Praise Archives - My Manna

Praising the Name of the Lord is a Daylong, Lifelong Privilege

My Manna — Thu, 29 Apr 2021 22:00:00 +0000

From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised! (Ps 113:3)

The five W’s: who, what, when, where and why to praise God…

Who?
Anyone who reads this psalm is included in verse 1, most specifically, “O servants of the LORD.” More than anyone else, the servants of the Lord ought to be involved in the exalted activity of praising God. Each of us who claims to serve the Lord must publicly discharge his or her responsibility. We are best acquainted with the reasons for praising Him, and we are also the best instruments to declare His praise.

What?
The responsibility of the servants of the Lord is simply, “Praise …the LORD…praise the name of the LORD.” The repetition of this phrase in a single verse is not without significance. You would think that we who have been saved by His grace would automatically and consistently praise His name. However this is not the case, for we are frequently slow in praising God for His blessings. Therefore the psalmist finds it necessary to stimulate us, to cajole us; and the repetition of the stimulus calls us to perseverance in sounding forth the praises of God.

When?
To indicate when the servants of the Lord are to be engaged in praising the Lord, the psalmist uses an expression that is more characteristic of the old Greek poets than of the Hebrew prophets. He says, “From the rising of the sun to its going down The LORD’s name is to be praised” (Psalm 113:3).
This poetic expression indicates that there is never a time of the day, never a waking hour, never an inappropriate moment, when the servant of the Lord cannot praise His name. We are to begin His praise at the very rising of the sun, early in the morning, and we are to continue that praise until sunset. Praising the name of the Lord is a daylong, lifelong privilege!

Where?
If we are to praise the Lord from the rising of the sun until the going down of the same, where is it that we shall engage in this exalted activity? Since “the LORD is high above all nations, and His glory above heaven,” and yet He “humbles himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth,” it is incumbent upon us to see that His name is praised wherever His presence is known. Therefore we are to praise His name in the highest heavens and the lowest earth. Just as there is not a waking hour that is inappropriate to praise His name, there is not the slightest place on earth that is inappropriate to the praising of His name. As servants of the Lord, we are to praise Him continually, wherever we find ourselves.

Why?
The reasons for praising the Lord are manifold. He is high above all nations, and His glory is above the heavens. Still He humbles Himself to observe our affairs on earth. He raises the poor out of the dust and the needy out of the dunghill. He makes princes out of paupers and makes the barren woman a homemaker and the mother of children.
Today would be a good day for us to make a praise list. Just as we have a prayer list, Christians ought to have a praise list, a list of reasons for praising the Lord. Begin with His love for you, His death for you, and His salvation of you, and keep listing things for which to praise the Lord from morning to night. Don’t be surprised if you have to make a second list, for we have much for which to praise the Lord.

(PR)

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Grace and Mercy

My Manna — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 22:00:00 +0000

Psalm 136 magnifies the mercy of God.

Every verse ends with the refrain, “For His mercy endures forever.” I would like to have heard this psalm sung in the Jewish temple. One group of priests would say, “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!” (v 1). Then the priests on the other side of the court would answer, “For His mercy endures forever.”

Grace and mercy go together.
God, in His grace and mercy, gives me what I don’t deserve, His mercy endures forever, and our response should be thanksgiving and praise.

Praise the Lord for His wonders.
“To Him who alone does great wonders, for His mercy endures forever” (v 4).
“His name will be called Wonderful” (Isa. 9:6).

Jesus Christ said and did wonderful things. When God touches a life, it becomes filled with wonder. I think of Peter, Andrew, James and John – men who would have remained ordinary fishermen had they not met Jesus. They went to a wedding at Cana, and wonders happened. They went to funerals, and wonders happened.

Praise God for His wisdom.
“To Him who by wisdom made the heavens” (v 5). The God who created the universe has the wisdom to run it, and He has the wisdom you need for your life.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God” (James 1:5).
He’ll guide you.

