PSALM 147:1-4

Praise the Lord.

How good it is to sing praises to our God,

    how pleasant and fitting to praise him!

The Lord builds up Jerusalem;

    he gathers the exiles of Israel.

He heals the brokenhearted

    and binds up their wounds.

He determines the number of the stars

    and calls them each by name.

TO PONDER

What comes to mind when you think of praising? Maybe it’s singing, maybe it’s words of encouragement to someone for a job well done. When we praise God we are expressing our gratitude to him and communicating our acknowledgment of all He is and does for us. The Psalmist here recognises just some of the many things God gives us and does for us. The examples in the Psalm are specific to the people being written to, but we can also apply them to us today. He has gathered us, who were separated from Him, to Himself through the death of His Son and He builds our church through the work of the Holy Spirit. He heals us and gives us wholeness. He has always and continues to determine all the stars and know them by name. It is the same with us, He knows us, loves us and longs for us to know Him. He is worthy of our praise!!!

PRAYER

Jesus, we praise you for all you are and do for us, the things we are aware of and the things that you do without us even knowing. We praise you for who you are; our Saviour, best friend and yet the King of heaven and earth. Help us to understand these truths in deeper and more intimate ways. In your name we pray, Amen.

Today's devotion by Elise von Stanke, LifeWay Newcastle