"Praise"
I praise God for America,
For the freedoms we hold dear,
I praise Him for the ones who fought,
In battles far and near.
To keep us safe from tyranny,
Our liberty to save,
Those who suffered for the cause,
And their lives they gave.
Thank God for Alabama,
Where Mama gave me birth,
And thank God for Texas,
The best place on this earth.
I’m thankful for my children,
And my grandchildren, too.
My brother who’s a best friend,
He is loyal through and through.
I thank God for my Stacey,
And the life God lets us lead,
For our place near the Brazos,
He supplies our every need.
I praise God for good horses,
And for the cowboy way,
Thankful I can live it,
Every single day.
I’m thankful for good partners,
Who stand with us and pray,
And thankful for the fellowship,
Who hears what God will say.
But more than every blessing,
I praise God for His love,
The gift He gives through Jesus,
Salvation from above.
And I know He’s forgiven,
Every failing, every sin,
And given me His Spirit,
So I am born again.
The greatest gift of all, you see,
Is knowing you are His,
Your name is in the Book of Life,
And let me tell you this,
The Lord who is within us,
Can make the devil flee,
We are saved securely,
For all eternity.
So with all who love Him,
We lift our hearts and hands,
Let everything that’s breathing,
All across the land,
Lift a mighty chorus,
Hallelujahs to His name,
Give Him all the glory,
And live for Jesus’ fame.
“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 150:5, NAS)
The last verse of the last psalm gives good advice. If we’re breathing, we ought to be praising. But why don’t we? Many reasons, but from a spiritual point of view, it is the Holy Spirit that prompts and empowers praise. Jesus made Spirit and truth the two non-negotiables for authentic worship. When the Spirit is embraced and the truth lived, worship flows.
Lord, help us to live a life of praise, in Jesus’ name.
Art by Tim Cox, used by permission. Thanks, Tim, and God bless you.