Psalm 103
A psalm of David.
1 Let all that I am praise the Lord;
with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
2 Let all that I am praise the Lord;
may I never forget the good things he does for me.
Do you ever wonder why you exist? Day-to-day activities and worries pull us in so many directions that most of us seldom think about the goal of life. But our creator made us with a purpose: To glorify Him (Isaiah 43:7).
In His word, God is emphatic that we are to testify to His faithfulness and His mighty works. Jesus Christ considered this important as well – when teaching His disciples how to communicate with God, He began His well-known prayer with adoration of His Father (Matthew 6:9).
Why then do we tend to give so much attention to our petitions but so little to praise God? Perhaps some believers consider themselves too time-constrained to spend “extra” prayer time praising the Lord. Others may feel awkward expressing their gratitude to Him. Yet no excuses are acceptable. Psalm 103:2 tells us to remember God’s benefits so that we will humbly glorify Him. This Psalm also explains how to lift the Father up with our words specifically: we should praise God for His character and for His work in the past, present and future (verses 2-8, 19).
The Old Testament’s primary words & descriptions for “praise” refer to spoken words, music, and gestures like raising hands and dancing. But we can also glorify Him in other ways, such as through actions, thoughts, and creativity.
Praise may be something foreign to you, but it’s the very purpose for which you were created. Observe how the Father is exalted in the Psalms and throughout the Bible, then worship Him with “praise” as you spend time basking in His presence today.
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