"Blessed be the Lord" FIRST

Psalm 124:8, "Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of Heaven and earth."

Psalm 124 is a song of praise.  As they ascended Mt. Zion, David reminded the people that God had been on their side in battles and without Him, they would have died and died out as a people.  As David reminded them, they also thanked Him.  Some versions say "Blessed be the Lord" (or Praise be to the Lord) acknowledging Him as their source of blessing.  They praised Yahweh as their helper, not any human.

I so often forget to do this.  Sometimes God will answer the very prayer I have been praying for.  I do thank Him, but it is often not the first thing out of my lips.  I am trying to make a concerted effort to be better at giving God the glory first in all things.  

Just a quick example.  My daughter had been stressing out about her grades, her upcoming final and a laundry list of other things that had compiled in that moment into a breakdown.  We've all been there.  Two things, at first as I listened I tried to help in my own flesh giving advice.  I started silently praying for God to give me the Words...and they came.  He is SO faithful.  Yesterday I prayed for her to have focus, healing in her body, for favor for her to do well.  When she called me last night, she was so excited.  She did GREAT on her exam, her grade was acceptable by her standards.  The first thing out of my mouth was "Way to go!".  Don't get me wrong, she deserves the pats on the back...she has worked SO HARD.  But my FIRST words should have been, "Praise be to God".  They came, but that's where my first thought should have been.  He answered the very thing we prayed for and my human flesh forgot to sing as the Israelites did "Blessed be the Lord"

He is our help.  The craziest part is how much he LOVES us and loves blessing us...out of love and to bring glory to His name.  He deserves all praise.