Day 36: Praising Church
Daily Devotional
1 Chronicles 16:23-25
Sing to the Lord, all the earth!
Tell of his salvation from day to day.
24 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples!
25 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
and he is to be feared above all gods.
Today’s passage is the joyful song that David and the Israelites sang to the Lord when they brought the ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem. The ark represented the presence of God, and it was a constant reminder to Israel of all the wondrous works of the living God. David instructs the people to sing and proclaim the Lord’s salvation, appointing both musicians and singers to praise and worship. This praise however is not only to be declared within the nation of Israel, but “among the nations” and “among all peoples”. Take a moment to reflect on your own praise and worship. How can your worship be a reflection of the presence of God in your life and a proclamation of the things that He has done? And how can you be a powerful witness to those around you today? As you meditate on this message, ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of God’s majesty, and to give you a heart that can respond in praise. May God be delighted with our worship as we strive to become a praising church this week.
Weekly Application
As part of a praising church, make it a priority to offer your genuine praise and worship to God every day of this week. Be intentional in finding ways to express your gratitude and adoration towards God, whether it’s through singing, praying, or sharing your testimony of His goodness. As you do this, may there be high expectation that the atmosphere to praise will draw you closer to God and lift up the people around you. This week, challenge yourself to praise God in at least one new way each day. It could be as simple as thanking Him for the beauty of nature, or as bold as sharing your faith with someone who doesn’t know Him yet. Let us become a praising church that brings hope to the world around us and a glory to God above.