Thanks Living: Totally Engaged

As I was searching for verses for for my "Thanks Living" devotions this morning, I read Psalm 138:1—"I will praise You with my whole heart; Before the gods I will sing praises to You."

As I was mediating on the verse, I thought I had studied this verse before, so I checked my blog. This is a repost from January 12, 2013, but it fits perfectly with "Thanks Living". 

Repost from January 12, 2013. 

Totally Engaged

Throughout this year (2013), each day of the month, I'm "Treasure Hunting" in a Psalm. I've created a "Ponder Every Morsel of Truth" Book to record the truths as I learn them. The Twelfth of each Month, I'm studying Psalm 138. Here's what Treasure I found today (January 12, 2013).

I will give thanks to you

with all my heart.

I will make music

to praise you

in front of

the false gods.

Psalm 138:1 (GW)

This is a personal Psalm. David is speaking directly to God, with reverence, but also with familiarity, as seen by the word “you” or in some translations “thee”. 

I will give thanks to you. That is praise and honor as in casting down before God in worship.  

With all. Whole. Complete. Entirety. Nothing left out. “All In”

My heart. The inner man, indefinite, soul, comprehending mind, affections and will. Thoughts and emotions. He was “totally engaged”.

I will make music to praise you. The music is praise to God in and of itself. 

In front of.  Not only was David giving thanks and praise God, he was doing it for all to see. The word for “in front of” or “before”  means conspicuous; easily seen or noticed; readily visible or observable; noticeable; prominent; striking; noteworthy. David was not hiding his praise and worship to God. His praise was "out there for ALL to see". But he was not doing it for show—remember he was "totally engaged" in worship to God. David just didn't care who saw him praising God.

The false gods. David lived in an area where the surrounding nations had idols erected to false gods. David was not intimidated by the false gods. He knew that God, Jehovah, was the only true God who was worthy of worship. 

My translation:

“God, I am exceeding grateful to You. I honor and praise You with all of me—I am totally engaged in singing your goodness and mercy, and I don’t care who hears me! I am not ashamed of You, for You and You alone are God Almighty.” 

To create a positive day I cannot be ashamed of my God—I should be totally engaged in praising Him! 

And Repeat!

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 67. Here is what I learned.

Let everyone give thanks to you, O God. Let everyone give thanks to you. Psalm 67:3 (GW)

Let the peoples praise You [turn away from their idols] and give thanks to You, O God; let all the peoples praise and give thanks to You. Psalm 67:3 (AMP)

May all people live to praise You, Our True God; may all come to praise You. Psalm 67:3 (VOICE)

There’s a song that “Lamb Chop” (puppet) sings with his friends... 

This is the song that never ends.

It just goes on and on my friends.

Some people started singing it not knowing what it was,

And they'll continue singing it forever just because . . . (and repeat)

The song continues “forever” because it doesn’t have an ending. That is what my praise to God is to be.... never ending. When I think I’m done praising God for Who He is and all that He does, I’m to start over again and repeat! 

He who brings an offering of praise and thanksgiving honors and glorifies Me; and he who orders his way aright [who prepares the way that I may show him], to him I will demonstrate the salvation of God. Psalm 50:23 (AMP)

Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will]. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (AMP)

At all times and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father. Ephesians 5:20 

To create a positive day, I must first START the “Praise that never ends”, then continuing singing it.... and repeat! 

Determined Action

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 27. Here is what I learned.

And now shall my head be lifted up above my enemies round about me; in His tent I will offer sacrifices and shouting of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord. Psalm 27:6 (AMP)

God holds me head and shoulders above all who try to pull me down. I’m headed for his place to offer anthems that will raise the roof! Already I’m singing God-songs; I’m making music to God. Psalm 27:6 (MSG)

As I read Psalm 27:6 this morning, I couldn’t help but think of the videos I’ve seen in Boston after the it was announced that the second person responsible for the Boston marathon bombing was captured. The streets were lined with people shouting, clapping, and singing our National Anthem. It was a joyous occasion, and the joy could not be contained. 

