Reasons To Praise!
"Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good;
sing praises to His name, for it is pleasant."
Psalm 135: 3
The United States Presidential Medal of Freedom was established
by President John F. Kennedy in 1963. It is awarded by Presidents
of the United States to persons who made “an especially meritorious
contribution to the security or national interests of the United States,
world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors.”
The award is accompanied by the President’s
recitation of the recipient’s accomplishments
and good works.
Awards are never given for no reason. They are always given
in recognition of something that has been done or contributed
by the recipient. And the same is true when we give thanks or
praise to God.
In the Old Testament, God’s actions and attributes are mentioned as
reasons for praising Him: “Praise the Lord! For He has delivered the
life of the poor from the hand of evildoers” (Jeremiah 20:13). There
is, of course, no end to the actions and attributes of God that are
worthy of praise.
In your prayers, develop the habit of thanking
God for what He has done for you—your own
personal reasons for praising Him.
"Let earth and Heaven combine,
angels and men agree, to praise
in songs divine the incarnate Deity."
Charles Wesley