Friday: Praise Psalm of Joy
Read: Psalm 147
SOAP: Psalm 147:1
Praise the Lord,
for it is good to sing praises to our God.
Yes, praise is pleasant and appropriate.
Devotion:
The Christmas season can be a difficult time for many of us. Some are facing a first Christmas without a loved one, or distance has made it impossible to gather together. Maybe Christmas was a hard season when you were growing up and the traditions and activities only bring back discouraging memories.
If any part of your heart feels broken today, let our Scripture be a gentle reminder that God will be there to heal and repair your spirit, the same way He was there for the Israelites long ago. The very same God who created, numbered, and named every star in the sky knows your name. You are beautifully created in His image, and there is no part of your past, present, or future that He does not care about.
It is good to sing praises about God! Consider all of the gifts we have learned about so far in this Advent study, and all the little ways God cares about you. It is good to praise God about those things, because it helps lift our minds and change our focus. When we feel like the pressure of the holidays is too much, take some time to think on things that are good and worthy of praise (Philippians 4:8).
Praise is pleasant and appropriate. It honors God and it’s good for our hearts, too. As God’s chosen people, we have the distinct privilege of being invited to come before His throne with boldness. Let’s spend that time in praise today!
Prayer:
God, You know me better than I know myself. Thank You for being near when I’m brokenhearted, comforting me when I need You most, and never leaving me. It is a gift to be able to praise Your holy name. Amen.
