Let Everything That Has Breath Praise the Lord

During the first week of June, I had the privilege to be part of our Summer Music Activity for Kids (SMAK). What I love about this program is that the musicals we choose are filled with songs containing Scripture and biblical truths that once learned, stay in the hearts of kids for a lifetime. The music of this year’s show was no exception, but one song in particular stood out, especially as we focus on the book of Psalms this summer. The final song, “One More Voice,” directly quotes the entirety of Psalm 150 while also stating, “I’ll be one more voice to praise Him, one more instrument that plays, one more creature from the earth to sing. There ain’t no doubt about it, I’ll worship all my days.”

As the kids sang through these lyrics and through the words of Psalm 150, what struck me is that after 149 other chapters, the book of Psalms ends with a simple but powerful command, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.”

This declaration is a fitting finale to the book. The Psalms acknowledge every season of life – joy and sorrow, confidence and doubt, victory and defeat. They even remind us that through each of these seasons, God welcomes our honest prayers. But after all the highs and lows, where we end is with praise to the Lord simply because He is the giver of life and the reason we take each breath. Praise is not reserved for life’s easy moments. Rather it is an act of faith that declares God’s goodness, faithfulness, and power through every situation.

I cannot tell you the immense joy it brought to listen to over 100 first through sixth graders use the breath God gave them to praise Him and proclaim that they will worship Him all their days. I pray that the truth of those words remains in their hearts. I hope that we will all join in the chorus of Psalm 150. May we come together with all creation and be “one more voice” that praises the Lord all the days of our lives.