Jump Up, Praise Louder

Most have at some stage had the wonderful experience of celebrating when our sports team is victorious. There is a sense of amazing joy. But how is that joy expressed? By sitting quietly in our chair with a faint smile on our lips or jumping up and shouting with arms raised above our heads? If we jump and shout the feeling of joy is so much greater. This is because we are in the joy-praise cycle. Joy causes us to want to celebrate and praise, and the praise increases our joy. It's this same cycle that the designer, God, calls us to enjoy. "Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright." (Psalms 33:1). God designed us to respond to joy with praise. And so the psalmist says, "Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise." (Psalms 98:4). If there are things in your life that bring you joy, how have you given praise to God? Think about how you praise during your sports team's victory. Even more so we should praise when the things God gives – home, relationships, health – bring us joy. "Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise." (James 5:13). (Craig B). Open Bible – bit.ly/Psa33v1, bit.ly/Psa98v4, bit.ly/Jam5v13