Begin with two minutes of silence and stillness before God.

“Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.” Psalm 147:1

These final psalms don’t ease us into praise; they invite us straight into it. Before reflection, before explanation, before we can overthink it, scripture simply calls us to lift our eyes and respond.

After Psalm 147 reminds us that the Lord “heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds,” I’m often reminded of a simple truth through my youngest son. Nearly every time he prays, he includes the same words: “God, no matter what we do, we know you love us. We know you forgive us.”

There’s something so pure and grounding about that kind of faith. It doesn’t overcomplicate things. It doesn’t require everything to be sorted out. It simply rests in the truth that God is loving, forgiving, and faithful. And that kind of confidence is the heartbeat of praise. When we truly believe that God loves us and meets us with grace, worship becomes our natural response. 

As the psalms continue, the invitation to praise expands. Psalm 148 calls all of creation to join in—heaven and earth, sun and moon, young and old alike. I love that picture, because it reminds me that praise isn’t meant to be narrow or reserved for a certain kind of moment. It’s woven into the ordinary rhythms of life and creation itself. Whether we feel strong or weary, joyful or unsure, we’re still invited to lift our voices and join the song.

Then Psalm 149 reminds us that praise is something we share. It’s meant to be sung together, side by side, as God’s people. There’s something strengthening about worshiping alongside one another, especially when words don’t come easily on our own. When we gather, our shared praise becomes a testimony. Not to paint a picture that life is perfect, but that our trust is placed in a faithful God who is worthy of worship in every season.

Psalm 150 brings it all to a joyful close: “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!” There’s no fine print here. Just an open invitation to live with hearts turned toward worship.

As this year begins, these psalms remind me that praise isn’t something we wait to offer until life feels settled. It’s something we choose right now with gratitude and trust. Praise becomes the rhythm that carries us forward, shaping how we live and how we see the days ahead.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for carrying us this year and into each new day and moment. Teach us to live lives marked by praise with our words, our worship, and our daily choices. May everything we do reflect gratitude for who You are. Amen.

Take two minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflection:

Use the S.O.A.P. Method to study God's Word.

• SCRIPTURE: What stands out to you in today's passage?
• OBSERVATION: What is this text saying? What is the context? How does it fit with the verses before and after it? Are there any commands, instructions, or promises?
• APPLICATION: How can you apply this verse to your life? What does this mean today? What is God saying to you?
• PRAYER: Respond to the passage in prayer. Ask God to help you apply this truth to your life and spend some time listening to what He may be telling you.

New Year, New Bible Reading Plan

At Venture Church, providing quality Daily Essential tools for spiritual development is a priority we are passionate about. As a result, we provided a Bible Reading Plan in 2020, Daily Devos in 2021, and Family Devos in 2023. We are always looking for ways to better serve the church through resources that assist in the growth of your faith. Thank you for supporting us and joining us on this journey!

This year, we have some exciting additions to our Daily Essential tools. In 2026, Venture Church will begin offering two Bible Reading Plans. Both of these plans will be delivered to your inbox in a weekly summary, replacing daily emails. Scripture, Daily Devos, Family Devos, videos, and relevant links for the week will be delivered in a single, easy-to-access email each Monday morning.

The first plan will be the New Testament Bible Reading Plan, a 5-day-a-week plan that leads readers from Matthew to Revelation in a year. Daily Devos and Family Devos will continue to help readers dig deeper into God’s Word. And this year, we are adding audio recordings of the Daily Devos for on-the-go listening!

The second Bible Reading Plan option will be the One-Year Bible Reading Plan. This 7-day-a-week plan will guide readers through the entire Bible in 365 days. If you’re looking to read all of the Word this year, this plan is for you! Though Daily Devos will not be connected to this plan, we are excited to provide introduction videos for each Book of the Bible as an additional resource.

Join us January 1st to start a new Bible Reading Plan in the New Year!