Wednesday, August 5, 2015

SHOUT!!!

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Shout triumphantly to the LORD, all the earth! Serve the LORD with celebration! Come before him with shouts of joy! Know that the LORD is God— he made us; we belong to him. We are his people, the sheep of his own pasture. Enter his gates with thanks; enter his courtyards with praise! Thank him! Bless his name! Because the LORD is good, his loyal love lasts forever; his faithfulness lasts generation after generation. ~ Psalm 100

Have you tried shouting to the LORD? Shouting is not something I do very often, no matter what the circumstance. I’m just naturally not a “shouter”. But the first two verses of Psalm 100 say, “Shout!”

In one translation of the Bible, I found 25 verses that tell us to “shout” to the LORD. Yet, I have rarely complied.

Occasionally in a church service a song leader will encourage us to shout a phrase from a hymn or song. When Dick and I attended the Jesus festivals there were times when we shouted praise. It felt natural! I mean, how could I NOT shout with praise in the midst of so many believers joining as with one voice?

Oh, yes, there are many other avenues of offering praise to the LORD--music, dance, art, testimony, prayer, writing, etc. But, not wanting to be disobedient, I decided to try shouting to the LORD. Admittedly, it felt weird—and yet good, obedient, and freeing! After all, I have many reasons to shout praise to the LORD!
  • For a loving, caring, kind, unselfish husband who constantly keeps my well-being at the forefront of his thoughts, words, and actions
  • For only minor side effects from the potent drugs being pumped into my body at three week intervals
  • For the encouraging words penned on dozens of cards, notes, Facebook posts, and blog comments from friends and family
  • For the powerful, loving prayers of hundreds of people around the world
  • For family both near and far who have assured me over and over of their love, concern, prayers, and support
For these, and so many more blessings God has poured into my life, I can shout, “THANK YOU, FATHER!!! YOU ARE SO GOOD TO ME, LORD!!! YOU ARE AWESOME, GOD!!!”

What praises are you shouting to the LORD today?

Blessings!
Pam

©2015 Pamela D. Williams