Within This Moment

I pause to praise.

Because of Your lovingkindness...

Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You.

Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name.

Psalm 63:3-4 NKJV

I offer a sacrifice of praise…

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. Hebrews 13:15 NIV, Jeremiah 33:11 NKJV

A Sacrifice of Praise

In all honesty, I do not go throughout the day continually praising God. I confess, if someone cuts me off in traffic, or my heart is heavy, and grief envelopes me, my first response is not to praise the Lord. Within moments of sickness and sorrow, I have found that an offering of praise is no small task. At times, it is a sacrifice.

Even when jubilant, my praise can be misaligned; praising men and not God. In addition, there have been times that I have taken the blessings of life for granted.

Frankly, praise should not be based on our circumstances, happy or sad, but in God alone. Pure praise is purposed to honor the King of glory. It springs up from within a heart of thanksgiving, flowing unhindered to the One who sits upon the throne. It is an expression, a celebration, of God’s goodness, no matter what life may bring our way.

The Book of Psalms overflows with praise to the Almighty. It paints a vivid portrait of the character of God. Throughout this book, many facets of praise shimmer. One in particular, (to me) outshines them all. This jewel, Psalm 22:3, radiates a glorious truth: "His presence is enthroned upon the praises of His people."

But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. Psalm 22:3 KJV

Yet I know that you are most holy; it’s indisputable. You are God-Enthroned, surrounded with songs, living among the shouts of praise of your princely people. Psalm 22:3 TPT

God lives among our shouts of praise!

The very presence of God [the Holy One] inhabits [occupies, settles, resides, sits, dwells, abides in/on, fills] the praise [expressed admiration, thanksgiving, songs] of His people [the descendants of Israel, the people of God].

Let us determine, from our lips, to render a sacrifice [offering] of praise [commendation, honor, thanksgiving] through Jesus, our mediator to the Father in heaven. [For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. 1Timothy 2:5-6 NKJV]

In response to our offering, the King of glory shall sit enthroned upon our praise.

Who is this King of glory?

Psalm 24:7-10 NKJV

Lift up your heads, O you gates!

And be lifted up, you everlasting doors!

And the King of glory shall come in.

Who is this King of glory?

The Lord strong and mighty,

The Lord mighty in battle.

Lift up your heads, O you gates!

Lift up, you everlasting doors!

And the King of glory shall come in.

Who is this King of glory?

The Lord of hosts,

He is the King of glory. Selah

Within this moment...

let us offer a sacrifice of praise through the One who chose to be sacrificed for our sake.

Psalm 150 AMP

Praise the Lord!

Praise God in His sanctuary;

Praise Him in His mighty heavens.

Praise Him for His mighty acts;

Praise Him according to [the abundance of] His greatness.

Praise Him with trumpet sound;

Praise Him with harp and lyre.

Praise Him with tambourine and dancing;

Praise Him with stringed instruments and flute.

Praise Him with resounding cymbals;

Praise Him with loud cymbals.

Let everything that has breath and every breath of life praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)

Prayer

Father,

Within this moment, I pause to praise.

I lay down my circumstances, and pause to acknowledge You. For You are worthy of all my praise. I am in awe of You, and the blessing of Your presence in my life.

I thank You, Jesus, for making a way.

I thank You, Holy Spirit, for hovering over me, and empowering me from within.

I thank You, Father, for calling me Your own.

May I be diligent to offer You the thanksgiving You deserve.

Within this moment, I honor You, as I pause to praise.

Praise the Lord! To God be the glory! Great things he has done!

Amen

I will bless the Lord at all times;

His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

My soul shall make its boast in the Lord;

The humble shall hear of it and be glad.

Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.

Psalm 34:1-3 NKJV

Praise the Lord, my soul;

all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Praise the Lord, my soul,

and forget not all his benefits—

who forgives all your sins

and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit

and crowns you with love and compassion,

who satisfies your desires with good things

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Psalm 103:1-5 NIV

Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;

make known among the nations what he has done.

Psalm105:1 NIV

Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

his love endures forever. Psalm 106:1 NIV

Praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord, you his servants; praise the name of the Lord.

Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore.

From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,

the name of the Lord is to be praised.

Psalm 113:1-3 NIV

You are my God, and I will praise you; you are my God, and I will exalt you.

Psalm 118:28 NIV

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Psalm 139:14 NIV

Praise the Lord. How good it is to sing praises to our God,

how pleasant and fitting to praise him!

Psalm 147:1 NIV

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord!

Psalm 150:6 NIV