Make Today a Celebration

Inspired in part by King Solomon's Prayer of Dedication in 1 Kings 8:22-61

below, a small excerpt (click link above for full chapter)

1 Kings 8:56-61

“Praise be to the Lord, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised.

 Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses. 

57 May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; 

may he never leave us nor forsake us. 

58 May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in obedience to him 

and keep the commands, decrees and laws he gave our ancestors. 

59 And may these words of mine, which I have prayed before the Lord,

 be near to the Lord our God day and night, 

that he may uphold the cause of his servant 

and the cause of his people Israel according to each day’s need,

 60 so that all the peoples of the earth may know 

that the Lord is God and that there is no other. 

61 And may your hearts be fully committed to the Lord our God, 

to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time.”

It was also inspired in part by Isa.26

simply entitled a Song of Praise

May today, for each of us be a reverent hymn of praise

to He who is the same God today as in the days of old

and will ever be!

Father, We Praise Thee

Make today a celebration

Pour from forms of mortal dust

Reverence and adoration

For God, holy, true and just

He, whose glory beyond telling

Transcends heaven's highest parts

Yet He comes and makes His dwelling

In temples of human hearts

Praise Him where ten thousand reasons

Barely skims His majesty

He who twirls time’s reel of seasons

Lowered twixt eternity

Praise Him for His mighty power

Staying judgment’s righteous wrath

Until the appointed hour

When not one will scorn nor laugh

Make today a dedication

Of Self, humbly sacrificed

For there is no condemnation

For all they/we who are in Christ

Who do not walk in ways worldly

But according to God’s word

Strive to be a servant, wholly

With devotion undeterred

Make today a celebration

Ringing with authentic praise

To the Author of creation

For the wonder of His ways

He, who rich in mercy hears us

As we cast on Him our cares

He whose love unfailing cheers us

Though life’s pilgrimage of prayers

He whose judgements will not falter

By Him everything was made

He who witnesses the altar

Where worship's off'ring is laid 

Raise unrivaled adoration

Let praise, like an ocean roll

In a hymn of celebration

To the Saviour of the Soul

© Janet Martin

To the only wise God our Saviour, 

be glory and majesty, 

dominion and power, 

both now and ever. 

Amen.

Jude 1:25