"Let all that I am praise the LORD." Psalm 104:1a and 35b
What is all that I am? The KJV translates this phrase as soul. The transliteration of the word soul is nephesh. I love its meaning: self, life, creature, person, appetite. mind, living being, desire. emotion and passion. This is how we should praise the Lord. We should offer our praise with passion, emotion, and desire. Our appetite, person, mind, and life should reflect praise. How does one praise the Lord in such a way? I think of a song from long ago. It was from the old Baptist hymnal we used in church. Its number was always shouted out on "favorite hymn night." You probably know it even if you did not use this hymnal: Count Your Many Blessings. (Name the one by one.)
This is what the psalmist did in Psalm 104. He counted his blessings, naming the one by one. He thanked God for His provision and praised Him for His creation. As you count the blessings the Lord has given you, the more you name, you can't help but ignite with passion and emotion. You can hear this emotion in the psalmist words. At the end of the psalm it was almost as if he could not think of any other way to say it but to break out in compulsary praise saying, "Let all that I am praise the LORD. Praise the Lord!" He ends the psalm the same way he begins it.
I echo his words words from verses 33-34:
I will sing to the LORD as long as I live.
I will praise my God to my last breath!
May all my thoughts be pleasing to Him,
for I rejoice in the LORD.
I will praise my God to my last breath!
May all my thoughts be pleasing to Him,
for I rejoice in the LORD.
Amen
8 Comments:
Oh, how I pray that "all that I am" will praise the Lord...in good times and bad. Not just praising because of what He's done, but because of who He is.
Although I focused on a different verse today, I too wrote on one of the "all" things.
"The LORD takes pleasure in all he has made!" Psalm 104:31
All is defined as the whole number or amount, every one, to the full or entire extent, completely and totally. Nothing would be excluded. It's inclusive.
Do you realize what this means? He takes pleasure in you and me.
Pleasure. Joy. Someone or something that provides a source of happiness. The state of being pleased. Enjoyment. My web search said pleasure was a fundamental feeling that is hard to define, but that people desire to experience.
I don't know about you, but there are many times I find it difficult to believe that God finds pleasure in me. Dealing with debilitating issues of insecurity and fear, the phrase, "To know me is to love me" doesn't often ring true. Yet, God is saying here that He takes pleasure in ALL He has made...and I'm one of the "all" things.
Today I am blown away by knowing that I am special and treasured by God.
You are too! :)
Hugs,
Joy
Wendy, thank you so much for sharing your insight this morning. God is sooo good, may I "Let all that I am praise the LORD" as I grow more and more into Him.
love you girls,
nancy
Joy
I loved that verse, too. I almost wrote about it.
He takes pleasure in us. Wow!
Wow, dear sisters this is so good today. Thank you Wendy! As a part my daily prayer time I "count my blessings one by one..." and I know that the thanksgivings offered up to the Lord, turns into a loving desire for Him, that overfills my Spirit with a passion I can't really put into words...
And, Joy what you said, "The LORD takes please in all he has made!"
As I was thinking over that, it made me so aware that when I do something, let's just say for ex., something the makes someone very happy, like maybe I've just fixed a meal and every loves it (whew that would make me estactic!) well, it just leaves me with such a good feeling. Hard to explain, but when you serve and bless people around you, it just fills you with joy. And for some reason, just knowing how I feel, and then thinking, about what God's Word says, "The LORD takes pleasure in all he has made!"
He exclaims and uses the word, "all." All means, entirely, everything, the sum, the total, absolutely. That most definitely covers all of us! Everyone gives the LORD pleasure.
The Lord enjoys us.
The Lord is pleased with us.
We bring the LORD happiness.
We bring the LORD joy.
WOW!!!
WOW!!!
Psalm 100:2b "Come before him, singing with joy."
We are able to be filled with the Holy Spirit! We are led to come before His presence with a joyful spirit, singing, praising him and thanking him!
"I will praise my God to my last breath!" Choosing to live intentionally today!
Love you all, Lori - AZ
Morning Wendy and Friends,
Love this verse because it doesn't let us have an escape route. "Let ALL that I am praise the Lord". For me that means praising for the good, bad and ugly. Because He see's it all and it makes me who I am, He loves Me.
I was drawn to Vs 27, 28. It speaks of how we are to depend on God for food (nourishment).
"They all depend on you to give them food as the need it. (28) When you supply it, they gather it You open your hand to feed them and they are richly satisfied. Psalms 104 27-28
In vs 27 "when you supply it, THEY gather it." You have to do some work here, not just Him.
He will provide everything I need and I need to praise him for even the trials. Then when I ask for help be prepared to keep watch for how he will send it. HE WILL SEND IT, He said so, but I have to gather it. I praise him for the process and provisions. Each time I do, I become stronger for His work and better through the storms.
Off to scrub the grease of a lot of cake pans. Yuck! Any of you ladies need a professional cake pan? I have to get rid of a lot of my Pastry/Catering equipment due to the divorce and need for moving and money. Send me an email I might have what you need.
Blessing,
Diane
Goodmorning all!
'I will bless the Lord of all times, his praises shall continually be in my mouth!'
"Let all that I am praise the LORD." Psalm 104:1a and 35b
The key verse this morning assures me that no matter what condition we are in......broken, downhearted, wretched,weak,unholy,sinful,etc....we can still praise Him for who He is. Who is He? Jonah 4:2 tells us that He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm.
I am grateful to know that God takes pleasure in all he has created, including me!!!
Bless His Holy Name.
Be blessed all!
Chanan, Bahamas.
It is an awesome pleasure to give God what he deserves!!!!
Because we praise and worship God for WHO he is, and he never ceases to be anything other than God, we should never be left without praise on our lips and worship in our hearts.
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. I Thess. 5:18
Father,
Help us strive to always give thanks IN everything, no matter what the situation, our hope is in you.
Blessings!
Debbie - North Carolina
Today I came on here and read your comments b/4 I read the scriptures. That was interesting to underline and circle the points you all made. Thanks for the thoughts.
Morgen
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