Refreshing Praise

Prayer – I praise You. Refresh my heart, Lord. Fill me with Your love, peace, joy, and strength—not just during this holiday season, but all through the coming year.

Songs for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.

A psalm of David. How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony! For harmony is as precious as the anointing oil that was poured over Aaron's head, that ran down his beard and onto the border of his robe. Harmony is as refreshing as the dew from Mount Hermon that falls on the mountains of Zion. And there the LORD has pronounced his blessing, even life everlasting. Psalm 133:1-3

Oh, praise the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, you who serve at night in the house of the LORD. Lift up holy hands in prayer, and praise the LORD. May the LORD, who made heaven and earth, bless you from Jerusalem. Psalm 134:1-3

Meditate. Lift up your hands in holy praise.

To get to Jerusalem, you must “ascend” because the city is built on a hill—well on seven hills. God had a plan with having His chosen city built on a hill—so people had to look up and walk up whenever they sought Him. When you look for God—where do you seek Him? Of course…if you seek God, you will find Him and you don’t need to be in or go to Jerusalem or climb a mountain to find Him. David taught his son, Solomon, to seek the Lord.

And Solomon, my son, learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately. Worship and serve him with your whole heart and a willing mind. For the LORD sees every heart and knows every plan and thought. If you seek him, you will find him. But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever. 1 Chronicles 28:9

Looking for the Lord in Jerusalem?
Dome of the Rock--on the same spot
that Solomon built the Temple for our God.

As you search for the Lord, you will find Him…and then, like the psalmist…lift up holy hands in praise to the Lord! That is just how I like to worship Him…with hands raised to heaven…and a joyful song in my heart. David suggests that harmony with others is refreshing as the dew on Mt. Zion—blessing Jerusalem. Blessing His holy city. God likes to see and hear others getting along—being kind and loving to each other. Love in action. By loving God’s creation including fellow human beings, we show our love to Him. That is just what we are supposed to do—love God and love others as we love ourselves. That love must be refreshing praise to the Lord.

 

Verse of Salvation ~ (Message from the prophet Isaiah.) And now the LORD speaks—the one who formed me in my mother's womb to be his servant, who commissioned me to bring Israel back to him. The LORD has honored me, and my God has given me strength. He says, "You will do more than restore the people of Israel to me. I will make you a light to the Gentiles, and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth." Isaiah 49:5-6

 

Memory Verse of the Week ~ If they listen and obey God, they will be blessed with prosperity throughout their lives. All their years will be pleasant. Job 36:11

© 2022 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.

All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.

New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation.

Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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