Praise Him for His works.
“To Him who laid out the earth above the waters” (v 6).

Let’s worship God today because of His wonders.
Let’s seek His guidance because of His wisdom. Let’s enjoy all that He gives to us through His manifold creation.
You would not be saved were it not for God’s grace and mercy. Never take those two gifts for granted. Do you devote time to praising and thanking Him for what He does in your life?

(PR)

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Praise the Lord

My Manna — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 22:00:00 +0000

“Praise the Lord! Praise the name of the Lord…”

That’s the way Psalm 135 begins.
The psalmist instructs us to shout hallelujah and he goes on to tell us why.

First, we should praise God because of His goodness.
“Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing praises to His name, for it is pleasant.” V 3.
He is good, and His goodness is unsearchable. God shows us His goodness in both material and spiritual blessings.

Second, we should praise the Lord for His grace.
“For the Lord has chosen Jacob for Himself, Israel for His special treasure” v 4.
Israel was not a treasure before God chose her. After He chose her, she became precious.
God also chose us. Jesus said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you” (John 15:16). God showed His grace by choosing us to be His children.

Third, we should praise Him for His greatness.
“For I know that the Lord is great, and our Lord is above all gods.” v 5.
What god is like our God?

Finally, the psalmist tells us we should praise God for His government.
“Whatever the Lord pleases He does, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deep places.” v 6.
He then describes God’s sovereignty in creation and in history.

Whatever your situation, you can stop and praise the Lord for His goodness, His grace, His greatness and His government.

He is managing all of creation and all of history to bring about His purposes. Let God use you to do His work.
Praise the Lord!

(PR)

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Megaluno

MyManna — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 22:00:39 +0000

“Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together.” Psalm 34:3.
In the New Testament- – the word translated “magnify” is the Greek word “megaluno.” It means to make great or enlarge. We certainly cannot make God any greater-
– but we can perceive Him as greater in our lives. In other words, what we think of God can be enlarged. How can we do this? What you focus your attention on will seem bigger-
– because you are choosing to let it occupy your time and thinking.
Very small objects can block very large ones. A small coin in front of your eye can block the sun from view. Yet the sun is infinitely larger than the coin.
It’s the placement in your life that determines how big things seem to you. An airplane in the sky can look very small- – though in reality it is huge. That is only because you are far away from it.
When Scripture talks of magnifying God-
– we assume it meant they were praising God and talking of His greatness and goodness.
Does God seem big and capable in your thinking? If not, then magnify Him! Do the problems you face seem like giants? Then remove your attention and focus from the problems –
– de-magnify them — and focus on the Lord. To shrink the problem, magnify the solution. The more you think about a problem you are facing, the larger it can seem.
The more you think about God, what He has created, and all He has done, the smaller the problem will look compared to God. God is greater than any problem or any situation you face. You just need to realize it and quit letting the problem be your focus.
Praise God and magnify Him!
Say this: “I will magnify God in my life.“
(PA)

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Disappointed?

MyManna — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 22:00:43 +0000

At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; (Matt 11:25).
Jesus spent considerable time in the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum teaching and healing the people (Matt 11:20-23).
Yet they did not repent though they saw and experienced the mighty works of Jesus (11:20).
Many say that they will believe if they see some miracles or signs from God. But if their hearts are hardened, they will still not believe even if one rose from the dead (Luke 16:31).
Jesus performed miracles and healing for the people whether they will believe or not.
Imagine how Jesus must have felt when after performing these mighty acts, the people still did not repent.
How disappointing! And frustrating too!
But Jesus did not feel that way. What did He do?
He thanked the Father (11:25-27).
He placed Himself completely in the Father’s hands. He knew that the Father was at work and will draw all men to Him. He trusted the Father for everything.
How often do we get disappointed when we do not see fruit? We prayed and preached but there is no response from that person.
Then Jesus told the disciples to find rest in Him (11:29).
When we are tempted to get discouraged when we see no response, learn from Jesus.
Thank and praise Him. Entrust everything into God’s hands. And find rest in Him.
(MT)

