The Psalms have brought tremendous comfort and guidance to so many for so long. Join me in taking a fresh look at each Psalm. As you read through them, I urge you to reflect, pray, and apply these devotional bits of encouragement to your own life. Today, we study and reflect on Psalms 148, 149, and 150.

Reflection 1
Psalms like 148 stop me in my tracks and cause me to ask myself how well I am living my life to praise the Lord. Read this whole Psalm. Bask in the awareness of His creative power. He is mighty, holy, all-powerful, loving, compassionate, and He is the Creator of the universe, creating by merely speaking all of creation into existence. That’s the God we serve. How well do I live my life to praise and honor Him? This question is not meant to invoke guilt, but to inspire authentic praise and honor. Praise and worship is a 24/7 thing, not just what we do at church on Sunday morning. It is a lifestyle and life commitment. Today, praise Him by living more like Christ. May your words, attitudes, actions, thoughts, relationships, generosity, godliness, compassion, and empathy all bring glory to Christ. None of us are perfect, but may we all make living for and honoring the Lord our chief aim in all aspects of our lives. We need to grow and become more like Christ intentionally and authentically day by day. Start with today.
“Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.” — Psalms 148:13

Reflection 2
Living a virtuous life brings glory to God. Virtuous living should be our high aim. Of all virtues, humility is central. The Bible talks about humility often. God rewards it. Godly people display it. Jesus personified it. Followers of Christ are to display it vividly. Someone once said that humility is not to think less of yourself, but to think of yourself less. That’s a good place to start. From there, we need to faithfully study and carefully live out the Christlike life. Philippians 2 says that Jesus, who had all the riches and power or Heaven, humbled Himself and became like man, eventually gaving His life for all. Our arrogance and hubris is repugnant to God. Humility honors God. Pride seeks to promote self above all. Humility honors God and serves others. The world could use more examples of great humility. Every marriage, family, and relationship needs great humility. Let’s be those examples!
“Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the people of Zion be glad in their King. Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with timbrel and harp. For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory. Let his faithful people rejoice in this honor and sing for joy on their beds.” — Psalms 149:2-5

Reflection 3
Psalm 150 has one message. It is important to praise the Lord. Here’s an acrostic to help us all do this a bit more intentionally today and each day.
PRAISE—Ponder His mighty acts. Remember His faithfulness. Appreciate His loving kindness. Inspect your heart and confess where needed. Surrender to His Will, again. Engage in greater obedience.
“Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.” — Psalms 150:1-6