Giving God Praise

Several years ago I got to go on a camping trip.  That was my first and only time I have ever gone on a real camping trip of every kind.  You know the ones where you actually go out side and sleep in a tent.  It took place at the Aroostook State Park in Presque Isle.   It wasn't too far from home really, but it was still camping.

I remember going to sleep on one of those inflatable air mattresses.  It seemed comfortable enough for a while anyway.  That is until the middle of the night when all the air decided to leave the mattress.  I woke up with a rock jabbing me in my ribs.  It wasn't very comfortable. 

It was then I realized camping is just not my thing.  Everyone has their thing that they do and enjoy.  I really wasn't enjoying myself.  There were no showers of course and I just felt blah.  If you know what I mean.

Anyway after I was awoken to the rock in my side I decided to get up and go for a walk.  It was probably around 3 in the morning.  It was really dark.  I stepped out of the tent and I looked up through the canopy of trees surrounding the tent and I saw the most beautiful sight I had ever seen in my life.  I saw stars.  Not just a few here and there that one would normally see in town.  There was no light pollution out in the woods.  I never knew how wonderful the night sky truly looked with all of those stars.  There were more stars up there that I had ever seen before.

I was thinking about what I experienced back then and now I am thankful I am known by the One who spoke all of those stars into existence.  God is such an Awesome and Loving God.  He is the One who spoke all of Creation into existence.  He knows all of the stars by name.

The Lord took such great care in making this universe so beautiful.  He cares for us even more so.  He knows where we are and where we are going.  The Lord knows the number of hairs that are on our head.  He cares for you and every detail of your life.

The Lord who Created such beauty in this universe loves you with a great unconditional love.  We try to comprehend this love, but we have such a hard time doing so.  We can see and experience His love by looking at Jesus Christ.

God sent His One and Only Son, Jesus Christ,  to save us from our sins.  That is how much God loves you.  He won't abandon you.  He will be with you each step of the way.  You can trust Him with everything.

When I look at all of Creation and the absolute beauty of it all I can't help to take a step back and think of the Lord who Created all of this.  What an Awesome God we serve.  Why do we worry and cower in fear sometimes?   We tend to forget how great our God truly is.  Everything is truly possible with Him.  We can trust Him with our lives.

We need to praise the Lord more than we do.  He is worthy of all of our praise.  I am reminded of Psalm 148 which says,

"1 Praise the LORD.  Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the heights above.

References for Psalms 148:1

• Cross References
• Footnotes

• 1 148:1 - Ps 33:2 ; 103:1
• 2 148:1 - Ps 19:1 ; 69:34 ; 150:1

• Ƒ 148:1 - Hebrew "Hallelu Yah" ; also in verse 14

2 Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his heavenly hosts.

References for Psalms 148:2

• Cross References

• 3 148:2 - Ps 103:20
• 4 148:2 - S 1Ki 22:19

3 Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars.

References for Psalms 148:3

• Cross References

• 5 148:3 - S Ps 19:1

4 Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies.

References for Psalms 148:4

• Cross References

• 6 148:4 - S Dt 10:14
• 7 148:4 - S Ge 1:7 ; 1Ki 8:27

5 Let them praise the name of the LORD, for at his command they were created,

References for Psalms 148:5

• Cross References

• 8 148:5 - Ps 145:21
• 9 148:5 - S Ps 147:15 ; Ge 1:1,6 ; Ps 33:6,9

6 and he established them for ever and ever— he issued a decree that will never pass away.

References for Psalms 148:6

• Cross References

• 10 148:6 - Job 38:33 ; Ps 89:37 ; Jer 31:35-36 ; 33:25

7 Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,

References for Psalms 148:7

• Cross References

• 11 148:7 - Ps 33:2
• 12 148:7 - S Ge 1:21 ; Ps 74:13-14
• 13 148:7 - S Dt 33:13

8 lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding,

References for Psalms 148:8

• Cross References

• 14 148:8 - S Ex 9:18 ; S Jos 10:11
• 15 148:8 - Job 37:11-12 ; S Ps 103:20 ; 147:15-18

9 you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars,

References for Psalms 148:9

• Cross References

• 16 148:9 - Isa 44:23 ; 49:13 ; 55:12

10 wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds,

References for Psalms 148:10

• Cross References

• 17 148:10 - Isa 43:20 ; Hos 2:18

11 kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth,

References for Psalms 148:11

• Cross References

• 18 148:11 - S Ps 102:15

12 young men and women, old men and children.

13 Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.

References for Psalms 148:13

• Cross References

• 19 148:13 - S Ps 113:2 ; 138:4 ; Isa 12:4
• 20 148:13 - S Ps 145:5
• 21 148:13 - S Ps 8:1 ; 113:4

14 And he has raised up for his people a horn,  the praise of all his faithful servants, of Israel, the people close to his heart. Praise the LORD."

The next time we see and look at His Creation let us stop and give Him praise and thank Him for all that He has made.  Let us also thank Him for sending the best gift ever when He sent Jesus Christ into this world  so we could be reconciled back to God.

Let us love the Lord with all of our hearts and love each other as He so greatly loves us.

May we give the Lord all of the praise.

Lord,

We praise Your Holy name.

Thank You for the wonderful beauty of Your Creation and that it points us to You.

Draw us nearer to You.

In Jesus name we pray,

Amen.