On this day after the celebration of Christmas, do you continue to praise God? Or have you collapsed from exhaustion? Did you experience a day or two of joy and revert to a less than joyous attitude? If so, why? If not, will you carry your joy into a new year and beyond?
Christmas day can be filled with a ton of joy. It can also be exhausting. Some will open gifts in their own home, then run from one place to another. We may eat too much. We may visit too much. We may become as tired of smiling as a newly wedded couple posing for pictures.
The day after we can desire nothing more than to sit in quietness. We may be glad it is all over, which is not to say we didn’t enjoy it. Yet, we are to continue to praise God and experience the joy that can only come from him. We may think that is impossible, but it isn’t. The angels continually praise God. The host of heaven continually praise God.
Let’s not misunderstand. Praising God does not mean we continually sing hymns, shout with joy, nor even continually smile. It does mean that we praise him in prayer for his blessings, we praise him for each day, we praise him for guiding us, we praise him for our family. Praising God and experiencing his joy is not about everything going our way but about following his lead and trusting in his plan.
Today, let’s praise God. Let’s join the angels in praising God for who he is. Let’s remember that God is creator of all things, including us. He made us who we are for a reason—his plan. He manipulates situations for our growth. God works in our lives in ways we do not know. So, praise God at all times, every day.
I pray we all choose to praise God every day. I pray we recognize the blessings God has bestowed on us. I pray each one of us experience the joy that only comes from following God. Praise God. Recognize God’s blessings. Experience the joy of God. Trust in God’s plan.
Psalm 148:1-2
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights!
Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his host!
Marty Pressey 