Forever We Will Praise Your Name!

“For Thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever,” – Matthew 6:13

Have you ever had someone compliment you with a general statement? Maybe they said something like,

“You are such a great person.”

It’s nice to be complimented, but sometimes it’s good to also know why they think you are a great person. It might be nice to hear a compliment more like,

“You’re such a great person, you always make time when people need you and you go out of your way to help people, like that time you came to my house and helped repair the garbage disposal.”

There’s just something more meaningful about a compliment that is backed up by facts of why you deserve the compliment.

Sometimes our praises to God can sound more like the general compliment.

“Yeah God! You are awesome! We praise You.”

Those praises are fine, but it’s interesting that most of the time we see praise to God in the Bible, it includes telling of the wonderful things that God has done or who God is.

Psalm 111 is a great example.

“Praise the Lord!
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
2 Great are the works of the Lord,
studied by all who have pleasure in them.
3 Full of honor and majesty is his work,
and his righteousness endures for ever.
4 He has caused his wonderful works to be remembered;
the Lord is gracious and merciful.
5 He provides food for those who fear him;
he is ever mindful of his covenant.
6 He has shown his people the power of his works,
in giving them the heritage of the nations.
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy,
8 they are established for ever and ever,
to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
9 He sent redemption to his people;
he has commanded his covenant for ever.
Holy and terrible is his name!
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
a good understanding have all those who practice it.
His praise endures for ever!”

Here the psalmist begins with general praises like, “Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart.” But, in verse 3, he begins to talk about why he is praising God; because God is full of honor and majesty and God is righteous.

As the psalmist continues he talks about God providing food, giving Israel their inheritance, God’s justice, and trustworthy precepts and God’s redeeming His people. In other words, it’s like he’s saying, “I praise God not just because I get a warm, fuzzy feeling, but because of the wonderful things You have done and because of who You are.”

As we finish the Lord’s Prayer, we conclude with praise. This praise not only allows us to express our love and thankfulness to God, but declares that this is God’s kingdom, He has all the power and all the glory, and that these are his forever. He is eternal.

So, let us lift up our praises to God. Let us declare His wonderful works. Let us proclaim His glorious attributes. He is worthy.

Heavenly Father,

We love you and praise Your name. You alone are worthy of our praise. You have defeated death and hell. You have redeemed us and made us Your children. You have given us life and continue to sustain and bless us. Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever.

Amen!

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt

Forever We Will Praise Your Name!

Faith Lutheran Church in Wesley Chapel, FL serving Lutz, Zephyrhills, Land O’ Lakes, and New Tampa, FL