I Will Praise Him

“With my mouth I will give thanks abundantly to the Lord; and in the midst of many I will praise Him.”
Psalm 109:30 NASB

Today, few people remember Margaret Jenkins Harris, who was born on this day in 1865 in Rushville, Illinois. No great biographies have been written about her. But millions of people have been impacted by a hymn she wrote in 1898.

In this hymn, called “I Will Praise Him,” she recalled the moment when she realized the presence of sin in her life. This truly was a horrible realization, but it drove her to seek God’s forgiveness.

To realize that she could be completely free!

She wrote, “When I saw the cleansing fountain open wide for all my sin, I obeyed the Spirit’s wooing, when He said, ‘Wilt thou be clean?’”

She recognized that sin had burdened and bogged her down. “Though the way seems straight and narrow, all I claimed was swept away; my ambitions, plans and wishes, at my feet in ashes lay.”

But God sent the fire of His Spirit to change her life. She described how “the altar of my heart was set aflame.”

We can feel how she overflowed with gratitude: “I shall never cease to praise Him glory, glory to His name! Blessèd be the Name of Jesus! I’m so glad He took me in; He’s forgiven my transgressions, He has cleansed my heart from sin.”

The chorus of this hymn is a powerful call to praise God: “I will praise Him! I will praise Him! Praise the Lamb for sinners slain; give Him glory, all ye people, for His blood can wash away each stain.”

Today, there are many things that can occupy your time, but nothing is more important than praising God. Do not be silent or take Him for granted. Thank Him for all that He has done for you. Give Him glory. Praise His name.

Prayer: Father, I praise You for all that You have done in my life. Thank You for Your mercy and grace. I owe everything to You. I worship You. I love You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.