Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, my soul. I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God. He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them— he remains faithful forever. He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free, the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked. The Lord reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the Lord.

When should I praise God? This Psalm starts out with an emphatic statement, it says, “Praise the Lord”. Then it says it again. And at the end it says it one more time. This is called a “triple emphatic”.

In every season, in every situation, relationship, and challenge, we are called to praise the Lord. In days of health and days of sickness — praise the Lord! In days of plenty and days of need — praise the Lord! In times of high stress and times of peace — praise the Lord! In the wonder of a new romantic relationship and the heartache of a breakup — praise the Lord! When children obey and when they disobey — praise the Lord! When a work promotion comes and when you lose your job — praise the Lord! When new life is born and when death arrives on your doorstep — praise the Lord!

The reality is, we have so much to be thankful for at every stage of life and in every situation:
He is our help,
He is our hope,
He is the Creator and Sustainer of all we see and enjoy,
He is forever faithful,
He upholds the cause of the oppressed,
He gives food to the hungry,
He gives sight to the blind,
He sets the prisoner free,
He lifts up those who are bowed down,
He loves the righteous,
He watches over the foreigner,
He sustains the fatherless and the widow,
He frustrates the wicked,
He reigns forever, and
He is the God of his people, Zion, for all generations.

So say with me today, “Praise the Lord”! Say it again, "Praise the Lord!” Say it a third time, “Praise the Lord!”

Lord, you are always worthy of my praise. You love me and I have so much to be thankful for as your child. Help me to live today and all my days in full view of all the ways you continuously and always bless me!