As I lay in bed not even opening my eyes yet, I kept hearing words whispered gently to me, Get up and praise the LORD! These are the first words I heard this morning.
We think we need an alarm clock to wake us in the morning, but I’ve learned God’s soft whisper can wake us too. His Holy Spirit speaks to our spirit. I know firsthand that His children hear His voice, and we recognize it. Daily, I hear the Holy Spirit speaking to my spirit.
Today, I heard His voice speaking to me. It literally woke me.
This morning’s wake-up call got me out of bed at 5:30 a.m.
Encounter
One week before Lent began, I stood in my church worshipping Jesus with a room full of brothers and sisters in Christ. God brought a new song to me called “Gratitude” by Brandon Lake. This song stirred my soul.
“So I throw up my hands
And praise You again and again
‘Cause all that I have is a hallelujah
Hallelujah
And I know it’s not much
But I’ve nothing else fit for a King
Except for a heart singing hallelujah
Hallelujah”
I felt like my arms couldn’t reach high enough to praise Jesus. When the words sung by hundreds bellowed throughout the worship center, I could feel the LORD’s presence.
That’s what Jesus deserves.
Get Up and Praise the LORD
In recent months, I confess, I’ve lessened my praise time each day, especially in the morning. I used to get up every morning and the first thing I’d do was praise Jesus. Oh, I still get up daily and give Jesus my first, but praise has not been the first thing I do.
First, I usually write in my journal to God and dump what my brain has collected over the previous 24 hours. Next, I read my Bible, devotion, and whatever else I’m reading for my spiritual development. Then, I praise Jesus at the end. I don’t know when I changed my first-of-the-morning routine like this. It probably morphed into this over time.
But at that church service, that new song ignited my praise for Him:
“So come on, my soul
Oh, don’t you get shy on me
Lift up your song
‘Cause you’ve got a lion inside of those lungs
Get up and praise the Lord”
Get up and praise the LORD echoes in my heart, soul, mind, and spirit. I can’t shake those words.
40 Days of Praise
I’ve wanted to know what Jesus wants me focusing on during Lent this year. Last week, as I was praying and seeking Him in my morning quiet time, Jesus started revealing to me what that focus should be.
I bet you’ve guessed already what He revealed.
Get up and praise the LORD!
Yep! This Lenten season, I will continue giving Jesus my first of each day as I’ve done for years, but now the first I give Him will be praise.
Get up and praise the LORD!
Will you join me this Lenten season 2023 and praise Jesus daily? I wonder what would happen if God’s people would get up and praise the LORD every morning. I imagine something miraculous.
Today’s Scripture
“I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.” Psalm 145:103 (NIV)
Love it! And it was a pleasure to sing that song next to you the other day.
Bob! It was a pleasure to sing next to you too at Encounter. And again yesterday at church. I love that we will get to do that for eternity. I love you! 🙂
Michelle, that is beautiful. And convicting. May we give Jesus the praise He deserves! Keep on keeping on, sister!
Hi Pearl! I agree. It’s been very convicting and also very moving. Jesus shows up when we praise Him. I may just be having some morning dance sessions with Jesus again this Lenten season.:)
Peace be with you, my friend!