Give Praise to the Lord!

Psalm 105:1

Sometimes I can get a little overexcited. I suspect if you asked my wife she’d tell you that that’s a bit of an understatement! If something wonderful happens, I have to tell everyone about it. In fact, I won’t shut up; I have to tell everyone in sight. If I’m given a present, or someone does something for me, especially if it’s unexpected, I can get very excited about it indeed. At times like these, my excitement truly knows no bounds. Perhaps you’re a little like me? Maybe you get excited by the kindness and generosity of other people?

In today’s verse, the Psalmist tells us all that we should praise God, proclaim his name, and tell everyone what he has done. I wonder how many of us who get excited by the kindness of other people get similarly excited by what God does for us? God, of course, has given us immeasurably more than any of our friends could. He made us in his own image. He gave us a wonderful, beautiful planet to live on. He sent his son to teach us and to die in our place. He sends his Spirit to work in our lives. He loves us, listens to us, and cares for us. He gives us hope for the future, a future in heaven, free of evil, death and suffering.

And yet how many of us are excited about this? How many of us praise him and proclaim his name? Do we make telling others about the wondrous things God has done for us a priority?

Getting excited by things others do for us seems to come naturally, but to so many Christians, praising God and proclaiming his name doesn’t. Praising God often feels like a commitment, something that we have to do out of necessity. Yet it really shouldn’t be like that. The joy of knowing God should just spill out of us without a second thought.

I wonder why it doesn’t? Perhaps it’s because we’ve become immune to God’s grace, it’s just something we’ve come to accept and take for granted. Perhaps it’s because we don’t stop and marvel at what God has done for us enough. Perhaps we feel shy or embarrassed. Whatever the reason, it shouldn’t be like this.

Let’s strive to live by this verse day by day. Let’s reflect anew on God’s love and grace. Perhaps even write a list of the blessings God has bestowed on you recently. But let’s make sure we’re not immune to grace, that we don’t take it for granted. Let’s get excited about God’s love!