I raise a hallelujah, in the presence of my enemies
I raise a hallelujah, louder than the unbelief
I raise a hallelujah, my weapon is a melody
I raise a hallelujah, heaven comes to fight for me

Pause to pray.  Rise to worship God!  Let us jump into this psalm with abandon, leaving the world and worldly philosophies in the dust.  Let us be cleansed in the pool of pure, living waters that wash over our hearts, minds and souls!  Everyone sing God’s praises like never before.  Forget for a moment what is going in our world and just step back to raise a hallelujah to our God who knows all, created all and is in all!   For it is in our praise and worship of God alone that He turns what we give to Him back to us with extreme love and encouragement! 

But first, God.

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Psalm 96, The Message

^1-2 Sing God a brand-new song!
Earth and everyone in it, sing!
Sing to God—worship God!

^2-3 Shout the news of his victory from sea to sea,
Take the news of his glory to the lost,
News of his wonders to one and all!

^4-5 For God is great, and worth a thousand Hallelujahs.
His furious beauty puts the other gods to shame;
Pagan gods are mere tatters and rags.

^5-6 God made the heavens—
Royal splendor radiates from him,
A powerful beauty sets him apart.

⁷ Bravo, God, Bravo!
Everyone join in the great shout: Encore!
In awe before the beauty, in awe before the might.

^8-9 Bring gifts and celebrate,
Bow before the beauty of God,
Then to your knees—everyone worship!

¹⁰ Get out the message—God Rules!
He put the world on a firm foundation;
He treats everyone fair and square.

¹¹ Let’s hear it from Sky,
With Earth joining in,
And a huge round of applause from Sea.

¹² Let Wilderness turn cartwheels,
Animals, come dance,
Put every tree of the forest in the choir—

¹³ An extravaganza before God as he comes,
As he comes to set everything right on earth,
Set everything right, treat everyone fair.

TRUTH:  God sets and resets everything right on earth.  God resets our hearts, minds and souls in the process.

Proverb 28:18, The Message

WISDOM:  “Walk straight—live well and be saved;
    a devious life is a doomed life.”  God first in all of life.  God always.  Be still and know God.

Abba Father,

We raise a hallelujah to you alone this morning!  We thank you for all you have done, are doing and will do in each of our lives who believe, trust and obey You.  We thank you for saving our souls.  We thank you for loving us they way you do.  We thank you for listening to our prayers of concern.  We praise you for accepting us where we are and then growing us to be all you created us to be and do.  Thank you, Lord.  Come, Lord Jesus, come.  Set everything right.  Begin with me.

In Jesus Name, Amen

I raise a hallelujah, in the presence of my enemies
I raise a hallelujah, louder than the unbelief
I raise a hallelujah, my weapon is a melody
I raise a hallelujah, heaven comes to fight for me

I’m gonna sing, in the middle of the storm
Louder and louder, you’re gonna hear my praises roar
Up from the ashes, hope will arise
Death is defeated, the King is alive!

I raise a hallelujah, with everything inside of me
I raise a hallelujah, I will watch the darkness flee
I raise a hallelujah, in the middle of the mystery
I raise a hallelujah, fear you lost your hold on me!