The Extraordinary Power of Praise: A 5 Day Devotional From the PsalmsSample

Praising God Cultivates Contentment

It’s so easy in our current culture to moan and groan over what we lack. We compare our situation to our friends and feel as though they have life way better than we do. In our discontentment we begin to grumble and complain. David wrote that because the LORD was his shepherd he lacked nothing (Psalm 23:1). In another Psalm, he wrote, that the LORD alone was his portion and cup (Psalm 16:5).

What brought David to this place of deep abiding contentment? I believe it was his continual, on-going choice to praise God. When we compare and complain, we uproot our contentment. However, the opposite is also true. The more we praise and worship God, the more we become enamored with Him. The more we give Him thanks, the more thankful we become. The more we express our love to Him, the more we fall in love with Him. Gradually there is the realization that He – the all sufficient God – is enough. In fact, He’s more than enough! Then we are able to echo the words of David and with authenticity we are able to proclaim, “I lack nothing!”

Why don’t you try praising Him for fifteen minutes every day for the next five days. You can list character traits of His that you are thankful for. Or, you can use worship music to prompt your praise. How you do it doesn’t really matter. Try praising See what happens in your soul.

Selah – Pause and Reflect: Are you a person who is naturally prone towards comparing and complaining? What would it look like for you to be so satisfied with Jesus that you can say from a place of authenticity, “I lack nothing?”

Prayer of Praise: Holy One, I praise You that You are the all sufficient, all sustaining God. You lack nothing and you promise me that You will provide all I need. I worship You for being my portion and my provision. In You, I find peaceful contentment that passes all understanding because I realize that You are a generous and loving God. All that I need, I find in You. Thank You that I can relax and feel secure in You because You have everything under control. I praise and worship You as my holy, all sufficient God.

Psalm 16:5, “LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure.”