Amy Boucher Pye

Tag: praise

  • Devotional of the week: Praises always (7 in 1 Peter 4 series)

    Sowing-circle-pic…so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power… 1 Peter 4:11

    I’ve had the privilege of knowing some Christians who are completely sold out for God. Truly in all things, God is praised in their lives. One is a businesswoman who conducts her dealings with transparency and integrity. She nearly ended her life about forty years ago when mired in the occult, so she has a deep passion to spread the good news of the gospel wherever she goes – whether in a taxi or when buying gifts for a friend. She who has known the chains of oppression desires that others would be free. Another chose the sometimes lonely path of Christian leadership when being a woman leader wasn’t accepted in all parts of the church. She committed herself – her salary, where she lived, how she served – to the mission she was called to.

    As we’ve seen in this passage, Peter knows we will suffer. But he knows that suffering will produce a harvest of righteousness as we trust in God. We are to serve the Lord as wholehearted people; those to whom we commit things big and small. Not only how we spend our time – our life projects – but how we treat, say, the person selling us a newspaper. In all things may we bring glory to God, through Christ Jesus. Know that he is with you each moment of each day.

    Prayer: Lord God, may I know that you lead me and are with me. I commit myself to your glory. Amen.

  • Devotional of the week: Psalm 18:46–50

    The Lord lives!

    The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Saviour! He is the God who avenges me, who subdues nations under me, who saves me from my enemies. You exalted me above my foes; from violent people you rescued me. Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name. He gives his king great victories; he shows unfailing love to his anointed, to David and to his descendants forever. (Psalm 18:46–50, NIV)

     

    "Christus" by Karlheinz Oswald, 1998 in Mainz Cathedral, Germany. I was unexpectedly moved by this sculpture when we visited in 2006.
    “Christus” by Karlheinz Oswald, 1998 in Mainz Cathedral, Germany. I was taken with this sculpture when we visited in 2006.

    As we come to the end of our journey through Psalm 18 (and thank you for joining me over the past Mondays), David sings forth praise to the God his Rock who has saved him. This psalm, like so many others, prefigures Christ our Lord, for he without sin can sing it like no other.

    Some Christians pray through this psalm as they remember Jesus’ trial before Pilate, his death and resurrection. They think about the cords of death entangling and confronting him (verses 4–5). They see God’s anger at the death of his beloved as he made the earth quake and shook the foundations of the earth (verses 7–15). They praise the Lord Jesus for his purity and lack of sin (verses 20–27). They lift their spirits in worship at the victory of Jesus over the gates of hell and death as he vanquished the enemy (verses 32–45). And they proclaim his kingdom as they join him in songs of praise to the living Lord who is their rock and savior (verses 46–50).

    As we conclude, let us join our voices in praise to the God who loves us. Let us thank him who created us, the Lord Jesus who died to save us, the Holy Spirit who fills us with his cleansing, purifying presence. He is our rock and foundation; he shields us from our enemies; he provides us a refuge of shade and protection. We know that though the rivers might wash over us, he reaches down from on high and takes hold of us, drawing us out of deep waters. He brings us to a spacious place where we can flourish and grow. Praise his holy and wonderful name!

     

    Prayer: You, Lord, are perfect, and you help us in all that we do. We will sing praises to your name, our rock and salvation. The Lord lives!