PRAISE PRACTICE

6/6/11 A plethora of meds have graced my bathroom counter these last few months. All are intended to improve my physical health/well being. Finally, I’m about to get used to this routine---with hubby reminders. But….it takes practice. Daily practice.

I assume if I need these daily doses for my physical health, then a daily dose of "praise" would surely improve my spiritual health. (and yours too) I’m prescribing it for all of us as we begin this week of meditation. Psalm 5, a psalm of protection tell gives us a direction for beginning.

1.Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation. 2. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. 3.My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

RX for improved spiritual health for week of June 6-12

• MON. I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High. (Psalm 9:1-2) Does my heart even know how to praise Thee adequately? May I improve with practice.
  
• TUES. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. (Psalm 27:6) Are my enemies real or perceived?
• WED. I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. (Psalm 34:1-3) Is my praise continual?
  
• THUR. I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. (Psalm 40:1-3) Am I waiting on the Lord? Do others see Him in me?
• FRI. Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments. (Psalm 112:1) Am I delighting in His law or trying to Make it fit my desires?
• SAT. I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever. Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. (Psalm 145:1-4) Do I bless His name everyday?
• SUN. Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness………Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD. (Psalm 150:1-2, 6) For from Him and in Him I have my being.

What’s the rationale for praising the Lord? It’s good for the soul.

St. Augustine said it well, from the Lord’s perspective. “You stir man to take pleasure in praising you, because you have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” (Book I of St. Augustine’s Confessions)