The Melodious

How do you give your creator praise? Mike Palmer- 1999

I was thinking that I would begin by praising Him for what He’s done for me (gave His only son to die in my place, freed me from my sin, given me a reason to live, adopted me, forgiven me, washed me clean, purchased me). When I’m done doing that I could praise Him what he has given me (My family, my home, my car, my wife, my kids, my job, my heritage, my health, my sanity, my joy, my strength, my ability, my wisdom, my freedom, my happiness, my church, my boss, my friends, my parents, my toys, my knowledge). He gave me these things which I realize are not really mine but he has put them in my care.

What have I done to deserve any of this? What kind of praise can I give? If I throw myself in front of Him and weep and cry worthy is that enough? What is a sacrifice of praise? How come I don’t know what it is? If I am really one of His children then why don’t I know how to give Him high praise? Can I become an expert on praise?

My flesh cannot praise the Lord. It does not have the capacity. It does not know how to praise him. It is dust. There is nothing my flesh has to offer God. All I have that is of any value to him is my soul because it already belongs to Him. I do not have the ability or the capacity to give him the soul he gave me. I need Him for everything!

Lord let me praise with all my soul and all my strength and take the dust of my flesh and use it to bring glory to you.

I look around me and see all the people suffering with pain, sorrow and or handicaps. My heart goes out to them, but I really have nothing to offer. I cannot provide for them, I cannot free them from their hurt; I cannot heal them. Many of these people have needs that require great dependency on others. I seem to crave independence; I work for it. Could it be that the real message is that, we need those people as much as they need us?

I have always equated praise with the use of music and song. Could it be that the music is just the medium that makes it easier to praise You? Does music please You or do You just use the music to vibrate our dust and allow us to feel the expression.

Is praise simply a response to seeing Your hand in everything that happens to us? Like saying “WOW” when we notice that you really are in control and have answered our prayers.

I know that You created us to worship You and I’d really like to know how I can do it, when I feel like I do right now. My prayer is that I could just do as Micah 6:8 says, ‘Do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with thy God.’