Praise

September 5, 2026

Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them, walking, leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God. Acts 3:6-9

When our kids were younger, they loved listening to songs in the car, and they loved listening to the same song over and over again! But for me, I get tired of listening to the same songs over and over again in the car. We turn this Christian Children's CD on for the girls to listen to in the car, and they just love it! So when we are driving together, I have to turn it on! I feel like I have listened to the same song more than a thousand times. Well, some of the songs got stuck in my mind.

One time, I was at the market doing some grocery shopping. I had to use the restroom, and as I entered, I found myself singing one of the songs from the CD we listen to in the car: “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk…” But when I saw feet under one of the restroom stall doors, I started humming instead of singing the lyrics. I lowered my voice and stopped humming, hoping the man did not hear me.

At that moment, I felt ashamed of myself. I don’t know what stopped me from singing about Jesus in the restroom. Maybe I did not want the man in the restroom to think I am a Christian. Or maybe I was justifying not offending him with a Christian song. Whatever the reason, I felt ashamed of myself for stopping when I noticed someone else was there. (It’s probably best that I don’t sing in a public restroom, but you get the point.)

For you see, that very man who was cured in the name of Jesus was different. Verse 9 tells us he couldn’t hold it in. He had to express it! He walked, leaped, and praised God for everyone to see! This man was not ashamed of Jesus. In the name of Jesus Christ, we are saved. So I need to be joyful, keep singing songs about Jesus, and show others!