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Praise the Name of the Lord

MyManna — Sat, 19 Nov 2016 22:00:46 +0000

From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised! (Ps 113:3)
The five W’s: who, what, when, where and why to praise God…
Who?
Anyone who reads this psalm is included in verse 1, most specifically, “O servants of the LORD.” More than anyone else, the servants of the Lord ought to be involved in the exalted activity of praising God. Each of us who claims to serve the Lord must publicly discharge his or her responsibility. We are best acquainted with the reasons for praising Him, and we are also the best instruments to declare His praise.
What?
The responsibility of the servants of the Lord is simply, “Praise …the LORD…praise the name of the LORD.” The repetition of this phrase in a single verse is not without significance. You would think that we who have been saved by His grace would automatically and consistently praise His name. However this is not the case, for we are frequently slow in praising God for His blessings. Therefore the psalmist finds it necessary to stimulate us, to cajole us; and the repetition of the stimulus calls us to perseverance in sounding forth the praises of God.
When?
To indicate when the servants of the Lord are to be engaged in praising the Lord, the psalmist uses an expression that is more characteristic of the old Greek poets than of the Hebrew prophets. He says, “From the rising of the sun to its going down The LORD’s name is to be praised” (Psalm 113:3).
This poetic expression indicates that there is never a time of the day, never a waking hour, never an inappropriate moment, when the servant of the Lord cannot praise His name. We are to begin His praise at the very rising of the sun, early in the morning, and we are to continue that praise until sunset. Praising the name of the Lord is a daylong, lifelong privilege!
Where?
If we are to praise the Lord from the rising of the sun until the going down of the same, where is it that we shall engage in this exalted activity? Since “the LORD is high above all nations, and His glory above heaven,” and yet He “humbles himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth,” it is incumbent upon us to see that His name is praised wherever His presence is known. Therefore we are to praise His name in the highest heavens and the lowest earth. Just as there is not a waking hour that is inappropriate to praise His name, there is not the slightest place on earth that is inappropriate to the praising of His name. As servants of the Lord, we are to praise Him continually, wherever we find ourselves.
Why?
The reasons for praising the Lord are manifold. He is high above all nations, and His glory is above the heavens. Still He humbles Himself to observe our affairs on earth. He raises the poor out of the dust and the needy out of the dunghill. He makes princes out of paupers and makes the barren woman a homemaker and the mother of children.
Today would be a good day for us to make a praise list. Just as we have a prayer list, Christians ought to have a praise list, a list of reasons for praising the Lord. Begin with His love for you, His death for you, and His salvation of you, and keep listing things for which to praise the Lord from morning to night. Don’t be surprised if you have to make a second list, for we have much for which to praise the Lord.

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Can You Relate?

