Total Praise

photo credit


Psalm 121

I will lift up my eyes to the hills--
From whence comes my help?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.

He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber,
Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper,
The Lord is your shade at your right hand,
The sun shall not strike you by day,
Nor the moon by night.

The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.
The Lord shall preserve
your going out and your coming in
From this time forth,
and even forevermore.

Today I want to write about this uplifting song of praise, Total Praise, written by Richard Smallwood.

The inspiration for this hymn must surely have come from the famous Psalm 121, quoted above.

This song will forever remind me of the overwhelming peace, strength, and comfort that filled my heart at the time of my husband's death last November.

Many who find themselves in a similar time of deep loss, of danger, or uncertainty, will surely find great meaning in it.

A CD of this song, performed by the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, was given me by dear friends Max and Grace Hughes when they visited me on November 24, a day after Ernie died. We then played it during the memorial service in honor of my husband given by my FFI (Family Foundations International) family.

I had never heard this hymn before. As it was being played during that service, there was a sacred hush that came into the hall, tears quietly flowed from our eyes, and God's anointing of comfort was so strong. There can be no doubt: His presence came and ministered to us all.

The song was another of God's special gifts to me. It speaks of my total trust in a loving God, my complete abandonment to His perfect timing in my life.

Indeed He is the sovereign God, He holds the seasons of our lives in His hands!


Listen to Total Praise as rendered by the Oslo Gospel Choir.

May God's comfort and peace accompany you today.