Let Everything That Has Breath Praise the Lord

Scripture:
Psalm 150 
1 Hallelujah! Praise God in His sanctuary.  Praise Him in His mighty heavens.
2 Praise Him for His powerful acts; praise Him for His abundant greatness.
3 Praise Him with trumpet blast; praise Him with harp and lyre.
4 Praise Him with tambourine and dance; praise Him with flute and strings.
5 Praise Him with resounding cymbals; praise Him with clashing cymbals.
6 Let everything that breathes praise the Lord. Hallelujah!

Reflection:
Psalm 150, the final psalm in the Book of Psalms, is a powerful and all-encompassing call to praise the Lord. It begins and ends with "Hallelujah!"—a word that means "Praise the Lord!"—and includes a comprehensive list of ways to offer praise.

The psalmist exhorts us to "Praise God in His sanctuary. Praise Him in His mighty heavens. Praise Him for His powerful acts; praise Him for His abundant greatness" (Psalm 150:1-2). This psalm calls us to praise God everywhere (in His sanctuary and in His mighty heavens), for everything He has done (His powerful acts), and for who He is (His abundant greatness).

The psalm also describes various instruments used to praise God, from trumpets and harps to tambourines and cymbals. The emphasis is not on the specific instruments but on the totality of the praise—joyful, musical, and full of life. Finally, the psalm concludes with a universal call: "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Hallelujah!" (Psalm 150:6). This is a reminder that praise is not limited to certain people or places; it is the rightful response of all creation to the Creator.

Reflection Questions:
    1. How do you express your praise to God in your daily life?
    2. In what ways can you make praise a more integral part of your relationship with God?
    3. How can you encourage others to join in praising the Lord?

Application:
Take time today to praise God in a new or creative way. Whether through music, art, writing, or simply speaking words of praise, find a way to express your worship that is meaningful to you. Invite others to join you in this act of praise, creating a community that celebrates God’s greatness together.

Prayer:
Lord, I praise You with all that I am. Let my life be a continual offering of worship to You. Help me to find new and creative ways to express my praise, and may everything that has breath join in glorifying Your name. Hallelujah! In Jesus' name, Amen.