Being so filled the heart overflows and, in praise, brings glory back to God.

But what if I—what if we—never bothered to give the praise and glory and honor to the one who deserves it? How would God—no, how would we—be effected?

The answer lies in the word ending 1 Peter 1:8. That word is: joy. Chara, it reads in Greek. Joy given, joy received.

What I find amazing about the word chara—joy—is its very definition. The Lord gives to us, whether spectacular sunrises or checks received in the nick of time. He gives us answers to our prayers, He “opens the floodgates of heaven and pours out so much blessing that [we] will not have room enough for it.” (Malachi 3:10) This is, for the recipient joy. And in expressing that joy—by offering our praise, our doxa—we are then returning the joy to Him. And then, Him back to us, until we are doxazo—filled—to overflowing…to the point of it being inexpressible.

And then, the whole earth is full of his glory.

And so the next time you sing…

In 1874 Thomas Ken wrote the song Awake, My Soul, and with the Sun. The last verse of this hymn contains the song many know as The Doxology.

And so, the next time you sing “Praise God from whom all blessings flow…praise Him all creatures here below…Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts…Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!”… think of all the reasons you have to honor Him, to praise Him, and to extol Him. To magnify His greatness. Think of all He has given to you and, filled to overflowing, return the joy.

Eva Marie Everson’s book Reflections of Israel; A Personal Journey to God’s Holy Land (Thomas Nelson/Nelson Bibles) will release May, 2008. For more information about the book and Eva’s speaking topics, go t www.EvaMarieEverson.com