We have entered a new year. 2011 has drawn to a close and 2012 is here! The prophets of gloom have already declared that this year is going to be much worse than last year. So what should we be focusing our attention on now? I sincerely believe that we should be acknowledging the “awesomeness of God” in every situation throughout 2012. But how do we do that? I have found two essential ways of acknowledging the awesomeness of God, and they are both found in Psalm 66. The first involves what do because of who we are (it is something we “give”), and the second involves what we do because of who He is (it is something we “receive”). The first thing we must do is “give praise.”
1. PRAISE: We are instruments of praise - God created us that way! For this reason, we must constantly acknowledge the “awesomeness of God” through our praises. Every time we praise our God we recognise the fact the He is truly awesome! Praise is the legitimate response to God's self-revelation. To praise God is to call attention to His awe-inspiring, magnificent and formidable “Greatness.” Words that are often used as synonyms, or in parallel with "praise”, and so help point to its meaning, are; "bless," "exalt," "extol," "glorify," "magnify," "thank," and "confess." Praise is validated in Psalm 66:1-4, “Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth! Sing out the honour of His name. Make His praise glorious. Say to God, ‘How awesome are Your works! Through the greatness of Your power, Your enemies shall submit themselves to You. All the earth shall worship You; and sing praises to You. They shall sing praises to Your name’.”
