As we close the pages of 2020 — let us walk into 2021 with a new sense of determination in our spirit. We cannot control the external elements of LIFE, but we can control our response! No matter what this new year may hold for each of us, let us learn the 🔑 to victory from King David.

The crescendo of David’s life on earth — To Give praise unto the Lord.

What separated him from the likes of his counterparts? What helped him rise from the ashes of defeat? It was his ability and desire to praise the Lord — on his good days and on his bad days. His praise was not tethered to his emotions, but rather the inconceivable knowledge of who God is. It is no coincidence that David came from the very lineage of Judah (Yehuwdah) — meaning “PRAISE.”

We do not praise the Lord, solely based on emotion and circumstance. That is where the yo-yo effect of Christianity comes into play: Too many good hearted people praise the Lord based on emotion. The inevitable ebb and flow of life, can get our emotions all out of sorts. This is why we must learn to praise the Lord when we feel like it, and even when we don’t. Let’s be honest, we’re not always on the mountain top are we? We spend the majority of our lives living in the valley; and as the song goes — we spend a great amount of time “climbing the rough side of the mountain.” Yet, it is at the base of those glorious mountains, where we can see the most beautiful splendor of growth. The 🔑 to our victory is found in Psalm 145 — “David’s Psalm of praise.”

Psalms 145:1-21 (KJV) 1 [[David’s [Psalm] of praise.]]

I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever. 2 Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever. 3 Great [is] the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness [is] unsearchable.

4 One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts. 5 I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works. 6 And [men] shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness. 7 They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness.

8 The LORD [is] gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. 9 The LORD [is] good to all: and his tender mercies [are] over all his works. 10 All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee. 11 They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power; 12 To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom. 13 Thy kingdom [is] an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion [endureth] throughout all generations.

14 The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all [those that be] bowed down. 15 The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season. 16 Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. 17 The LORD [is] righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.

18 The LORD [is] nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. 19 He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them. 20 The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.

[[21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.]]

Psalm 145, in my estimation, was the apex of David’s legacy left behind for humanity. It is the 🔑 that unlocks the door to our victory here on Earth. Peter gave us the keys to the Kingdom: It is the plan of Salvation found in the book of ACTS — (ACTS 2:38.) Yet, David gave us the key to keeping our victory — We must learn the power of praise:“Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever. Great [is] the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness [is] unsearchable.”

— May we find ourselves dancing for the Lord more in 2021 —