Praise: God's Deeds

Intro:
Actions speak louder than words. You can say someone is important to you but if you keep missing meetings, never return calls or don't spend time with that person they may wonder.

Actions speak louder than words with God too ... and that is a two way street! His actions and our actions are saying something about what is important.

Thankfully, our salvation is secured by His actions ALONE and not by anything we have done. God has done awesome things for us. His actions prove His love!

After all, actions do speak louder than words.

Read: Psalm 66
1 Shout with joy to God, all the earth!

2 Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious!

3 Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you.

4 All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing praise to your name."

Selah

5 Come and see what God has done, how awesome his works in man's behalf!

6 He turned the sea into dry land, they passed through the waters on foot — come, let us rejoice in him.

7 He rules forever by his power, his eyes watch the nations — let not the rebellious rise up against him.

Selah

8 Praise our God, O peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard;

9 he has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping.

10 For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver.

11 You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs.

12 You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance.

13 I will come to your temple with burnt offerings and fulfill my vows to you - 14 vows my lips promised and my mouth spoke when I was in trouble.

15 I will sacrifice fat animals to you and an offering of rams; I will offer bulls and goats.

Selah

16 Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me.

17 I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue.

18 If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;

19 but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer.

20 Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!

Think:
Psalm 66 is a song about the deeds of the Lord (see verses in orange). The Psalmist shouts (v.1), sings (v.2), speaks (v.3), sacrifices (v.15) & cries (v.17) in praise to the Lord for His work in their lives.

Let's note a few things:

1. Praise God for the good and the bad. They saw the good (v.1-9) and the not so good (v.10-12) and praised God for both. The Psalmist's recognition of God's work was not limited to only what made him happy. Some of the tough things came from the Lord as well.

2. Praise God for protection and provision. He protects their lives from enemies and from harm (v.9). He provides abundance (v.12), presence (v.18-19) and love (v.20).

3. Praise God privately and with others. Praise is to be shared. Many of the verses call for others to join in the praise of the Lord. Praise is individual but it is also group oriented. We should call others to share and speak out what God is doing in their lives.

Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds!

Do:
We serve an incredible God that lives in the big picture movements of our lives but also the details. He knows how to clothe and feed us. He knows how to love us passionately. He knows how to test us to know what is in our hearts. Can you find something to praise Him for today? Can you make His praise glorious?

Are you willing to praise Him for your difficulty and pain?

Where has God provided for you and yours? Where has He protected you?

Can you share your praises with others? Share it with believers and let them rejoice with you but also share it with your neighbors tell them what he has done for you!

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