OUR PRAISE REFLECTS WHAT WE THINK ABOUT GOD!

Have you lost sight of God?
READ PSALM 48 

Psalm 48:1

Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised

in the city of our God!

His holy mountain, 

Here the psalmist is praising both the Lord, and Jerusalem, God’s own city. As we read this psalm, the worthiness of God to receive worship and praise is magnified. The city of God is blessed by the Lords’ protection and care.

God’s power has demonstrated by His miraculous protection of His city from the enemies. The beneficiaries of His protection and care are overwhelmed by His unfading, unending, and perfect love. The inhabitants recognize God’s righteous control over the city.

As they watch God’s work, they are grateful and will proclaim to the next generation the wonderful deeds of their Lord.

Psalm 48:12-14

12 Walk about Zion, go around her,

number her towers,

13 consider well her ramparts,

go through her citadels,

that you may tell the next generation

14 that this is God,

our God forever and ever.

He will guide us forever. 

Most of us look at God as our wonderful Lord, but do not look at our country as a place where God dwells or that He blesses in a special way.

We know that He indwells the believer and that He blesses us and protects us. We should be continually amazed and grateful for the privilege we have in Christ.

We have been saved by grace.

Ephesians 2:8-9

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

We are secure in our salvation.

Romans 8:31-35

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

We have the Word of God.

Psalm 119:97-100

how I love your law!

It is my meditation all the day.

Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,

for it is ever with me.

I have more understanding than all my teachers,

for your testimonies are my meditation.

I understand more than the aged,

for I keep your precepts. 

We have the Holy Spirit in us.

John 14:16-17

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. 

We are perfectly loved.

Romans 8:38-39

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

We have the privilege to pray.

Philippians 4:6-7

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

We have the fellowship of the church.

Colossians 3:15-16

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 

We have God-appointed leaders for our protection.

Hebrews 13:17

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. 

We are constantly recipients of grace.

  

Romans 5:1-2

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 

We have received every spiritual blessing.

Ephesians 1:3

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.

We certainly could think of many more truths that would cause us to praise God and proclaim this truth for the generations to come!

Why is it that we allow the cares of this world to dim the eternal blessing we have instead, of allowing the eternal blessings we have to dim the cares of this world?