I.
As you approach these words of praise, approach with an open heart willing to accept and acknowledge the praise that is voiced, and as best you can notice what their sources of such words are.

II.
Revelation 19:1-8 (NRSV)

After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying,

“Hallelujah!

Salvation and glory and power to our God,
    for his judgments are true and just;
he has judged the great whore
    who corrupted the earth with her fornication,
and he has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”

Once more they said,
“Hallelujah!
The smoke goes up from her forever and ever.”

And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who is seated on the throne, saying,

“Amen. Hallelujah!”

And from the throne came a voice saying,

“Praise our God,
    all you his servants,
and all who fear him,
    small and great.”

Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the sound of many waters and like the sound of mighty thunderpeals, crying out,

“Hallelujah!
For the Lord our God
    the Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and exult
    and give him the glory,
for the marriage of the Lamb has come,
    and his bride has made herself ready;
to her it has been granted to be clothed
    with fine linen, bright and pure”—
for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.”

III.
These words are presented in the Book of Revelation after the vision of the fall of Babylon and before the vision of the coming of the New Heaven and the New Earth.

That leads me to notice that such praise is not reserved for the “end.”  Not reserved for after the final battle, after the victory and the start of the “perfect” world.

IV.
Read these words of praise again, noticing not only what is written, but what praise it may call forth from you. 

Can you recall a time or place we wanted to shout as these do?  If you do, try to recall what led you to that place of joy and praise? If you find it hard to recall such a time, then let these voices nurture in your a place from which joy and praise can arise.

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}