Our song “My God Is So Great” sounds a lot like bragging. Since bragging is not welcome in polite company, maybe we should pass by this song. But we won’t! Please give it a sing-along listen, then come back and we’ll talk about God and “bragging rights”.

What is bragging?

I was taught it is not polite to brag because bragging is crude, arrogant, artless self-promotion and probably an exaggeration — so it is not even the truth. “The fish was THIS big”, we brag.

It is fair to say both the Bible and the dictionary DO assign negative meanings to “brag” and “boast”, but they both also shed light on a positive slant. For example “brag” can mean “to make a claim with proper and justifiable pride”. For example, 2 Corinthians 10 includes these words, “We, however, will not boast beyond our limits, but only within the field of influence that God has assigned to us—a field that reaches even to you.” Maybe that gets us closer to giving this fun song its proper place as an aid to boasting the right way.

One way to understand a word better is to look at “what it is NOT”. Some words that mean the opposite of “brag” are “to conceal, hide or be quiet”.

Now we are getting somewhere! Can we imagine ever wanting to make a claim with proper and justifiable pride instead of concealing, hiding or being quiet? A verse from 1 Peter comes to mind:

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts; and always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with humility and fear”

Our “bragging” rights

Christians have been given tremendous reason for hope. When we accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and believed God raised him from the dead, this hope became OUR hope. Since it is ours, we can have “proper and justifiable pride” of ownership. Since it is a GIFT we cannot boast as if it were our own works. Instead we can, with humility and respect, brag about — maybe better to say, “sing the praises of” — our magnificent Lord who made our hope possible. (I think our song helps us do this, and do it with a brighter smile.)

Bragging on God

We love to declare our God is the BEST. For instance, Psalm 33 gives us these things to let everyone know about:
My God’s mercy is high as the heavens
My God’s faithfulness reaches the clouds
My God’s righteousness is like the great mountains
My God’s judgements are a great deep
My God’s loving kindness is excellent

We love to declare with joyful enthusiasm things our God has promised He is able and willing to do. For instance, Isaiah gives us these bold promises:
My God will swallow up death forever
My God will wipe away the tears from all faces
My God will open the eyes of the blind
My God will unstop the ears of the deaf
My God will enable the lame to leap like the deer
My God will enable the tongue of speechless to shout for joy

Every day we can look for brand new opportunities to brag on God.
If we are breathing today we are able to tell others about Him as our Creator.

If we got to school or work safely today we can make it known we recognize Him as our Protector.

When we face difficulties it is ours to see them as opportunities for us to be fresh examples of His ability to deliver, and we can be confident breakthroughs are on the way.

Want to have some fun? Keep declaring God’s goodness and faithfulness, and watch what He will do on your behalf!

Let this be our motto as braggers of the Lord:
“The LORD has done this [fill in the blank], and it is marvelous in our eyes.” (Psalm 118)

Now I just want to put a big grin on my face and shout and sing “My God is so great!”

God bless you lots!
-Dale R.

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Download this song sheet

LYRICS: My God Is So Great
Traditional

Refrain:
My God is so great, so strong and so mighty!
There’s nothing my God cannot do! (clap, clap)
My God is so great, so strong and so mighty!
There’s nothing my God cannot do! (clap, clap)

The mountains are His, the rivers are His,
The stars are His handiwork too,
My God is so great, so strong and so mighty!
There’s nothing my God cannot do! (clap, clap)

Say hello … leave a note … add your thoughts

Please feel free to add your thoughts to this conversation. Scroll to the bottom of the page and jot your note in the “comments” box just below the “Leave a reply” title. Easy! Thanks!
— Dale R.

First published Feb 12, 2021.
Reposted with minor changes to the notes May 3, 2025.
Reposted with updated video and notes March 5, 2026.