God Deserves Our Praise

Psalm 68:35 – “Awesome is God from his sanctuary; the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God!”

Although King David was a man after God’s own heart, (1Sam.13:14, Acts 13:22), he was never shielded from the trials and testing of life. Many of the Psalms reveal the raw honesty of his struggles. David faced fear, betrayal, grief, and uncertainty—just like we do. It’s very possible that he wrote these psalms not only to encourage himself, but also to strengthen others who would one day walk through similar valleys.

What makes David’s writings so powerful is the pattern they follow. He often begins with deep humility and transparency about his pain, yet he consistently ends with bold confidence in the sovereignty and faithfulness of God. His psalms reveal a man who wrestles with hardship, but also a man who remembers God is His refuge. His psalms reveal a man who feels overwhelmed and unworthy yet ultimately chooses to trust in a sovereign and almighty God.

In Psalm 68, David contrasts God’s response to the wicked with His care for the righteous. He reminds us that God is “a father to the fatherless…a defender of widows…” (Ps. 68:5). Because of God’s unchanging character and unfailing love, He deserves all our worship and praise. David concludes the psalm by declaring, “Awesome is God from his sanctuary…He is the one who gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God!”

David reminds us of the following:

God’s Power Serves the Vulnerable

His strength is given to the weak, the overlooked, and the burdened so they can endure, overcome, and break free from the enemy’s stronghold. God does not empower the proud—He strengthens those who know they need Him.

God’s Presence Deserves Our Reverence

Whenever God reveals Himself in scripture, the response is never casual. People fall on their faces, remove their shoes, tremble, or stand in awe. His presence is not something to be treated lightly or approached with indifference. Reverence begins with recognizing who He is. Who is He? He is holy. He is eternal. He is sovereign. And there is nothing and no one who can compare to Him.

God Deserves Our Personal and Universal Praise

I once read a quote from an unknown author: “Before praise becomes a chorus, it begins as a personal confession.” Your testimony about God should become your personal praise. He saved you. He sanctified you. He provides for you. He protects you. He has forgiven you. Because of all He has done, your praise should never be out of obligation, but it should overflow from a grateful heart. Praise is our declaration of love for our loving Father. And when we connect with our personal praise, something powerful happens. Our personal praise will become the overflow in our corporate praise and cause a shift in the atmosphere in our congregation.  A congregation filled with individuals who have already been praising privately will always experience God’s presence more deeply collectively.

Prayer

Father, thank You for being our strength in every trial and our shelter in every storm. When we feel overwhelmed, remind us of Your faithfulness. When we feel weak, fill us with Your power. Help us to walk in reverence, to trust You fully, and to praise You with grateful hearts. Strengthen us today and let Your presence be our peace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

For His glory...

Written by Sandra Kelley (2/19/26)