How can we "praise You with an upright heart" in our daily lives? Psalm 119:7—Our Launch Point “I will praise You with an upright heart when I learn Your righteous judgments.” What an Upright Heart Looks Like • “He who has clean hands and a pure heart” (Psalm 24:4) • Undivided loyalty—“No one can serve two masters” (Matthew 6:24) • Integrity that shows in speech: “Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45) Learning His Righteous Judgments • Daily Scripture intake—“All Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training” (2 Titus 3:16) • Meditate often—“His delight is in the Law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:2) • Obey promptly—“Be doers of the word, and not hearers only” (James 1:22) Daily Rhythms of Upright Praise Morning – Thank Him aloud for fresh mercies: “His compassions never fail; they are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:22-23) – Read a passage and turn its truth into praise. Work or School – Keep a running conversation with Him; whatever the task, “work at it with your whole being, for the Lord” (Colossians 3:23) – Redirect credit upward: “Not to us, O LORD… but to Your name be the glory” (Psalm 115:1) Relationships – Let grace season words; forgiveness keeps praise unclogged (Ephesians 4:32) – Encourage others; praise multiplies in community (Hebrews 10:24-25) Evening – Review the day; confess quickly: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins” (1 John 1:9) – Close with worship: “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise” (Hebrews 13:15) Guarding the Heart That Praises • Filter input—“Whatever is true… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8) • Reject hidden sin—“If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened” (Psalm 66:18) • Stay in fellowship; corporate worship fuels private devotion (Hebrews 10:25) Overflow and Fruit • Strength: “The joy of the LORD is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10) • Witness: consistent praise draws others to Him (1 Peter 2:12) • God’s glory: “Whatever you do… do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17) Closing Encouragement “He who sacrifices a thank offering honors Me, and to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God.” (Psalm 50:23) |
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