That is an example of what Psalm 27:6 is describing.... I should be breaking forth with shouting, singing, to the Lord for His deliverance, protection, and love. 

Sacrifices and shouting of joy. Offering anthems that will raise the roof! Why am I so silent and quiet when it comes to praising God and displaying my joy? 

I will offer sacrifices and shouting of joy... to the Lord! This a determined action.. I WILL. And if I take time to consider how GREAT God is... and the GREAT things He has done... a natural reaction will be to want to SHOUT and raise the roof of joy to the Lord. 

To create a positive day, I must make a determined action to offer my sacrifice of shouts of joy to the Lord! 

Waking up with Great Anticipation!

Throughout this year, each day of the month, I'm "Treasure Hunting" in a Psalm. I've created a "Ponder Every Morsel of Truth" Book to record the truths as I learn them. The twenty-third of each month, I'm studying Psalm 57. Here's what Treasure I found today.

Awake, my glory (my inner self); awake, harp and lyre! I will awake right early [I will awaken the dawn]! Psalm 57:8 (AMP)

"I will awake early," Literally, "I will awake the dawn," a bold figure of poetry, as if the writer had said - The morning shall not awake me to praise; but in my songs I will anticipate the dawn. R. T. Society's Notes

Anticipation:  enthusiasm, anxiousness Synonyms: alacrity, ambition, anticipation, ardor, avidity, earnestness, excitement, fervor, greediness, gusto, heartiness, hunger, impatience, impetuosity, intentness, keenness, longing, promptness, quickness, solicitude, thirst, vehemence, voracity, yearning, zeal, zest, zing.

Remember those days when we were kids and were so excited for a vacation, or a special day, that we woke up extra early, and jumped out of bed? We were filled with so much joy, excitement, anticipation that there so just NO WAY we could stay asleep. 

Psalm 57:8 expresses the same thrill of anticipation concerning praising God. The very thought of praising and giving thanks to God, wakes me up rejoicing! Literally, waking singing a song! 

If I want to awake singing a song of praise to God, there are a few things I must do—before I go to sleep!

1. I need to take time to consider and think about who God is. 
2. I need to take time to count the wonderful blessings God gave me that day, week, month, year.
3. I need to take time to contemplate God’s greatness.
4. I need to take time to collect some praise music to fill my mind as I drift off to sleep.

Waking up with great anticipation to praising my awesome wonderful God, is the best way to create a positive day!

Positive Praise!

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 96. Here is what I learned.

Let’s hear it from Sky, With Earth joining in, And a huge round of applause from Sea. Psalm 96:11 (MSG)

The “it” in Psalm 96:11 is “praise to God”. This past weekend, I heard the most amazing thing... stars making music. And no, it was not a reaction to my pain medication. I learned that stars create a vibration, and literally make noise! And then I heard whales singing! Put just those two creations of God together and you have an amazing song of praise to God! 

Here is the video. Take a moment to watch and listen. 

Louie Giglio - Nature Singing to God

God creation praises Him. If the stars and whales can make music to God.... shouldn’t I also be praising God? 

I live in an apartment complex and my building has 6 floors. I hear a variety of noises. But I find it interesting that the noise that carries the loudest.... is the crying, yelling, screaming, fighting.... the “negative” sounds. Seldom do I hear the laughter or singing of joyful songs. 

What does God hear me saying, singing, and shouting most? Are my “noises” praising and honoring God? Or are my “noises” of disharmony and discord..... negative noise? 

My philosophy is “Create a Positive Day!”. Not only should I be seeing the awesome blessings God continues to send my way.... I need to makes sure that my “noise” throughout the day is positive praise to God. 

Create a positive day..... I need to not only live it... I need to make noise about why it’s a positive day—because God is God! To honestly create a positive day... it MUST include positive praise to my Almighty God! 

You glow when you talk about it.

Throughout this year, each day of the month, I'm "Treasure Hunting" in a Psalm. I've created a "Ponder Every Morsel of Truth" Book to record the truths as I learn them. The Twenty-sixth of each Month, I'm studying Psalm 96. Here's what Treasure I found today.

