Scripture to Meditate On

I will praise you with an upright heart, 
when I learn your righteous rules. Psalm 119:7

The psalmist assumes something that we need to take note of these days. God is not pleased by just anyone's praise. He has requirements that are to be met. And the psalmist points to one here: a person's character. If someone is going to be able to praise God in a way that actually pleases Him, an upright heart is required. Once again we are reminded of the importance of what is going on in the inner life. Good behavior, like praising God, is important. But what good is that if what is going on in that person's heart is all wrong.

Now, having an upright heart is not about perfection. But it is about working at learning God's 'righteous rules'. And that means that it's about repentance and faith. Those who praise God in an acceptable manner are working at obeying Him from the heart. They are working at confronting their own sins and being changed by the Spirit. And as they experience that change it will show in their praise. It is no longer simply a religious thing that they are supposed to do. It becomes a response of their heart to the God who has loved them and changed them.