Praise da Lord

While on my recent trip helping flood victims in Baton Rouge I heard a great sermon with three sentences.  Actually, I experienced a sermon that has continued to roll around in my thoughts.  One of our team members, Ryan Alford, recently graduated from high school.  His automatic response to almost every encounter was, “Praise da Lord, God is good and He loves me.”  It was genuine and simple.  In fact, it was catchy enough to repeat it with him.  Before the 3 day trip ended I was thoroughly intrigued by Ryan’s consistency (probably said this phrase 50 times) and downright good theology in his expression.

Praise da Lord – Psalms 103 starts with the psalmist reminding himself to “Bless the Lord, O my soul and all that is within me bless His holy name.”  This side of heaven we get the privilege to open our mouths and declare aloud praises to our God.  This is not limited to church activities.  Just think of all of the words that flow forth daily through our lips.  How many times does our tongue declare praise to our God?  We are the only one controlling what comes out of our mouth.  Repetition of a phrase may not lead to genuine praise, but forgetfulness and silence rarely lead to an example of a worshipper.  When we truly see his infinite presence in every aspect of our lives our heart bursts forth in gratitude of praise and worship.  O for a thousand tongues to sing our great redeemer’s praise.

God is good -  The goodness of our God is the hook that all of God’s attributes hang on to display the splendor of his glory.  His holiness would be unapproachable save for the goodness of Jesus substitutionary death on the cross.  His justice is executed with such fairness that all proclaim His is good.  In our pain and struggles in life, we have hope because we are in love with a God who is good.

He loves me – Why? Not because he is obligated. Why? Not because I am somehow more worthy than others. Why? Not because I am the center of his universe.  Why? Not because of any works of good on my own...my righteousness is as filthy rags before him.  Why? Because as many as believe on the Lord Jesus shall became children of God.  Our heavenly father loves his children.  How great a love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God…and that is what we are.

I challenge you to say these 3 sentences together aloud throughout your day.  Don’t be afraid if someone else hears you…it may encourage them.  Believing God is good becomes even more real when you understand that everything that you are experiencing in life right now is filtered through a God that loves you.  The stress of life in all of it’s yuck that you are experiencing in relationships, health, finances, vocationally, or fatigue all falls under the category of God’s goodness and His love for us.

PRAISE DA LORD! GOD IS GOOD! AND HE LOVES ME!