Hallelujah! O my soul, praise God! All my life long I'll praise God, singing songs to my God as long as I live. Don't put your life in the hands of experts who know nothing of life, of salvation life. Mere humans don't have what it takes; when they die, their projects die with them. Instead, get help from the God of Jacob, put your hope in God and know real blessing! God made sky and soil, sea and all the fish in it. He always does what he says - he defends the wronged, he feeds the hungry. God frees prisoners - he gives sight to the blind, he lifts up the fallen. protects strangers, takes the side of orphans and widows, but makes short work of the wicked. God's in charge - always. Zion's God is God for good! Hallelujah! (Psalm 146)
What do you do the first thing out of bed? Your answer may determine the tone you set for the rest of your day. If you wake up with a negative attitude or an anger comes to mind, your day may be shot. If you begin your to--to list before you put on your slippers, you're already walking on negative ground. But, if you wake up and think of a praise song or a hymn, or you wake up mentally praying your thanks or your dependence on God, your day stands a better chance of being a great day. The psalmist seems to get out of bed with verse one on his mind: "Hallelujah! O my sou, praise God!" Wow, if I would get out of bed with that praise, I'm already up the path of a glorious day!
Advent is a season of praise. Everything we do at church in worship or at work, or at home, should reflect the praise we have in our souls for our loving God. We should be people influencing other people with positive thoughts about God and God's goodness, not the other way around. Sadly, that's what usually happens - others set the tone for us, and that rarely works out for good. Be the power plug in your work group. Be the thermostat that sets the tone for your home, and people will warm up to the glow of God in your life.
PRAYER: Loving God, may my life be one of praise. I love You so much that I want the glow from You to reflect off of me onto my loved ones and my work pals and those who see me. Let them say, "I want what you have," because of what I do have, the peace that passes all understanding and has set my tongue to Praise Mode. This I pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
