"The Sweetest Praise"

It's easy to praise on sunny days when the sky is clear and blue
Walking in victory is quite a breeze when your shoes are clean and new
On the mountain top, where the view is grand, can be a quiet place to rest
Knowing the answers ahead of time, makes for an easy test

Singing for joy is not a stretch when the song is in your key
Standing for Jesus is not a hardship when those around agree
Trusting God is very simple when the road ahead is clear
Stepping by faith into deep water is a snap...with a lifeguard near

Running the race is as smooth as silk when you can rest along the way
Reading the Word will fit our schedule, when it's a chapter or two each day
Tithing extra isn't hard when your bonus just came through
Loving people comes so natural...as long as they love you

Of course it's easy to rejoice when life is smooth and fine
Singing praises isn't sacrificial, when nothing's on the line
But when the clouds roll in and skies grow dark, what happens to our song?
Does the harmony go flat or get too sharp, when everything goes wrong?

It's in those times of testing, we must press in and praise
Cause life is not a steady stream of bright and sunny days
God knows it's hard to give Him glory when nothing's going right
But praise is warfare against the enemy, don't yield without a fight

The foundation that we're standing on, is going to face some shaking
And what we're made of will be revealed, as truth or if we're faking
Lip service cracks the foundation we've built, it isn't strong enough
But heart service endures and leans into the winds that grow so rough

I do believe the sweetest praise comes in the midst of pain
Or in the valley and in the desert or through the drenching rain
Just you and God, one on one, as He holds you to His heart
As you sing for joy and gain more strength, He'll always do His part

Choose to praise, do it in faith, no matter how life goes
For everything that's going to happen, the Father already knows
Trust His word and know this truth; He will love you all your days
You're in His hands and that alone...is worth the sweetest praise

Merissa Lee Kelley
April 16, 2001

"Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will
praise you as long
as I live and in your name I will lift up my hands." Psalm 63: 3 & 4