The Cycle of Thanksgiving

1 Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous.
  Praise befits the upright.
2 Praise the LORD with the lyre;
  make melody to him with the harp of ten strings.
3 Sing to him a new song;
  play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.
4 For the word of the LORD is upright,
  and all his work is done in faithfulness.
5 He loves righteousness and justice;
  the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.
6 By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,
  and all their host by the breath of his mouth.
7 He gathered the waters of the sea as in a bottle;
  he put the deeps in storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the LORD;
  let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
9 For he spoke, and it came to be;
  he commanded, and it stood firm.
10 The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
   he frustrates the plans of the peoples.
11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
   the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
12 Happy is the nation whose God is the LORD,
   the people whom he has chosen as his heritage.
13 The LORD looks down from heaven;
   he sees all humankind.
14 From where he sits enthroned he watches
   all the inhabitants of the earth—
15 he who fashions the hearts of them all,
   and observes all their deeds.
16 A king is not saved by his great army;
   a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.
17 The war horse is a vain hope for victory,
   and by its great might it cannot save.
18 Truly the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him,
   on those who hope in his steadfast love,
19 to deliver their soul from death,
   and to keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul waits for the LORD;
   he is our help and shield.
21 Our heart is glad in him,
   because we trust in his holy name.
22 Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us,
   even as we hope in you.

1.  True Praise  

• Rejoices and remembers (God’s Word / God’s Character)
• It becomes a natural response
• It requires fear, awe, and reverence
• It is a starting place for understanding
• It is imperative / indicative
• We experience True Praise through joy/sorrow, comfort/hardship, safety/danger

    
2.  True Praise - Gives Us a Greater Understanding and Awareness

• Through maturity and understanding it is a natural flow
• It teaches us lessons in creation
• It relies on God’s counsel vs. the counsel of our humanity
• It reveals the heart of God towards the heart of humanity

3.    True Praise – Gives Us the Opportunity to Experience the Depth of God’s Spirit

• We experience the permanence of His Spirit at work in our lives
• The Continued growth and depth of understanding of God’s heart, His Counsel and His Power in our lives

4.    True Praise – Is the Realization that God’s Love Is Sufficient and Steadfast

• His Love continually draws us to and open’s our lives to the process of being in relationship with God
• His Love helps us to fully embrace the joy of Living a “With-God” Life
• We learn to live fully alive in His steadfast love

5.    True Praise – Helps us to grow in greater Trust and Hope for the present and future

• Growth is a continuum – we never stop growing
• Practicing and participating are key to increasing in our capacity to give praise and trust in God
• Resting and waiting our part of the maturing process in believing in God’s hope for our lives