Give Him Praise!!

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Psalms 19:14

So often we speak words to people that are not really in our hearts. It is not unusual for a married couple to say harsh words to one another in the heat of anger that they really don’t feel in their heart. As ministers we often hear people say that they wish they had let their love one know how much they loved them before death. We speak one thing but often feel something else in our hearts. We don’t like to tell people that we love them over and over because we don’t want to appear weak or mushy so we engage people we love in conversations daily without saying what is really in our hearts.

There was a song some years ago that had these lyrics, “smiling faces sometimes pretend to be your friend.” I remember whenever it played on the radio the older folks response would be that of affirmation and that you can’t trust anyone. I would also hear so many times from older folks that people don’t need friends and that friends will stab you in the back and take your man. Now, I was a teenager and knew that was bad advice. For the world it was probably true but not true for a born again; spirit filled, sanctified and holy Believer. Now I know someone will say to me that this happens in the Church too and yes it does and King David’s name might come up, but David eyes were not focused on God at that time but on his fleshly lusts. We have to make sure that we don’t listen to ungodly counsel in determining how we will walk before the Lord. Yeah, some people will stab you in the back but this is where we need to make a decision regarding what kind of friends we will have. Now I know someone else might say if you have a friend you need to, “watch and pray.” The Bible gives us a beautiful example of true love between friends and that is the example of David and Jonathan. It was a clean and loving friendship between two men. John, Peter and James are another example of friendship. Jesus had a special relationship with these three men and even revealed the glorious transfiguration to them on Mt. Tabor.

I have had wonderful spirit filled friends who have married unsaved mates. The spouse may have appeared nice but yet unsaved. Eventually, the Christian’s life was filled with sadness and strife because they could not come into agreement with their mate because their unsaved spouse cannot understand the mind of the saved spouse for the natural mind cannot discern the spiritual mind. Their marriage was a recipe for unhappiness.

We should not attach ourselves to ungodly soul ties or relationships to begin with. What fellowship does light have with darkness? The word says how can two walk together unless they are in agreement? There is no agreement with darkness and light! Pick your friends and spouses based on the Word of God and your life will be happier. Ask the Lord if you should be in close relationship with another person whether saved or not. Seek God for His direction and leading.

What about our relationship with God? If we are in love with Him do we allow corrupt communication to proceed out of our mouths daily? God forbid! We need to consider what our conversations are and understand that God hears every word we speak as well as what we think. Get rid of perverse conversations and stinking thinking. Let’s sing songs of praise to God that will be pleasing to His ears and speak words of adoration to our Lord and Savior. Praise Him in the company of other Believers and let the praises of our mouths absorb into our hearts songs in the Spirit to our Lord. Even when we are not speaking out loud, let your inner man rejoice in the knowledge that we are lovers of God and exalt His name in the presence of others. Give Him praise for He is worthy and sweet praises of your love toward Him will please the Lord our God. Give Him praise! Oh, before I sign off; remember that David sinned; well He got over this terrible season of His life and begin to turn back to God; asking God to create in Him a clean heart and a right spirit. Our loving God restored Him and David praised God like a madman. His praise became phenonemal before the Lord. He even woke up in the night watches to meditate on the God He loved.

Lord, we give you glory and honor for you are worthy of our praise. You are our Rock and our Redeemer and in You there is only light and holiness! You are our righteousness and worthy of our praise. Let the praiser begin to praise Him with High praises for He is worthy. Amen