“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name” (Psalm 100:4).

In her daily devotional book Edges of His Ways, Amy Carmichael wrote,

“I believe that if we are to be and to do for others what God means us to be and to do, we must not let adoration and worship slip into second place. For it is the central service asked by God of human souls; and its neglect is responsible for much lack of spiritual depth and power.

Perhaps we may find here the reason why we so often run dry. We do not give time enough to what makes the depth, and so we are shallow; a wind, quite a little wind, can ruffle our surface; a little hot sun, and all the moisture in us evaporates. It should not be so….

Today if we will hear His voice, today, this morning, if we will draw near to Him, He will draw near to us. In the hush of that nearness … we shall forget ourselves, lost in the wonder, love and praise to Him … The morning never disappoints us by not coming, neither does our loving God.”

Today you may be hurting emotionally, or even physically, and you may find the thought of praising God awkward or difficult. That’s okay. God knows exactly what you’re up against. But if you will begin to praise Him, regardless of what you’re facing and in spite of your circumstances, He will lift you up and give you the strength to carry on.

Do you feel as though you are running dry today? If so, try praising the Lord!

“I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth” (Psalm 34:1).