Pausing To Praise

I always feel like the week after a holiday can be such a let down.

Our Easter baskets are half empty, stale chocolate fills our counters, and the anticipatory excitement is gone. It’s so easy to be overjoyed about the resurrection of Christ when we’re wearing our Sunday best, sitting in a church full of happy people, listening to an awesome sermon, or enjoying a brunch with our family.

But on another mundane Thursday morning, after all of the fun is over, nahhh not much excitement to be found. It is on days like today, when praising God is more important than ever. It is up to us (and the Holy Spirit) to train our hearts to naturally resort back to worshiping God - on the mountaintop moments, in the monotony, and throughout the valleys.

So today, let’s praise Him together. Easter might be over, and your to-do list might be miles long today, and you definitely could spend the next three minutes stressing about something. But instead, let's choose to clear our minds together, and focus our hearts on gratitude, praise, and worship for our God who has gifted us with life.  

As I read this Psalm over you, fill in the blanks for what you’re thankful for. Get big - look at all of God’s creation and splendor. Get small - look at the unique and specific ways He has blessed you. In the quietness of your own heart, thank Him for who He is and how He has shown up. Let’s praise Him together.

Psalm 145:1-13 - A psalm of praise.

1 I will exalt you, my God the King;

   I will praise your name for ever and ever.

2 Every day I will praise you

   and extol your name for ever and ever.

3 Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;

   his greatness no one can fathom.

4 One generation commends your works to another;

   they tell of your mighty acts.

5 They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—

   and I will meditate on your wonderful works.

6 They tell of the power of your awesome works—

   and I will proclaim your great deeds.

7 They celebrate your abundant goodness

   and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

8 The Lord is gracious and compassionate,

   slow to anger and rich in love.

9 The Lord is good to all;

   he has compassion on all he has made.

10 All your works praise you, Lord;

   your faithful people extol you.

11 They tell of the glory of your kingdom

   and speak of your might,

12 so that all people may know of your mighty acts

   and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

   and your dominion endures through all generations.

The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises

   and faithful in all he does.

Amen.

Cristina Schmitter

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