How many times have I used the initials PTL! in a letter or e-mail?  Lots and lots.  Praise the Lord!   No, not ‘pass the loot’ as some wiseguy is now thinking!  However, Christmas is coming, so I may rethink that for a moment!

Psalm 150 is the last of the psalms, and it ends on a great note of praise to God.  As I meditate upon it,  I keep wondering how a journalist would look at this song of praise, Psalm 150.  You know, the ‘who, where, when, how and what’ questions that they use to cover a story.

As I was taking notes, I saw those journalistic questions come right out at me and make themselves quite evident.  Who?  Verse 6 calls on everyone and everything with breath to praise the Lord.  No one left out.  Everyone included.  Don’t worry about your net worth or income, education status or anything else that tends to divide people.  All that becomes invisible and unnecessary  when we praise the Lord.

Where?  Verse 1 says ‘in His sanctuary’ and ‘in His mighty heavens’.  Where?  In worship…in the heavens.  Really, wherever we find ourselves is the very best place in all the world to pause, ponder and praise our Lord.  Anywhere.  Everywhere.

Why?  Verse 2 tells us of ‘His mighty deeds…His excellent greatness’.  Why?  His power, His creation, His salvation in Jesus Christ alone, His choosing us before the foundation of the world.  His character.  His holiness and purity,  goodness and mercy.  That’s why!  Praise the Lord!

How?  Verses 3-5 tell us that our praise of God happens with human voice, all kinds of musical instruments,  and then dance with an excitement and energy and devotion that keeps building and building.  So, today– PTL!  Praise the Lord your God wherever you are; for all He is, has been and will be, for all He’s done; with whatever creative expressions of praise we can muster.  Praise the Lord!

Prayer:  We praise you, O Lord, with our entire being for all you are to us.  Thank you for Jesus our Savior and the Holy Spirit our Comforter.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.