By Lois Evans
The words of Psalms have always been a source of comfort and strength for me. They are filled with God’s promises to provide strength for the weak, comfort for the hurting, and hope for the lost. One of my personal favorites is Psalm 63, especially verses 1-4:
O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly;
My soul thirsts for You,
my flesh yearns for You,
In a dry and weary land where there is no water.
Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory.
Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips will praise You.
So I will bless You as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name.
These first few verses of David’s praise are a reminder that praise and worship can be a source of spiritual oxygen to keep us spiritually healthy. In John 15:7, Jesus explains the direct correlation between our relationship with God and prayer. If we want to hear from God, we must be close to God—which happens when we pray, praise, and worship.
I encourage you to be enthusiastic about your personal praise and worship time with God. Open your mouth and sing worship songs to Him. Read aloud the psalms of praise. And most importantly, take time from your schedule to worship God and, in turn, be strengthened in His love.
Amen