PREFACE

One day in the mid-80s, I was driving to work when the Lord asked me three questions: "How many of My promises do you know by memory?" After reciting many with great enthusiasm, I realized that He already knew the answer and that I needed to listen again. Then, the second question, "How many praise scriptures do you know by heart?" I stumbled and faltered, tried to verbalize a few. It was obvious I didn't know them by heart. The third question: "Why is that?" I thought, because promises are for me, and praise is for Him. And I'm all about me.

This experience sent me on a search into the Bible to mark every praise scripture there. I compiled what I found, and the result was published in 1989 by J. Countryman in a book called Thanksgiving and Praise.

The present volume is a revision and re-issue of that work. Changes are based in large part on what I have learned in the last twenty years. In more recent times, in periods of desperation, it has pleased the Lord to call me to Himself and to His Word. I am not sure why, considering my poor record. For weeks, months at a time, I sought Him and His promises like a starving man, as "a deer panting for streams of water." In my extreme anxiety, I flew through the Bible, looking for comfort from the Author. But God said, "Slow down and meditate on just a few verses, even a few words."

All the scriptures contained in this collection are familiar, but we must read them anew, prayerfully, and meditate, especially on key phrases and words (I have highlighted at least one in each passage).

Praising God, knowing God, loving God are all one and the same. Naturally, we want to know God better and praise Him in Spirit and in Truth, but we will never accomplish this on our own terms. We come to know Him as He reveals Himself to us through His Word.

So we return to the Bible, these verses, over and over again, because each time, He shows us something different, something fresh, some new facet of His eternal Being and Love, especially if we take extra time to meditate on the Holy and Awesome God, the One Who is Faithful and True, He Who Has All Power, the Infinite God of Infinite Worth.