Our God Reigns

All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God. (Psalm 98:3)

Psalms 95 through 100

What Is God Saying?

This verse is found in a great psalm in the middle of a series of great psalms of praise. Psalms 95-100 are all about the victories of God, a majestic and glorious God. "Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised, he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are idols; but the Lord made the heavens" (Ps. 96:4-5).

This portion of the Psalms is filled with singing that expresses great joy. It is somewhat like the spontaneous joy that fills a sports stadium when a member of a favorite team scores the winning point or goal. Victory! You just can't help it. The noise just comes out as everyone rises from the seats. "Let the sea roar and all that fills it; the world and those that dwell in it" (98:7). Often in these Psalms comes the recurring phrase, "The Lord reigns." It is, in a sense, the theme of them all.

How Does This Apply To Us?

It makes such a difference when we see and truly grasp the fact that God reigns, that God wins, that God is in charge. It lifts us above the doldrums of defeat. It dispels the shadows of fear. It lifts us from the quicksand of despair and helps us to put one foot in front of the other on the road of duty that leads to beauty. It keeps us from being trapped in our failures and brings us into freedom and joy. Where once we might have been despondent or discouraged, we can now make a joyful noise to the Lord and break forth into joyful song of praise. We need to be a Doxology-not just sing it. "Praise God from whom all blessings flow" should be what others see in our lives, shining from our faces, flowing from our hands in loving deeds.

Pray With Me

Thank You, Lord, for your victory that can be seen from the ends of the earth. From beyond the ends of the earth to beyond the depths of my own thoughts, there is your victory. This beautiful earth is sustained by your patient and all-powerful providence. All the nations of the earth bear witness to your majesty.

All people on earth, rising in strength or failing in fear; living in joy or existing in misery; all people, by the way they live or fail to live, show God's perfect plan for every life. Lord, as the sun rises and sets, from horizon to horizon, so is the victory of our God, visible to all, needed by all, and available to all. Now, Lord, I ask that you let my life be a window through which all can see and a door through which all can pass to the victory of our God.

Through Jesus and in the power of His victory in love. Amen.

Moving On In The Life of Prayer

It’s a good prayer discipline to sometimes ask God for nothing but to praise him for everything. Use Psalms 95-100 as a guide. Rejoice all the way through. Praise him. Thank him. Think of your salvation, of his care from day to day, of his marvelous works in your life this very day. Thank him for the strength and beauty that came to your soul as you were in his presence today. Remember, this one time, no petitions, no requests, no aches or pains, no frustrations, no grief, no sadness. Just praise. That's prayer, too.