EMPOWERING LIVES WITH PURPOSE:
Guest Writer: WWL’s Leadership Team, Author, VOT magazine – Michele Hughes
When should we praise God? Do you find yourself only praising God when He answers your prayers the way you want? When something good happens? How about when an accident happens and you live to tell about it? Or when you are in the middle of a trial? How about when the worst thing imaginable happens?
The Bible says in Psalm 113:3 (ESV), From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised!
So, that means we should praise Him always! I definitely could improve in this area. How about you? Do you need to practice praising God? Our God deserves our continual praise. Let’s work on praising Him more. Let’s ask Him to help us.
Let’s think about a few ways we can praise Him. We can praise Him by lifting our hands. We can praise Him by singing. We can praise Him with our words, with dancing and instruments. We can praise Him in fellowship with other believers.
Psalm 150:6 (NIV) says, Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Maybe you’re thinking, “I’m just too busy to praise God.” Is it even possible to praise Him continually? Think of it as more of an attitude. When you first wake up, praise Him. As you go about your chores, praise Him. When you are driving, praise Him. When you are working out, praise Him. When you see a sunset or something in God’s creation, praise Him. When the kids are fighting, praise Him. When you are lying in bed, praise Him. Whenever you praise God, keep praising Him and look for more opportunities to praise Him. He will show you. We cannot over-praise God.
God doesn’t need us to praise Him to make Him feel better or loved. He tells us to praise Him for our benefit. Praise gets our focus off ourselves and back on to God. Praise helps bring us to a place of humility. Praise makes the enemy flee. Praise leaves no room for complaining and negativity. Praise makes room for God’s blessing over our lives. Praise invites His presence. Praise paves a way for miracles. Let all the people praise Him!
Heb. 13:15 (KJV), By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.