A Day-by-day devotional

March 18, 2023

Praise

Chronological One Year Bible Reading Plan: Deuteronomy 28-30

Scripture of the Day: Psalm 103: 1-2

Some people are expressive while others are not. Our expressivity may either advance or hamper our relationships. But not with God.

Since God knows our thoughts even before we actually get to think them (1 Chronicles 28:9), we need not verbalize our thoughts before the Lord before He can know them. Sometimes, words may fail us and it becomes hard for us to express what we are thinking or feeling.

Communication is key in every relationship. It is the same with God. It differs though in the sense that with a friend or family member, you need to speak out what’s going on in your mind so you could be understood. However, with God, all it takes is that you go to Him – you can laugh or cry or just sit right there with all of you focused on Him. You need not say a word. He understands your tears, your smile. He understands you in silence.

All that it takes and entails is you opening up your heart to Him.

Some people would categorically put praising God as verbal outbursts of the mind and heart. It can be in the form of singing or prayer. In reality though, that is not all there is to it. You can praise God even in the silence of your heart.

It has been reported many times how Christians living in countries where the practice of the faith is banned sing praises to the Lord without any voice being heard. Since they practice their faith underground, they could not make any noise. Nevertheless, they still meet up together. They pray together and worship God together in the same manner that we who live in free countries do. They do not need to utilize their voice to praise God. They praise God with their mind, their soul, their heart. All without a voice. All in silence.

Praise, after all, is a matter of the heart (John 4:24).

Reflection: Whenever you do not know what to say to God, go to Him in silence. With your tears or smiles, make a heartfelt surrender and pour out your heart to Him. Yes, even without words, He would always understand!

Prayer: Lord, when words fail to form from my lips, let me praise you with my heart. Thank you that you understand me just the same, even when I do not know what to say. Amen.