Praise the Lord, all his works everywhere in his dominion. (Ps. 103:22)
Expanded Passage: Psalm 103:6-22
I am an old soul when it comes to church music. I love the newer songs and enjoy hearing them, but I dearly love a good anthem from years gone by. My husband and I moved a couple of years ago and started attending a new church. One of the services still makes use of a choir, and we chose that service because choral music pushes the start button on praise for me.
We sit perched up high in the sanctuary, and when the choir stands to sing, I lean forward and tune out every other sound. By the end of the song, I usually have chills and tears, and my heart is leaping with praise.
I wasn’t blessed with musical talent, so I lean on the talent of others. But I do love to praise in song, even if it’s just the song of my heart. God created us, so he knows we didn’t all receive musical gifts; but because he created us, he also knows we all do have reasons to praise.
Psalm 103 reminds us of God’s compassion, love, grace, and forgiveness. All are reasons to pause in praise to the One who so richly deserves it. What would happen if we paused all requests for just a moment and simply prayed words of praise? What a worshipful way to welcome a new week!
Right now, pause to focus on praise to start this week!
Bekah Shaffer lives in Kokomo, Indiana, and enjoys endless coffee, scrapbooking, speaking, and planning adventures with her husband, Ryan.
© 2025 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
