I will Praise His Holy, Holy Name!

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name…Psalm 100:4.

I love the holidays!

I love spending time with family and friends!

I love decorating my home for the season!

I love the delicious foods that are served throughout the season!

I love seeing beautiful holiday displays in the stores…driving down streets that are adorned with bright-colored lights, and just seeing our small community come alive as we anticipate the holiday season!

I just love it!

However, as I have listened to the news the last several days, my heart is saddened by the devastating events that are taking place in our country.

My heart aches for the loss many individuals are experiencing!

Last Friday, teams of terrorists staged coordinated attacks at six locations throughout Paris, including a concert hall, the Stade de France and a couple of restaurants.  Over 350 people were wounded in the attacks…and approximately 100 were seriously injured.

The attack on Paris last week left many families dealing with devastating losses!

My heart goes out to them as they are dealing with their grief, trying to understand how these vicious attacks could have happened in their country!

And just this week, ISIS appears to be threatening an attack on Washington D.C., and any country that plans to launch an attack on Syria!  A video with this information from the terror group began circulating the news and social media, stirring many emotions in all of us!

News containing this information, as well as, countless other horrifying stories can be daunting, keeping us from doing what God has called us to do…getting on our knees and praying without ceasing!

Though the world around us in turmoil, our Heavenly Father…our God…sits on the throne and he hears the cries of His children!

And even when it is difficult, I am called to praise my Heavenly Father!

His word tells us… Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name…Psalm 100:4.

When I looked up the word “praise”, I found that the Old Testament mentions “praise” 307 times and the New Testament mentions it 56 times!

I have to believe if “praise” is mentioned that many times in the bible…the inspired word of God…it is important to Him!

So to remind all of us to give thanks…to praise God each day…I wanted to share just a few scriptures that remind us to do just that:

“The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him”…Exodus 15:2

When the people saw him, they praised their god, saying, “Our god has delivered our enemy into our hands, the one who laid waste our land and multiplied our slain.”…Judges 16:24

“I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and have been saved from my enemies…2 Samuel 22:4

Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name…2 Samuel 22:50.

Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done…1 Chronicles 16:8.

Cry out, “Save us, God our Savior; gather us and deliver us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name, and glory in your praise.”…1 Chronicles 16:35

I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High…Psalm 7:17.

Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger…Psalm 8:2.

The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior!...Psalm 18:46

Be exalted in your strength, Lord; we will sing and praise your might…Psalm 21:13

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him…Psalm 28:17.

He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him…Psalm 40:3.

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens…Psalm 68:19.

For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods…Psalm 96:4.

In that day you will say: “Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted…Isaiah 12:4.

The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel…Matthew 15:31.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort...2 Corinthians 1:3.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ…Ephesians 1:3.

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.

Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise…James 5:13.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light…1 Peter 2:9.

However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name…1 Peter 4:16.

In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”…Revelation 5:12.

Dear Ones…let us lift our voices in praise and exalt the name of our Heavenly Father!

Dear Heavenly Father…You are worthy to be praised!  We give thanks and praise your holy, holy name!  Help us to be a people of praise…and regardless of what is going on around us…help us to lift your name on high…praising you, Lord!  Oh how we love you!