What More Could You Want Out of Life?

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! While I live I will praise the Lord; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. (Psalm 146:1–2)

Today’s big question: what more could you want out of life?

Some people live their lives to accumulate things. Others give all their efforts for the benefit of their family. Some people live for respect, fame, or even power. When they achieve these things, they often receive praise from their fellow man. Then as the years go by, if there is any sound of praise at all, it fades to a faint whisper. 

Psalm 146 helps us to put things into perspective. While we have life and breath, our praise should be directed to God. The reason for this is that everything in life for all time and every generation finds meaning, direction, and purpose only in Him. Only God is worthy of continuous praise.

The psalmist expresses that the first point in living to praise God is not living to praise man. “Do not put your trust in princes, nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help. His spirit departs, he returns to his earth; in that very day his plans perish” (Psalm 146:3–4).

When our eyes are looking in the right direction, we get some understanding of why living our life to the praise of God’s glory is so deeply satisfying. The remaining six verses of this Psalm remind us of some great truths for this deeply satisfying life of praise. 
Our hope is in the one who made all things and upholds them in truth. If we are oppressed, He is our justice. If we are hungry, He is our food. If we are captive, He is our freedom. If we are blind, He is our sight. If we are lowly, He is our inspiration and hope. If we are strangers in this world, He is our security. If we are orphans or widows, He is our relief, comfort, and strength. If we are walking in His righteous ways, it is because He loves us.

God will have victory over the wicked and will reign for all eternity. It is God who will be praised for all generations. Praise the Lord!

Read through the whole Psalm and see the wonder of who God is. No mere human could give us such hope, comfort, security, and strength. Only the God of the Bible can do this. What more could you want? This should result in utter praise. 

Today’s big idea: praise God for the sufficiency we have in Him.

What to pray: praise God that nothing is needed outside of Him.