A Magnolia's Heart Beats

Praise for the Most High God

Jenifer, at By His Grace, is hosting this week's At the Well. The topic is Praise for the Most High God.

"The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice. Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Fire goes before him and consumes his foes on every side. His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and trembles. The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth. The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory. All who worship images are put to shame, those who boast in idols - worship him, all you gods! Zion hears and rejoices and the villages of Judah are glad because of your judgments, O LORD. For you, O LORD, are the Most High over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods. Let those who love the LORD hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked. Light is shed upon the righteous and joy on the upright in heart. Rejoice in the LORD, you who are righteous, and praise his holy name." ~ Psalm 97:1-12 (NIV)

Sometimes life on earth causes us to block out the true majesty of God described in the Psalm above. Truly our God is the Most High God and is worthy of all glory and honor and power and praise. He is to be exalted above anything or anyone in our lives.

My eyes teared up when I read this Scripture. Just last night I was talking with Him in prayer about a family member's illness. I just don't understand why he has to keep fighting melanoma. One treatment works and he stays cancer free for years and it comes back. Then he stays cancer free for less almost a year and it returns. Then he stays cancer free for way less than a year and it returns. And it has returned again. Jimmy's biopsy on his neck came back with the dreaded word, malignant.

I didn't know this Saturday night and I celebrated at my aunt's wedding just like nothing was wrong. I rejoiced at the happiness she and her new husband, Chuck, shared and would share in the years to follow.

Sunday I thought, how could I have celebrated? Today I realize, how could I not have celebrated?

God is God all by Himself. He deserves to be praised no matter what the circumstances of our life are. There is nothing on earth that is higher than Him and He is worthy of worship and praise. Do I love Him any less because Jimmy's cancer has returned? No. I trust Him even more.

Through the tears this morning I am praising God because He is God Most High and that God's status does not depend on a diagnosis. When the news is good, who God is does not change. He is still on His throne and there is still no other God but Him. It's the same when the news is bad. It doesn't diminish God's majesty.

So I praise You, God, and worship Your holiness. I truly love You and desire nothing besides You. There is nothing on earth that is above You and no other God but You. My praise for You will not waiver. It's not dependant on the circumstances of my life or anyone else's but on Your Holy Name.

~Who or what is “most high” in your mind and heart today?

While God is the One I worship and praise, admittedly I have some concerns. However, I was reminded by reading this Psalm not to let those concerns outweigh praise for my God.

"For you, O LORD, are the Most High over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods." ~ Psalm 97:9 (NIV)

The Hebrew word for exalted is a verb. The transliterated meaning is:

1) to go up, ascend, climb
a) (Qal)
1) to go up, ascend
2) to meet, visit, follow, depart, withdraw, retreat
3) to go up, come up (of animals)
4) to spring up, grow, shoot forth (of vegetation)
5) to go up, go up over, rise (of natural phenomenon)
6) to come up (before God)
7) to go up, go up over, extend (of boundary)
8) to excel, be superior to
b) (Niphal)
1) to be taken up, be brought up, be taken away
2) to take oneself away
3) to be exalted
c) (Hiphil)
1) to bring up, cause to ascend or climb, cause to go up
2) to bring up, bring against, take away
3) to bring up, draw up, train
4) to cause to ascend
5) to rouse, stir up (mentally)
6) to offer, bring up (of gifts)
7) to exalt
8) to cause to ascend, offer
d) (Hophal)
1) to be carried away, be led up
2) to be taken up into, be inserted in
3) to be offered
e) (Hithpael) to lift oneself

Exalting God truly is a verb. These were my favorite meanings for today.

"to go up, go up over, rise (of natural phenomenon)"

"to go up, go up over, extend (of boundary)"

"to meet, visit, follow, depart, withdraw, retreat"

"to cause to ascend"

"to rouse, stir up (mentally)"

This is how I am exalting Him today!

~Is it the Most High, or someone or something else?

How could it be anything but God? I cannot imagine putting anything higher than God. My concerns are but a blip on the radar of this world. While my concerns are valid and not to be ignored or taken lightly, in the grand scheme of things we are only on this world for a minute. While we should make every second count for Him, making sure others know about Him and glorifying Him, this world is not our home. There should be nothing on this earth above Him. There is nothing on this world above God.

"Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies. But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail." ~ Isaiah 51:6 (NIV)

Come on over to the Well and visit. Link up and share your thoughts on Praise for the Most High God, too.