praise

Awaken the Dawn

~ ForCommonGround ~ Leave a comment

With a heavy heart, I opened my Bible. I began in Psalm 108 and went no further. This Psalm is a beautiful declaration of faith, joy, and confidence in God. Exactly where I knew my heart should be. David did not write a half-hearted song; it’s worship that springs from deep trust. Even before his circumstances change, David chooses to lift his eyes and his voice to God.

“My heart is steadfast, O God! I will sing and make melody with all my being! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn! I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations. For your steadfast love is great above the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!”‬‬

Psalm‬ ‭108‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭ESV

A Heart Set Firm on God

A steadfast heart doesn’t waver with emotion or circumstance. It’s anchored in who God is. David’s focus isn’t on his enemies or his problems, but on God’s unchanging love and faithfulness. When we choose praise before victory, we declare our faith that God is already at work.

Awakening the Dawn

David says, “I will awaken the dawn.” I love this! What a picture of active worship! Instead of waiting for joy to come, David brings it by starting his day with praise. His music becomes a sunrise of faith. We, too, can awaken the dawn in our own lives by starting each morning with gratitude, worship, and the Word of God.

Praise That Reaches the Nations

David’s praise is not private—it’s global: “I will praise you, Lord, among the nations.” True worship spills over. When we proclaim God’s goodness, others see His glory. Our steadfast faith becomes a testimony that shines far beyond our own circle. The world is changed when God’s people praise Him, especially in their times of difficulty.

Love Higher Than the Heavens

This section of the psalm ends with awe. God’s love is immeasurable—“higher than the heavens”—and His faithfulness stretches “to the skies.” When we look up, we’re reminded that His promises are vast, enduring, and beyond comprehension.

What does it mean for your heart to be “steadfast” today? How can you “awaken the dawn” through worship and gratitude? In what ways can your praise reflect God’s glory to others?

Lord, make our hearts steadfast in You. When we feel weary or uncertain, remind us that Your love never fails. Let our praise rise like the dawn and fill the world with the sound of Your glory. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens—let Your glory shine over all the earth.

Peace in Christ brothers and sisters.

Short-changing God

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theversesproject.com

Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts.

Psalm 96:8 KJV

This seems like a tall order. First, how do we give glory unto the Lord? Second, how could we possibly hope to give Him all He deserves? Isn’t this the purpose of our very existence? We are made in His image, to bear His name, and to honor Him by the manner of our lives. But how does that look? I think the Bible answers that for us.

O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.

Isaiah 25:1 ESV

Whatever we do, one thing that is paramount is worship. Our praise for God should intertwine the activities we do throughout the day, from the redundant, to the exciting and new. His children should elevate God above and beyond in within all things they do. Praise should be a constant, both privately and publicly. We cannot hesitate to shout His goodness from the mountaintops and tell the world of the great things He’s done for us for others.

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 5:16 ESV

God deserves our service. He deserves our energies and our resources. Not only should our lips shout the glories of God, but our actions should display them. In our love, we show God. In our character, we show God. In the way we lay our lives down for our neighbors, we show God.

Truth is, God deserves far more than we could ever give. But that should never stop us from devoting each waking moment to sing His praises and to put His love on display. Have a blessed day brothers and sister!

Lip Service

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A wise man’s heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction. Proverbs 16:23 NKJV

We really have to be wise about what we say. If the words that come from our lips aren’t showing Christ’s love then we shouldn’t be saying it. In everything we do Christ is supposed to be magnified. We all know people who choose to curse, complain, and grumble, but the effects of those things can be tragic for those around us. Ungodly speech can spoil a persons day or completely change their attitude. Harsh and careless words can even ruin a life. But the heart that is constantly in a state of thanksgiving, brings cheer and praise wherever they are and no matter the situation.

Even though it’s no longer thanksgiving it’s important to still ask ourselves what what we are thankful for. No matter what, we can all be thankful for Jesus’ death on the cross, for our military putting their lives on the line to protect ours, for people God has put in our lives, and for the ability to share Gods love with whomever we come in contact with. We can all be thankful for the millions of do-overs God gives us, for the grace shown us by others, the simplicity of basic necessities. We all need to take some time to thank God for every situation we have gone through, good and bad this last year and know that God was with us through them all. Hopefully we can see and learn what he was doing in us, through us, and through those around us.

In 2021 we can be a voice of truth and grace and love. We can speak life into our family and friends. We can use our words to encourage and refresh those in our lives. Let’s leave the complaining behind us and shout a song of praise instead.

Peace in Christ brothers and sisters