SCRIPTURE TEXT: “I will praise the Lord all my life, I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.” -Psalms 146 : 2
Praise Him. Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer! Sing, O Earth, His wonderful love proclaim! Hail Him, hail Him! highest archangels in glory; Strength and honor give to His holy Name! Like a Shepherd, Jesus will guard His children, In His arms He carries them all day long:
Chorus: Praise Him. Praise Him! Tell of His excellent greatness. Praise Him. Praise Him! Ever in joyful song!
Praise Him. Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer! For our sins He suffered, and bled, and died. He our Rock, our hope of eternal salvation, Hail Him, hail Him! Jesus the Crucified. Sound His praises! Jesus who bore our sorrows, Love unbounded, wonderful, deep and strong.
Praise Him. Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer! Heavenly portals loud with hosannas ring! Jesus, Savior, reigneth forever and ever. Crown Him! Crown Him! Prophet, and Priest, and King! Christ is coming! over the world victorious, Power and glory unto the Lord belong.
This is another of the many favorite gospel hymns written by Fanny Crosby, blind American poetess. In all, she wrote between 8,000 and 9,000 gospel hymn texts and supplied our hymnals with more beloved hymns that are still sung today than any other writer. “Praise Him! Praise Him!” first appeared in a Sunday school hymnal, Bright Jewels, which was published in 1869. The song was originally titled “Praise, Give Thanks.” And still today, these words evoke praise from each believing heart.
How I wish men in perplexities could look up and say Jesus has made all things well. But more often than not, our lifetime mercies are forgotten in the agony of one trial. Fanny was a wonderful personality; she rose from all odds to make history as a poetess and a prolific writer. As a blind woman, she could have resigned to her fate as an unfortunate being. She could have thrown her hands in absolute despair. She could have stood on the road side and begged for arms. She could have complained and blame the Doctor who gave her a wrong medication that resulted in her blindness. But that was not what she did. She studied and produced over 8,000 hymns and other articles. She was a woman of praise.
We should remember to praise God all the time, for true praises are the weapon of overcomers. Praises stir the heart of God. Remember, angels prostrate before Him and with their faces covered, praise His majesty and heaven echoes with Amen. Let me give you this assignment: sign hymns anytime you are down and sad, sing hymns anytime you feel failed and helpless. Share your testimonies with other believers.
Prayer point: Let us pray to God to give us a grateful heart to praise Him irrespective of our circumstances. Again, He should help us to stop blaming people for what we ought to do for ourselves.
STAY BLESSED
SOURCE: INSPIRING STORIES BEHIND OUR BEST-LOVED HYMNS
