Psalm 8:1-2

Psalm 8:1-2 O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! Who hast set thy glory above the heavens. (2) Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger. (KJV)

(NIV)O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. (2) From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.

Last month many people celebrated Halloween and used the opportunity to dress up and take their children door to door to collect candy treats. However, for some people, it was a very dark time in which Satan delighted. This month we celebrate Thanksgiving. You may wonder – how are these two holidays in any way related? I would like to propose that thankfulness and praising Jesus can take away that awful darkness that Satan would love to have you remain in.

Many years ago, I went to IMPACT at The University of Findlay (although it was not called IMPACT at that time) and heard a speaker by the name of Frances Gardner Hunter. She was famous for praising the Lord in any and all situations – even embarrassing and hurting situations. She stated that one time while she was speaking the platform collapsed, and she lost her wig. She was embarrassed and her pride was a little hurt, but she said she simply stood back up and said, “Well, praise the Lord, anyway!”

Also, about twenty years ago, I had a very frightening experience. My son, Paul and I had just gotten in our van and started up the street. I heard a popping sound and next thing I knew, the van was on fire. I immediately shut off the engine and got my son out of the van. We were helpless to do anything and all I could think to do was pray the name of Jesus. I just said, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!” over and over again. But you know, the name of Jesus was enough. Help came and we were safe. Yes, we had to get another van, but God provided for my son and me and we were safe because of the name of Jesus.

My grandchildren have also reminded me to praise and honor the name of Jesus. Near the end of October we were sitting at the table having dinner and Darren, who is 6 years old, all of a sudden breaks into singing “Jesus, Lamb of God, Worthy is your name…” My son, Paul, commented, “This is just like ‘Little House on the Prairie.’” Praise the Lord for happy times like these! Just two weeks ago, we were taking a hike in the woods and right out of the blue, Alexa, my four-year old granddaughter, starts singing the same praise song, “Jesus, Lamb of God, Worthy is your name…” How appropriate with seeing all of the beauty that God had created in nature.

You can best believe when all that praise is going up, Satan is no where to be found. As it says in our verses for this week, “…you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.” Satan detests the name of our Lord. He knows that at the name of Jesus, he is defeated forever. So, if you feel that you are in darkness or that Satan is working on you, kick him right out of your life with praise, thankfulness and especially the name of Jesus! Start offering your praises right now

Psalm 19:14

Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, oh Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer. (KJV)

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. (NIV)

The other day I was just outside the church in the parking lot and someone was saying something that must have been of questionable concern, because I then heard someone else say very clearly, “You shouldn’t say something like that when you are at church.” I wondered why someone would even bother to think like that when our God knows everything we say, do, or even think.

Imagine for a moment being Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden just after they had eaten of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. It says in Genesis 3 that after they had eaten that they were ashamed and made clothes for themselves. They then tried to hide from God! Imagine trying to hide from Almighty God – their Creator! It is almost comical to think of Adam and Eve trying to hide from God.

Our verse for this week is a favorite of mine. In fact I use it as a closing prayer for my Sunday School class each week . I think the message it tells us is to remember that God is ever present with us and our thoughts and words should strive to please him. After all he sees and knows everything we do, say or think. God is our strength, and he is our Redeemer. He gets us through the tough times if we allow Him to intervene in our lives. Our words should honor him; our thoughts should be pure, and everything we do should glorify him. That’s why this verse makes a good prayer of commitment.

Don’t kid yourself! God, the Creator and Sustainer of the entire universe, knows all about you and yet still loves you. Honor and glorify Him in all you think, say or do.