Beauty from praise and joy

“I will bless the LORD at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” (Psalm 34:1 NASB)

Wa-wa-wait a minute! Back up a second!
What did that say?

Praise Continually?

You mean I’m not supposed to yell at my kids when they make me mad?

Praise. Continually.

You mean I can’t insult that driver that just cut me off, even though he can’t hear me?

Praise. Continually.

You mean I can’t criticize a sister or gossip or let out a huge growly sigh while I roll my eyes impatiently?

Praise. Continually.

Okay, that’s just impossible. Isn’t it?

Praise. Continually.

In Psalm 33:1 (NASB) we read:

Sing for joy in the LORD, O you righteous ones;

Praise is becoming to the upright.”

I’d like to suggest that God does not command us to do the impossible without making a way for it to be possible.

If you look at Psalm 33 you will see:

“Give thanks TO the LORD…sing praises TO Him,”(verse 2) and

“Sing TO Him a new song,” (verse 3 – emphasis mine).

And there are many other such admonitions in the Psalms.

But verse one of Psalm 33 holds the key.

“Sing for joy IN the LORD, O you righteous ones.”

First we have to be IN Christ. Then we have to be walking close to Him, keeping short accounts with Him, bringing every thought into subjection to His authority.

When we are truly abiding IN Him, and not trying to go our own way and follow our selfish desires, His joy will well up in us like a fountain. (Check out Jesus’ teaching in John 15.)

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“These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.” John 15:11 NASB (emphasis mine)

When I abide in Him,

HE GIVES ME HIS JOY TILL I AM FULL TO OVERFLOWING!‼ ☺ (also see Nehemiah 8:10 – It is the joy of the LORD that is our strength, NOT the joy of ourselves!!)

Then, the second part of Psalm 33:1 says,

“Praise is becoming to the upright.”

Becoming can also be translated suitable or beautiful.

So, let’s pick this apart.

• If praise is becoming to the upright, then would it not also be true that the opposite of praise is unbecoming to the upright?
• If praise is suitable for the upright, would the opposite of praise be unsuitable for the upright?
• And if praise looks beautiful on the face and demeanor of the upright, would it not also follow that the opposite of praise looks ugly on us?

Okay, now. I don’t know of anybody that wants to do anything to make themselves ugly (except maybe an actor in a play on a temporary basis). I know I need all the help I can get in the beauty department. So this is a huge beauty tip for me!

So, that’s it, ladies (and guys)!

The best beauty product cannot be bought.

It is an attitude of the heart that shows up on the face.

It costs nothing and yet everything,

that is, it costs the laying down of self,

the surrender of pride to the Lord.

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Anybody up for some abiding in Him?

Joy and praise look beautiful on you!!

(This is a reblog from my earlier blogging days with a few minor changes.)  https://plantedbylivingwater.wordpress.com/2016/03/28/praise-is-beautiful-on-you/

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