12Psa 111:1-10 (NLT)
1 Praise the LORD! I will thank the LORD with all my heart as I meet with his godly people.
2 How amazing are the deeds of the LORD! All who delight in him should ponder them.
3 Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty. His righteousness never fails.
4 He causes us to remember his wonderful works. How gracious and merciful is our LORD!
5 He gives food to those who fear him; he always remembers his covenant.
6 He has shown his great power to his people by giving them the lands of other nations.
7 All he does is just and good, and all his commandments are trustworthy.
8 They are forever true, to be obeyed faithfully and with integrity.
9 He has paid a full ransom for his people. He has guaranteed his covenant with them forever. What a holy, awe-inspiring name he has!
10 Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom. Praise him forever!
Pondering the deeds of the Lord—or running into His name.
There is a profound effect and purpose when we gather as His people to magnify and tell of His mighty works. To focus on anything else, no matter how daunting or glorious it may appear, is to miss how completely God’s provision surpasses all others.
Every declaration of His faithfulness—revealing His glory, providing sustenance, keeping His Word, granting inheritance, and paying redemption’s full price—places us within the grace and safety found in His name. To be His people and yet look past His goodness toward the trivial demands of the world is to remain limited in our experience of His dwelling.
What God has done for us is central to His praise. Each act of worship that honors His works brings the worshiper into the reality of them, leading to a triumphant life.
For those of us on this side of the promise of life in Christ, it is easy to become absorbed in circumstances, pressing needs, or even what seems like significant “spiritual” revelation—without proclaiming what God has specifically accomplished for us in Christ. To sing songs, lift hands, and be caught up in the moment without personally recognizing how His greatness has transformed our lives is to miss the power available in His name.
Rather than relying on lyrics or Scripture alone to carry the obligation of praise, there can be a personal and living declaration—an entrance into the endless provisions secured for us through the faithfulness of our good Father. Instead of exhausting our praise with a few stock phrases, we can experience an ever-expanding awakening to His promises and their overwhelming grace, as we speak from the heart the reality of His name.
Declarations of praise might sound like this:
This is the praise of His name—the kind that becomes a dwelling place within it.