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Praise (part 1)

My mouth is filled with praise, declaring your splendor all day long. (Psalm 71:8 NIV)

It is the custom of all churches to sing hymns of praise at worship services. It is not the habit of Christians to sing praise all day long.

I remember clearly the text that was preached the Saturday night in October 1947 when I received Christ. It was Psalm 40:2:

He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. (NIV)

The result of my cry to God that night is expressed by verse three of Psalm 40:

He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. (NIV)

Truly he put a new song into my mouth. Because of his new song, many have put their trust in the Lord.

Please make a habit of singing hymns daily if you have a new song in your mouth. Here are two hymns of praise:

All Hail the Power

All hail the pow’r of Jesus’ name!
Let angels prostrate fall,
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord of all,
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord of all.

Ye chosen seed of Israel’s race,
Ye ransomed from the fall,
Hail Him who saves you by His grace,
And crown Him Lord of all,
Hail Him who saves you by His grace,
And crown Him Lord of all.

Let ev’ry kindred, ev’ry tribe,
On this terrestrial ball,
To Him all majesty ascribe,
And crown Him Lord of all,
To Him all majesty ascribe,
And crown Him Lord of all.

O that with yonder sacred throng
We at His feet may fall!
We’ll join the everlasting song,
And crown Him Lord of all,
We’ll join the everlasting song,
And crown Him Lord of all.


I Will Praise Him

When I saw the cleansing fountain,
Open wide for all my sin,
I obeyed the Spirit’s wooing
When He said, “Wilt thou be clean?”

Tho the way seems straight and narrow,
All I claimed was swept away;
My ambitions, plans and wishes
At my feet in ashes lay.

Then God’s fire upon the altar
Of my heart was set aflame;
I shall never cease to praise Him,
Glory, glory to His name!

Blessed be the name of Jesus!
I’m so glad he took me in;
He’s forgiven my transgressions,
He has cleansed my heart from sin.

Glory, glory to the Father!
Glory, glory to the Son!
Glory, glory to the Spirit!
Glory to the Three in One!

(Chorus)
I will praise Him! I will praise Him!
Praise the Lamb for sinners slain;
Give Him glory, all ye people,
For His blood can wash away each stain.

I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly. (Psalm 40:10 NIV)

(An excerpt from On Being a Christian by Jim Wilson)

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