“You glow when you talk about it.”
“Your face lights up.”

“Your are smiling ear to ear—literally!” 

Those were the words said to me several times over the past year. What was I talking about? Well there were two things. 1. My day in the pits at a  NASCAR race. 2. The Moore Health Ideal Weight Loss program, which helped me lose 68 lb. 

As I read Psalm 96 this morning, I had to wonder do I glow when I talk about my God? Does my face light up? Do I smile ear to ear telling about God’s amazing goodness? 

Oh sing unto Jehovah a new song: Sing unto Jehovah, all the earth. Psalm 96:1 (ASV)

Sing God a brand-new song! Earth and everyone in it, sing! Sing to God—worship God! Psalm 96:1 (MSG)

Sing: idea of strolling minstrelsy, singing as I go about.

New: that which is delightful, exquisite, precious.

Song: abstractly singing, it just flows forth.

God: of deity Yahweh.

Earth: the world itself and all that lives in/on it. 

• Do I love God so much that I sing or talk about God as I go about my day?
• Do my words or song express the delightful and preciousness of knowing God and understanding (even just a bit) of what He is capable of?
• Does praise to God simply flow out of me when I think of Who God is—Yahweh, God eternal? 

I’m not a very good singer, so I’m not sure I’ll walk around literally singing songs about God. But....What do people see and hear from me as I go about my day?

• Do they see any evidence that God is God?
• Do my actions and attitude express the preciousness of knowing the Almighty God?
• Does talking about God “just flow forth”?
• Is God in my thoughts and such a part of my life, that it’s natural to include Him in my conversations? 

“You glow when you talk about it”. “Your face lights up.” “Your are smiling ear to ear—literally!” If people would say those things to me..... in reference to my relationship with God..... that would make for a very positive day! 

No Matter!

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 57. Here is what I learned.

I have complete confidence, O God; I will sing and praise you! Psalm 57:7 (GNT)

My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is steadfast and confident! I will sing and make melody. Psalm 57:7 (AMP)

Heart: will and even the intellect.

Steadfast: certainty, confirm, direct, faithfulness, fasten, firm, be fitted.

Sing: be musical

Praise: acclaim, applause, bravo, celebration, cheer, devotion, esteem, exaltation, hymn, kudos, rave, recognition, thanks, tribute, worship.

Have you ever been so happy and joyful that you burst out in song? You just had to shout? That’s what Psalm 57:7 describes. 

David’s heart, his will, his intellect, his entire being was fitted, “in tune to” Who God is and God’s character. And with David’s full attention fixed on God, the circumstances and situation David found himself did not matter—God is good, and worthy of praise!

His heart was firm and decided. He did not waver in his purpose, or lean now to one side and then to the other; he was not "swayed" or "moved" by the events that had occurred. He felt conscious of standing firm in the midst of all his troubles. He confided in God. He did not doubt his justice, his goodness, his mercy; and, even in his trials, he was ready to praise him, and was "resolved" to praise him. The repetition of the word "fixed" gives emphasis and intensity to the expression, and is designed to show in the strongest manner that his heart, his purpose, his confidence in God, did not waver in the slightest degree. Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Vocally and instrumentally will I celebrate thy worship. With lip and with heart will I ascribe honour to thee. The Treasury of David

No matter what is happening around me. No matter what circumstances I find myself. No matter how I feel. No matter what others may think. No matter what may happen tomorrow. No matter! I am determined that my heart, my will, my intellect my whole being, is totally and firmly “fitted” and “in tune” to God and His will. Know that God is God.... period!  He is my steadfast security, in whom I will place all my confidence and trust. 

The fact that God is God—He is worthy of praise and honor. I honor and praise God, because of WHO HE IS!

First, I determine that I will be confident

in Who God is,

and then that creates

an overwhelming song of praise to God

—no matter the circumstances! 

God is God. And when I place my confidence in that fact that creates a positive day, no matter my circumstances!