our lives above ourselves?  How can we be more like David, who in Psalms 145 begins his prayer “I will exalt you, my God and King, and praise your name forever and ever.”  King David, a man who had the world at his feet, humbled himself and gave God the glory in his life. 

“Great is the Lord!  He is worthy of praise!  No one can measure his greatness.” (verse 3) Do you believe that God is worthy of praise in your life?  Is he worthy of your meditation?  Are you in awe of His glorious splendor, his wonderful miracles?  Do you share the story of his wonderful goodness in your life?

I am just as guilty as anyone of elevating things of this world above God.  I get too distracted with life to spend time in prayer.  I can find a million other things to do other than read my Bible, and I could come up with a million reasons to place my focus on my job, my kids, my spouse and my friends.  With all my shortfalls, the times that I ignore God, there he is waiting for me to come back and spend time with Him. 

I challenge you this week to take some time and truly thank God for what his has done for you.  Elevate Him above all things and give Him praise in the good and in the bad.  Read Psalms 145 this week.  See how David elevated God in his own life. 

The Lord always keeps his promises; he is gracious in all he does.  The Lord helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads.  (verses 13-14) Today is the day to elevate God in your life, connect one on one with Him and give Him the glory.