Daily Devotional August 17 - How Many Times A Day?

"Seven times a day do I praise Thee because of Thy righteous judgements."  Psalm 119:164

Why do you praise the Lord?
What does it really mean to praise the Lord?
Why would anyone praise the Lord seven times a day?

Why do you praise the Lord?
Only someone who has seen what God is doing in their life has within them the true vision necessary to kindle praise. If you are blind to what God is doing, it is not because God is hiding anything from you. Blindness in the awareness category is self imposed. God is available 24 hours a day, fully up to date with all that is happening in the whole world, totally knowledgeable of your current circumstances and holding within His hand every answer for every question plaguing you. If you really don't know why you should praise the Lord, you have been blinded by the enemy. He has sprinkled pride dust or self-aggrandizement dust in your eyes. There is nothing keeping you from a one to one personal, powerful and wonderful experience with God that will drive you to praise God except your own pride and/or worldly self-interest.

What does it really mean to praise the Lord?
What it means is that you recognize what God has done for you in your heart and you reveal your appreciation outwardly. There are many ways to do that. Singing, praying, raising up your hands to God, asking God to fill you, talking to God about how much you love God, speaking to Jesus about how much you appreciate what He has done for you, talking with the Holy Spirit within, revealing your total dependency on God for your everything. You can praise God anywhere, in the shower, out in the back yard, at work, in your car, while resting, reading, listening to music, meditating; anywhere you can breath, anytime of day, they're all good places to praise the Lord.

Why would anyone praise the Lord seven times a day?
Once you recognize that you have sinned against God, you can't help but praise God for His forgiveness.
Once you see how much God has done for you, you can't help but praise God for His many blessings.
Once you have seen how much God has given to you, you can't help but praise God for His provision.
Once you have seen how many times God has protected you, you can't help but praise God for His Omnipotence.
Once you have seen how many times God did not let you get what you thought you wanted, that would have messed up your life, you praise God for His Omniscience.
Once you have felt God's mercy for all the things He has forgotten on your behalf you can't help but praise God.
Once you have tasted of the goodness of God to you, your family and your friends you can't help but to praise God.
That's only seven. How many more are there, really? If you are only praising God on Sunday, because others are praising God, you need to spend some time figuring out how to dispose the day more wisely, with God in mind. You might find that there are countless reasons to praise the Lord.