I Will Praise Him! (part 1)

"I WILL praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.  I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High...And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee." {Psalm 9: 1, 2, 10}

Often when I need encouragement or I'm not sure what to pray, I'll flip through the book of Psalms.  David can always say it better than I can, anyway.  He is called "a man after God's own heart," after all.  I believe one of the reasons for this is because he was so real before the Lord.  If he was angry, sad, hurt, or confused, he wasn't afraid to say, "Why standest thou afar off, O LORD?  why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?" (Psalm 10:1).  Reading through them, however, I found that even in times of trouble, his prayers still stemmed from a longing to draw closer to the Lord and feel His presence.  "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.  My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before my God?" (Psalm 42: 1-2).  When I am angry, sad, hurt or confused...do I still long to draw closer to my Savior or do I pull away from Him?

David was humble enough to beg the Lord, "Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.  For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.  Against thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest...Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.  Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee." (Psalm 51: 2-4, 10-13).

Sometimes, he just praised God for being GOD (see Psalm 150).

My point?  NOTHING hindered David from praising the Lord. 

What hinders you?

What hinders me? 

I was saved at a young age and have been in church most of my life.  However different those churches may have been and however confused I was at times over doctrinal issues, I never doubted my salvation.  I never struggled with temptation to smoke, drink alcohol, do drugs or engage in sexual sin.  My struggles and temptations have always been and still are inward...selfishness, pride, covetousness, idolatry...all just as wicked.  All hindrances to your walk with God.

There is SO much more to say on the subject of praise that I don't think I can conclude with just one little blog.  In no way am I claiming mastery in this area.  I am definitely learning as I go here.  This is just what the Lord is currently doing re-construction on in my own heart.  I hope you'll examine your own heart with me and share in the journey.

Until next time...TO BE CONTINUED....

This is the hymn that inspired this particular blog in the first place...

"I Will Praise Him!"

When I saw the cleansing fountain, open wide for all my sin

I obeyed the Spirit's wooing, when He said, "Wilt thou be clean?"

Tho the way seems straight and narrow, all I claimed was swept away

My ambitions, plans and wishes at my feet in ashes lay

Then God's fire upon the altar of my heart was set aflame

I shall never cease to praise Him - Glory, glory to His name!

Blessed be the name of Jesus!  I'm so glad He took me in.

He's forgiven my transgressions, He has cleansed my heart from sin.

Glory, glory to the Father!  Glory, glory to the Son!

Glory, glory to the Spirit!  Glory to the Three in One!

I will praise Him! I will praise Him!

Praise the Lamb for sinners slain.

Give Him glory, all ye people,

For His blood can wash away each stain.