Hope in the Grace of God

We must be a people of praise.

Praise is commanded by God.

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:1 Peter 2:9

And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.Revelation 19:5

Praise is an all-encompassing response to the grace and goodness of God.

I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.Psalm 86:12

Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.Psalm 111:1

We must speak of God’s goodness.

We express gratitude toward God.

Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.Psalm 150:2

We speak of God’s goodness to others.

Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.Psalm 9:11

A Psalm of David, when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed. I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.Psalm 34:1-3

We worship God for Who He is. We praise God for what He has done.

Praise is the response of awe for God, while reflecting on what the Lord has done for the people of God throughout the history of redemption, for creation at large, for the community, and for oneself.

I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.Psalm 138:2

God showers mankind with His love and pours out His grace on us individually.

Grace: unmerited, undeserved divine favor, arising in the mind of God and bestowed on His people.

Common grace: The love and favor God shows toward all his creation, regardless of whether they acknowledge him or have faith in Christ.

God is not gracious because we are good, but because He is good.

But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.1 Peter 5:10

Salvific grace: The act of God extending the gift of salvation to any who would receive based on His own grace, not upon our own merit.

God’s grace, love and mercy are on full display on the cross of Jesus.

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.Romans 5:8

God’s grace meets our spiritual needs.

God removes our sin and its consequences.

A Psalm of David, Maschil. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.Psalm 32:1

“Despite the fact that we continually damage our relationship with God, He stands ready to forgive, redeem, sustain and fully restore our relationship.”

We can rest in God’s righteousness in every situation.

He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor.Psalm 72:4

God’s grace meets our emotional needs.

God rescues us from destruction and crowns us with lovingkindness and tender mercies.

The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.Psalm 34:22

God satisfies the deepest cravings of our soul.

Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:Psalm 63:4-5

Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.Psalm 145:16

God’s grace meets our physical needs.

God has the power to restore our physical health.

Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:James 5:14

See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand.Deuteronomy 32:39

God gives us a new opportunity for a life that is useful to Him.

He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.Isaiah 40:29-31

We can have hope because we know that God is loving.

We can have hope knowing that God is gracious.

We can have hope knowing that we can find our rest in God.