By Sadly we too easily complain louder than we rejoice. Reading through the life and accomplishments of Nehemiah you soon realise how frequently he was opposed and how intense some of the disappointments in his life were. And yet, the book is filled with praises almost as much as it is characterised by frequent prayers. Nehemiah would always pray and rejoice louder than he would complain.
Perhaps the most striking account of praise in all of Nehemiah is this one:
And they offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away
Nehemiah 12:43
Remember this for yourself today. Get up, worship the Lord personally, and then go out and fill the ears of the world with praises of your God. Like with Nehemiah, the Lord is always worthy of praise for all the good things that He has done for us, and even through us. So let us praise the name of the Lord so our joy will be evident to all around us.