For you are a people holy unto the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be as a people for His prized possession, above all peoples on the face of the earth. Deuteronomy 7:6

“Praise the Lord, all you who fear him! Honor him, all you descendants of Jacob! Show him reverence, all you descendants of Israel! For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!”

“Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. For You are great and perform wonders; You alone are God.”

We are reminded in Psalm 146, to continually praise the Lord, to put not our trust in rulers, not in any child of earth, for there is no help in them; for when they breathe their last, they return to earth and in that day their thoughts perish; but, happy are they who have the God of Jacob for their help; whose hope is in the Lord their God, who made the heaven and earth, the seas and all that is in them, who keeps his promise for ever. He gives justice to those who are oppressed and food to those who hunger. The Lord sets the prisoners free, the Lord opens the eyes of the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous and cares for the stranger, he sustains the orphan and the widow, but frustrates the way of the wicked. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

My brothers and sisters in Christ, how good and pleasant it is to sing praises to our God; to give him thanks in the morning, and to lift him up in praise at night. “Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. He covers the heavens with clouds; he prepares rain for the earth; he makes grass grow on the hills. He gives to the beast its food, and to the young ravens which cry. He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He does not take pleasure in the legs of a man. The Lord favors those who fear Him, those who wait for His loving-kindness. Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; sing praises to our God!”

“Anywhere with Jesus I am not alone, other friends may fail me, He is still my own. Though His hand may lead me over dreary way, anywhere with Jesus is a house of praise. Anywhere with Jesus I can go to sleep, when the darkening shadows round about me creep, knowing I shall waken never more to roam, anywhere with Jesus will be home, sweet home.”

My guilt is great, but greater, the mercy Thou dost give; Thyself, a spotless Offering, hast died that I should live. With Thee, my soul unfettered, has risen from the dust; Thy blood is all my treasure, Thy word is all my trust. Through me, Thou gentle Master, Thy purposes fulfill; I yield myself forever, to Thy most holy will. What though I be but weakness? My strength is not in me; the poorest of Thy people has all things, having Thee. When clouds are darkest round me, Thou, Lord, art then most near, my drooping faith to quicken, my weary soul to cheer. Safe nestling in Thy bosom, I gaze upon Thy face; in vain my foes would drive me, from Thee, my hiding-place. For Thou hast made me happy, for Thou hast set me free; to whom shall I give glory, forever, but to Thee? Of earthly love and blessing, should every stream run dry, Thy grace shall still be with me, Thy grace, to live and die.” Thank you, Lord!

When we walk with the Lord, “Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies, but His smile quickly drives it away; not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear, can abide while we trust and obey. Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share, but our toil He doth richly repay; not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross, but is blessed if we trust and obey. But we never can prove, the delights of His love, until all on the altar we lay; for the favor He shows, and the joy He bestows, are for them who will trust and obey. Then in fellowship sweet, we will sit at His feet, or we’ll walk by His side in the way; what He says we will do; where He sends, we will go, never fear, only trust and obey.”

My brothers and sisters in Christ, no matter what we go through, let us trust God to lead us. “Sometimes ’mid scenes of deepest gloom, sometimes where Eden’s bowers bloom, by waters still, o’er troubled sea, still ’tis His hand that leadeth me. Lord, I would clasp Thy hand in mine, nor ever murmur or repine; content, whatever lot I see, since it is Thou that leadest me. And when my task on earth is done, when, by Thy grace, the victory’s won, even from death’s cold wave I will not flee, since Thou in triumph leadest me.”

Lord, “We are Thine, Thou who always befriend us, be the Guardian of our way; keep Thy flock, from sin defend us, seek us when we go astray. Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Hear, O hear us when we pray. Thou hast promised to receive us, poor and sinful though we be; Thou hast mercy to relieve us, grace to cleanse and power to free. Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! We will early turn to Thee. Early let us seek Thy favor, early let us do Thy will; Blessed Lord and only Savior, with Thy love our bosoms fill. Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Thou hast loved us, love us still. Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus! Thou hast loved us, love us still.” Thank You, Lord!