MyManna — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 22:30:44 +0000

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7.
I once saw a refrigerator magnet that said-
“I know God promises to never give me more than I can handle, but sometimes, I just wish He didn’t trust me so much.”
Can you relate?
When trials come and life seems hard-
– we plead with God to deliver us from the problem
– when many times His plan is to deliver us in the problem.
Praise does not depend on an understanding of the circumstance or trial.
Praise depends on an understanding of who God really is and wants to be in our life, and on our willingness to put our faith in Him.
As humans, we will never fully understand God – this side of heaven.
God is holy and without blemish.
God is all-powerful and omniscient.
He is Creator of the universe and yet lives in you and me at our invitation.
He is the only true, living God!
We may understand some of His ways and grasp the reasoning behind some of His plans.
We may even come to the place of knowing Him on what I call an intimate level-
– but a full understanding of God is reserved for heaven.
Until then, we walk by faith, not by sight.
We praise Him in the darkness, knowing that the light is just ahead.
We trust Him for things we cannot see.
Honestly, the thought of serving and relying on a God I can understand is not a reassuring thought.
Most people who know me well would describe me as a strong person-
– someone who can usually handle what life holds.
I thought the same thing until I became a powerless prisoner of the darkness as I battled severe depression.
It took me three long years to climb out of that dark pit, but in the process I learned many important truths.
I learned that I couldn’t depend on my own strength or my fickle emotions.
God often asked me to praise Him when there didn’t seem to be a whole lot to praise him for.
I didn’t feel like praising Him.
I began to understand that praise is not a feeling.
Praise is a choice, a step of obedience taken without the assurance of a changed circumstance or the elimination of a trial.
Praise focuses on God, not the circumstance, and fixes its gaze on God’s truth and God’s character instead of on the trial at hand.
We can celebrate the battle before it even begins because the outcome is neither our responsibility nor our goal.
Praise begins and ends with faith in the very nature, personality and integrity of God … and that never changes.
No matter what lies ahead, God is faithful.
No matter how hot the fiery trial may be, God is with us and will deliver us in it or from it.
So praise God!
Father, I praise You today for all that You have done in my life. You are faithful even when I am faithless. Your love pursues me even when I am unlovable. Your forgiveness covers my sin and frees me from its penalty. I praise You for your love and faithfulness to me. Your presence in my life changes everything, empowering me to live each moment of every day, content in knowing You are in control. As I face today, Lord, remind me that no matter what happens, I can praise You! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Praise the Lord

MyManna — Fri, 26 Aug 2016 23:00:51 +0000

“Praise the Lord! Praise the name of the Lord…”
That’s the way Psalm 135 begins.
The psalmist instructs us to shout hallelujah and he goes on to tell us why.
First, we should praise God because of His goodness.
“Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing praises to His name, for it is pleasant.” V 3.
He is good, and His goodness is unsearchable. God shows us His goodness in both material and spiritual blessings.
Second, we should praise the Lord for His grace.
“For the Lord has chosen Jacob for Himself, Israel for His special treasure” v 4.
Israel was not a treasure before God chose her. After He chose her, she became precious.
God also chose us. Jesus said, “You did not choose me, but I chose you” (John 15:16). God showed His grace by choosing us to be His children.
Third, we should praise Him for His greatness.
“For I know that the Lord is great, and our Lord is above all gods.” v 5.
What god is like our God?
Finally, the psalmist tells us we should praise God for His government.
“Whatever the Lord pleases He does, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deep places.” v 6.
He then describes God’s sovereignty in creation and in history.
Whatever your situation, you can stop and praise the Lord for His goodness, His grace, His greatness and His government.
He is managing all of creation and all of history to bring about His purposes. Let God use you to do His work.
Praise the Lord!

The post Praise the Lord appeared first on My Manna.

Pre-won in prayer!

