God is the Almighty Judge who brings one person down while exalting another with purposes and timing that only He understands. His creatures may respond to His mysterious ways with bitterness, indifference, or praise. Given these alternatives, I choose praise.

Recently, feeling a weight about Nanci’s fight with cancer, I also felt a great need to sense God’s presence and joy. The Lord led me to Psalm 100. When I read verse 2, which says “come before Him with joyful songs,” I realized I rarely sing to Him in my quiet time.

I love the transcendence of great music. God, the Creator of Music, gifts His image bearers to praise Him, some knowing Him, some not.

Question from a reader: Does recorded voice and music praise God? If I were to record my own voice reading God's word and play it back in a person-less room, would that still praise God?

There are so many things for Nanci and me to be thankful for this year. We’ve talked about how grateful we are for our family—we have two daughters who are married to godly men, as well as four grandchildren already born and the fifth one on his way. 

Throughout Scripture we read that animals praise God. Psalm 148 commands all of creation to praise the Lord, including the animals.

Throughout Scripture we read that animals praise God. I don't know exactly how animals praise God, but our inability to understand it shouldn't keep us from believing it.

I call to mind that I am not self-existent; only the triune God is. Only God is absolute, but I am contingent. I remind myself that I am utterly dependent on God for my origin and for my present and future existence. I call this to mind and ponder its truth.