INNER HEALTH MADE AUDIBLE                                          Psalm 147:1-20

“Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; For it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful.” (v1)

A doctor once told me that the happiest and healthiest people are those who are quick to praise – not the flatterer or the insincere, but those who look for and quickly recognize the praiseworthy aspects of life. He was speaking about natural things, but as I listened to him the thought came to me that if this is true in the natural arena then how much more true will it be in the spiritual arena. C.S Lewis defined praise as inner health made audible. What did he mean? I believe he meant that there is a connection between a readiness to praise and the state of our physical health. If there really is this connection then how can it be explained? One answer, is that we are made in our innermost beings for praise. God designed us to be praising beings. And there is no surer way of completing and fulfilling ourselves than giving praise – we are doing the very thing for which we were designed. Regular readers will be familiar with these words from the Westminster Shovlver Catechism, ‘Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.” If we decide not to make it our chief occupation to praise God (and remember that to give praise is a choice we can make) then inevitably we are reduced spiritually and physically. A Christian physician said, “When I go through my day praising God, my blood flows better in my veins.” Praise is good for you – it not only glorifies God but it makes you a better person. So fill your life with praise knowing than this will cause God’s heart to rejoice and may also be beneficial to your own heart.

PRAYER LINE: An old hymnist – wrote. “Fill Thou my life, O Lord my God, in every part with praise, that my whole being may proclaim Thy being and Thy ways.” Amen. (EDWJ)

________________________________________________________

How pleasant and fitting to praise Him (Psalm 147:1)