MyManna — Tue, 02 Jun 2015 16:00:46 +0000

“Where to Go When It’s Impossible?”
There is no superman to help you!
But there is the Sovereign Lord to save you!
If you’re facing a situation or a need that’s going to require “powers far beyond those of mortal man,”-
– you have this awesome God to turn to.
There’s a thrilling picture of going to God for your “mission impossible” in our word for today from the Word of God in Daniel 2.
Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, where Daniel has been taken as a captive and elevated to being a royal advisor, has had a very troubling prophetic dream.
He calls in all of his astrologers and advisors, and asks them to not only figure out what his dream meant, but what his dream was or die.
He doesn’t want any magician scamming him with some made-up interpretation.
If a man can tell him the dream, then he can trust his interpretation of the dream.
Of course, no one can tell him what he dreamed.
Then Daniel, God’s man at court, is called in as the king’s last resort.
Even for Daniel, it’s “mission impossible.”
What Daniel did is a pattern for us when we’re facing our “mission impossible.”
Daniel returned to his house and explained the matter to his friends.
He urged them to plead for mercy from the God of heaven.
During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel.
Then Daniel praised the God of heaven and said:
“Praise be to the name of God forever and ever; wisdom and power are His.”
What follows is a powerful prayer of extravagant praise.
When Daniel reveals the mystery to the king, he says:
“No wise man can explain the mystery, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries.”
There’s the plan for your “mission impossible.”
First-
Gather prayer partners to intercede for you and for this situation.
The battle will be pre-won in prayer!
Second-
Gaze at the power of your God rather than the impossibilities of the situation.
Third-
Get all the resources only God has.
Daniel said, “You have given me wisdom and power, You have made known to us the dream of the king.”
God has resources that no one on earth could ever give you.
Then-
Give God all the glory for the breakthrough in this plan for winning in your “mission impossible.”
Folks may express amazement or admiration for you.
You let them know that it all belongs to the mighty Lord you serve.
You don’t have the answers.
He does.
He chooses to send the particular answer to you.
And the particular solution you need right now.
Are you kind of like Daniel-
– facing something that’s far beyond what earth could do?
Do a Daniel!
“This is a job for the God of heaven…the Lord who is my God!”
(PR)

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Praising the Name of the Lord is a Daylong, Lifelong Privilege

MyManna — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 16:00:09 +0000

From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised! (Ps 113:3 ESV)
The five W’s: who, what, when, where and why to praise God…
Who?
Anyone who reads this psalm is included in verse 1, most specifically, “O servants of the LORD.” More than anyone else, the servants of the Lord ought to be involved in the exalted activity of praising God. Each of us who claims to serve the Lord must publicly discharge his or her responsibility. We are best acquainted with the reasons for praising Him, and we are also the best instruments to declare His praise.
What?
The responsibility of the servants of the Lord is simply, “Praise …the LORD…praise the name of the LORD.” The repetition of this phrase in a single verse is not without significance. You would think that we who have been saved by His grace would automatically and consistently praise His name. However this is not the case, for we are frequently slow in praising God for His blessings. Therefore the psalmist finds it necessary to stimulate us, to cajole us;and the repetition of the stimulus calls us to perseverance in sounding forth the praises of God.
When?
To indicate when the servants of the Lord are to be engaged in praising the Lord, the psalmist uses an expression that is more characteristic of the old Greek poets than of the Hebrew prophets. He says, “From the rising of the sun to its going down The LORD’s name is to be praised” (Psalm 113:3).
This poetic expression indicates that there is never a time of the day, never a waking hour, never an inappropriate moment, when the servant of the Lord cannot praise His name. We are to begin His praise at the very rising of the sun, early in the morning, and we are to continue that praise until sunset. Praising the name of the Lord is a daylong, lifelong privilege!
Where?
If we are to praise the Lord from the rising of the sun until the going down of the same, where is it that we shall engage in this exalted activity? Since “the LORD is high above all nations, and His glory above heaven,” and yet He “humbles himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth,” it is incumbent upon us to see that His name is praised wherever His presence is known. Therefore we are to praise His name in the highest heavens and the lowest earth. Just as there is not a waking hour that is inappropriate to praise His name, there is not the slightest place on earth that is inappropriate to the praising of His name. As servants of the Lord, we are to praise Him continually, wherever we find ourselves.
Why?
The reasons for praising the Lord are manifold. He is high above all nations, and His glory is above the heavens. Still He humbles Himself to observe our affairs on earth. He raises the poor out of the dust and the needy out of the dunghill. He makes princes out of paupers and makes the barren woman a homemaker and the mother of children.
Today would be a good day for us to make a praise list. Just as we have a prayer list, Christians ought to have a praise list, a list of reasons for praising the Lord. Begin with His love for you, His death for you, and His salvation of you, and keep listing things for which to praise the Lord from morning to night. Don’t be surprised if you have to make a second list, for we have much for which to praise the Lord.
(PR)

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