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 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!

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!

There is always and forever something to thank God for when we forget about ourselves and what we think we need to have.  We need only to watch social media, television or a movie for a few minutes to be commanded, “you NEED this” or “have it your own way” and “think about yourself first and pamper your inner self.”   Our hallelujahs fade quickly with that kind of thinking and behaving. 

Our minds form a hardening spiritual dementia of forgetfulness when self becomes the center of our attention, pushing God and all He has done for us to the side.  Jesus becomes a compartment we go to only when in trouble or when it is time to worship for an hour with others on any given Sunday.  God doesn’t just do one thing for us, isn’t there to only relieve our troubles for a moment, or to be thought of as a mere temporary rescue when we decide to call on him as the last resort when we get tired or can’t handle life. 

God is SO much more!  Living in tandem with God is living life to the full!  It is knowing that God is in the lead, in control, pointing out the pits and helping us avoid falling.  It is knowing God’s created purpose for us and learning to live out that purpose with His wisdom and teaching all along the way.  It is knowing Jesus died to save us from death to rising to real life forever with Him!  It is knowing we are loved and cherished as one of God’s children.  Because of Jesus’ work on the cross, we can approach God in awe on our own.  God listens to us and if we pause after prayer, God speaks to us.  It is a relationship with our Abba Father, God that is intimate and precious, full of unconditional love, grace and mercy.

The Psalmist sets us straight!  “God’s works are so great, worth a LIFETIME of study—endless enjoyment!”  As my favorite hymn reminds me this morning, playing in the background of this hallelujah time, God is truly great!  Yes, and Amen!  “Great is your faithfulness, O God my Father”!  God proves over and over what only He can do out of a love for us that is beyond our human thinking!  Love God back because He first loved us.

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be

Great is Thy faithfulness, great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Psalm 111, The Message

^1-10 Hallelujah!
I give thanks to God with everything I’ve got—
Wherever good people gather, and in the congregation.
God’s works are so great, worth
A lifetime of study—endless enjoyment!

Splendor and beauty mark his craft;
His generosity never gives out.
His miracles are his memorial—This God of Grace, This God of Love.

He gave food to those who fear him,
He remembered to keep his ancient promise.

He proved to his people that he could do what he said:
Hand them the nations on a platter—a gift!
He manufactures truth and justice;
All his products are guaranteed to last—
Never out-of-date, never obsolete, rust-proof.

All that he makes and does is honest and true:
He paid the ransom for his people,
He ordered his Covenant kept forever.
He’s so personal and holy, worthy of our respect.

The good life begins in the fear of God—
Do that and you’ll know the blessing of God.
His Hallelujah lasts forever!

TRUTH:  God paid the ransom for his people then and Jesus paid the ransom for us now.  Never out-of-date, never obsolete…great is His faithfulness to those who believe and love him back.  He keeps his promises.  He always has and always will be God.

Proverb 30:12-16, The Message

Don’t imagine yourself to be quite presentable
    when you haven’t had a bath in weeks.

¹³ Don’t be stuck-up
    and think you’re better than everyone else.

¹⁴ Don’t be greedy,
    merciless and cruel as wolves,
Tearing into the poor and feasting on them,
    shredding the needy to pieces only to discard them.

^15-16 A freeloader has twin daughters
    named “Gimme” and “Gimme more.”

WISDOM:  The above wisdom is how not to be living in God’s kingdom!  Avoid thinking only of self.  God first.  Others second.  Self last.

Abba Father,

Great is your faithfulness to us every single day!  Your manna of mercy is fresh each morning.  Each day is a new opportunity to love and live for you here while we prepare our hearts, minds and souls to live with you there forever!  Continue to teach us to live in your rhythm and flow.  Help us to love others like you love us, nothing held back, unconditional and full of mercy and grace.  Help us to live our lives with you in the lead for your ways are always the best way!  Guide our thought-life with wisdom to solve dilemmas not be one who creates bigger messes.  Yes, you are God and we are not.  To you be all glory for all that you are and all that you do that no one else can do!  I raise a hallelujah forever to you!

In Jesus Name, Amen