Today Our Daily Bread Psalm 147 & 2 Cor 2:14

Scripture selections are taken from the Rock Church Daily Bread Reading schedule for each month. “Lena’s Journalin’” are Lena’s comments on the specific passages from her daily journal.

Psalm 147
Praise to God for His Word and Providence
1 Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; For it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful. 2 The LORD builds up Jerusalem; He gathers together the outcasts of Israel. 3 He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds. 4 He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name. 5 Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite. 6 The LORD lifts up the humble; He casts the wicked down to the ground. 7 Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; Sing praises on the harp to our God, 8 Who covers the heavens with clouds, Who prepares rain for the earth, Who makes grass to grow on the mountains. 9 He gives to the beast its food, And to the young ravens that cry. 10 He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man. 11 The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, In those who hope in His mercy. 12 Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion! 13 For He has strengthened the bars of your gates; He has blessed your children within you. 14 He makes peace in your borders, And fills you with the finest wheat. 15 He sends out His command to the earth; His word runs very swiftly. 16 He gives snow like wool; He scatters the frost like ashes; 17 He casts out His hail like morsels; Who can stand before His cold? 18 He sends out His word and melts them; He causes His wind to blow, and the waters flow. 19 He declares His word to Jacob, His statutes and His judgments to Israel. 20 He has not dealt thus with any nation; And as for His judgments, they have not known them. Praise the LORD!

~Lena’s Journalin’~
There is actually strength found in praise. In coming outside of one’s self, recognizing one outside of one’s self and giving glory to another. Acknowledging that there is only so much I can do alone. Knowing that I can rely on the One who has the power to create and alter the world.
We all struggle with pride each and everyday. One big symptom of pride’s call is independence. An independent spirit is a prideful spirit. An independent spirit wants only to be acknowledged in its own strength and ability to accomplish. That spirit calls us each day to join its “choir”.
The manner of resisting this spirit is to acknowledge others, another, namely the Supreme One- The Lord, Jehovah and His Son, Jesus Christ.
See how the Psalmist goes all out and continues to turn up the volume on exaltation with explanation of praise? He thinks of every reason to exalt God Most High! Then He not only thinks of the reasons, he says the reasons aloud, then he sings the reasons and shouts and dances etc. This display is actually a show against the enemy of Pride that tries so hard to silence the exaltation of the One who is due all praise, honor, glory, thanksgiving, etc.
God’s and our enemies are due an open display.
If pride is allotted its “due”, God’s enemy has triumphed over whomever gives him place.
We are the ones who give him place or who displace him. Who allow him to rule us or disallow him. When a worshiper goes overboard in their display of the praises of God, I believe they have a revelation of Him and of their and God’s enemies. Maybe they are interceding for us who refuse to join the triumphant “march”. They go “overboard” because some of us refuse to go at all.
Why would we worship when we don’t feel like it? Because it has not a lot to do with feelings, it has to do with warfare of our minds and of the spiritual battle for who will we give our attention and affection to. If we sit silently and do not outwardly praise, then we may have won an inward battle, but not one of our enemies knows it, and God is not glorified by the open display and expression of our willingness to give Him praise.
That’s like saying that your suitor knows of your great love for them, but you only think it inside and would never voice it or show it by an expressive action! Not only do they not know of your love, but everyone who desires their attention and is willing to flirt with or romance them will not know they are even loved or SPOKEN for!
I’d like to challenge you to do something unnatural to you, to bring out purposeful expression, both in private and in a corporate church setting. If you’ve never lifted your hands in surrender to God and don’t feel like it, do it anyway. If you’ve not joined in a shout to God in triumph over enemies, start in your car when you are driving alone. Tell God aloud, how great He is to you and shout it out!
If in church, you stand through the worship service as an observer with your hands to your side in a denominational respectful silent pose, begin to sing aloud in participation, open your eyes up and look to heaven, move your physical body in a swaying dance, lift up your hands to the Supreme One, the Most High God, shout with the congregation, free yourself to conquer over the enemies. Don’t give in to the voice that says, “But that’s NOT me” – EXACTLY. It isn’t you, it’s Christ in you triumphing victoriously over your enemies, intimidation has to flee, prideful self serving spirits have to flee, independent spirits are silent before the King. Jesus is lifted high, rather than me!
If we think standing quietly and still when others are being called into corporate praise is being honorable and somehow shows respect, we are deceived. We’ve become prey to our enemies, they can see us sticking out like a sore thumb, and so they come to solidify the independent thoughts against praise in us. It is time to breakout! It is time to magnify God, it is past time really.
“How much longer, Lord will my enemies triumph over me?”
The Lord says, “I’m not sure, you tell me.” (Why would He not be sure? He “doesn’t know” when or if we’ll choose to kick them out!)

(daily repetitive verse)
2 Corinthians 2:14
Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.