Click to Enlarge

AUGUST PRAISE

Copyright 2016

August Praise 


Praise and prayer. They go together like crickets and cicadas in August. And they are in full force now at this height of hot, humid, oppressive summer heat! How often do we include praise in our prayers? Is prayer always a list of requests and concerns and not a list of praises as well? Today's poem is about praising God in prayer. 

Then Hannah prayed and said:

"My heart rejoices in the LORD;

in the LORD my horn is lifted high.

My mouth boasts over my enemies,

for I delight in your deliverance."

1 Samuel 2:1

Hannah, who had prayed in bitterness of soul and made a vow to God, was now thanking and exalting God for granting her what she had asked for. She knew there was no one like God. Only the LORD is holy and is the Rock of Salvation. She kept her vow and gave her boy to the LORD. 
Here is another thankful person in the Bible:

And Mary said:

"My soul praises the Lord

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has been mindful of the humble state

of his servant. From now on all generations

will call be blessed, for the Mighty One

has done great things for me—

holy is his name."

Luke 1:46-49

Mary sang about God's mercy and mighty deeds with a grateful heart and mind when she was given the news that she would bear the Son of God. She told of God's goodness and love to her. Sing his praises, being grateful like Mary, in prayer.

"This is how you should pray:

"'Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be thy name..."

Matthew 6:9

Jesus' own words tell us how to begin the Lord's Prayer. Hallowed be thy name...or praise be God's name. Look at this interesting verse about having a place for God's Name:

And rejoice before the LORD your God

at the place he will choose 

as a dwelling for his Name.

Deuteronomy 16:11a

Praise demonstrates a deep, reverent love for God. We came into this world with nothing. Yet, God in his awesome power has provided what we have asked for in faith and even what we have not asked for. Remember to thank him, as we so often forget to do.

Let nature remind you....let the chirping crickets and buzzing cicadas help remind you to be thankful for all God has done for you through his love. 

Click to Enlarge

BLACKBERRIES

Copyright 2014

Blackberries

The blackberries are going to be good this year. We think this hot, dry summer has helped to produce a great crop. We already did a first picking, up behind the woods in a field that is quickly getting overgrown with trees and briars. There are many red, unripe ones, so we plan to return often through the month of August for more gatherings. Looks like blackberry cobbler is on the winter menu!

Today's poem is based on Psalm 34:8:

Taste and see that the LORD is good;

blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

Prayer is like tasting and seeing that the LORD is good. In prayer, we take refuge in the God of goodness.

Psalm 34 starts out with extolling the LORD at all times. Prayer helps us maintain our focus, our need for a God who can deliver. We glorify His name when we pray. Who else can deliver? Who else knows our need and can supply? The answer....only God.

Psalm 34 goes on to say in verse 4:

I sought the LORD, and he answered me.

Isn't it a great and awesome feeling to know God answered your prayer? It is so awesome that we would like to pray again. God is like that-a Giver. He keeps giving. He keeps loving. If we keep asking and trusting, He'll keep delivering. Those that seek God in prayer are blessed with answered prayer. I trust you are a fellow seeker. And hey, so was King David, cause this beautiful Psalm was one of his.

Those who look to him are radiant.
Psalm 34:5a

Taste and see. Listen and know. Keep your eyes on the LORD and you will shine. Pray believing and you will be heard, like David, by the Living God who created this universe. See if it's true. Look and radiate.

And then we come to verse 10 in Psalm 34:

The lions may grow weak and hungry,

but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

Through prayer, we can be tougher than lions? Stronger? Fed? Yeah. Indeed, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (see Romans 8:37). And we love lacking no good thing. God is the Supplier.

Verses 12-16a of the Psalm are repeated in 1 Peter 3:10-12:

Whoever of you loves life 

and desires to see many good days,

keep your tongue from evil

and your lips from speaking lies.

Turn from evil and do good;

seek peace and pursue it.

The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous

and his ears are attentive to their cry;

the face of the LORD is against those who do evil.

         

We love life and we desire to see many good days. We know what we must do. It is like asking where the good road is and then walking in it. It is like picking a good practice and sticking to it. These verses go on to say that God hears. He does not miss those who practice prayer and choose the discipline of it. He is attentive to the trusting, earnest, persistent prayer warriors. Like David. Like Ruth. Like Billy Graham. Like my mother. Like fill-in-the-blank. Like us.

A righteous man may have many troubles,

but the LORD delivers him from them all.

Psalm 34:19

We have our share of difficulties, dealing with stuff as the world does. We're certainly not immune to trouble. But a person who is trusting in Christ, God's Son, has a hope and peace the world cannot offer. God delivers us from troubles. This verse is a promise...God is our Deliverer.

This great Psalm ends with another promise in the last verse:

The LORD redeems his servants;

no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

    (verse 22)

We who believe rely on the LORD's Word. We who take refuge in Jesus cling to his precious promises. We who pray believing trust God to deliver. 

So...

Taste and see (in prayer) that the LORD is good, pick plenty of blackberries and follow the way of Love!