PRAISING GOD
Praise To God - The Importance of Praise
Praise to God is what we offer in acknowledgement of God's excellent being.=
You
might think that praise is the same as saying "thank you," but th=
ere
is a difference. Thanksgiving describes our attitude toward what God has do=
ne,
while praise is offered for who God is. Psalm 18:3 says "I call=
to
the LORD, who is worthy of praise…" <=
br>
All believers are commanded to praise God! In fact, Isaiah 43:21 explains t=
hat
praise is one reason we were created, "This people I have formed for <=
span
class=3DGramE>Myself; they shall declare My praise." Hebrews 13=
:15
confirms this: "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to =
God
a sacrifice of praise - the fruit of lips that confess his name."
Praise originates in a heart full of love toward God. Deuteronomy 6:5 says,
"Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and
with all your strength." Are you a Christian today? If so, you know th=
at
you love God because He first loved you! Without God's love, any praise you=
can
offer is hollow. Love, born from a relationship with God through Jesus Chri=
st,
is an essential part of your praise.
Praises to God -=
How
to Praise God
How can you bring praise to God? What can you do to make it an integral par=
t of
your life? Praise can be expressed in song, in verse, or in prayer and it i=
s to
be done continuously! Psalm 34:1 instructs, "I will extol the LORD at =
all
times; his praise will always be on my lips." Psalm 71:6 says, "F=
rom
birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother's womb. I w=
ill
ever praise you."
Praise to God is expressed outwardly through our everyday actions, as well =
as
inwardly in our thoughts. Praise is an act of Christian worship.
"Where do I begin?" you may ask. "How do I start praising Go=
d?"
If praising God is new to you, try praising God for who He is to you,
personally. Proclaim that God's goodness is without measure; it is abundant=
and
overflowing! Here are some ways to get started:
Praise=
to God
can be offered anywhere! In time, it will become as normal as taking a brea=
th.
Sometimes we praise God inwardly as in Psalm 9:2, "I will be glad and
rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High." Other t=
imes
we have opportunity to give glory and praise to our God publicly. Psalm 22:=
22
says, "I will declare your name to my brothers; in the congregation I =
will
praise you." Search out opportunities to bring praise to God! <=
span
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:#222222'>
Praise To God - =
Who
Praises God?
Praise to God, while offered particularly by His children as the freewill
expression of grateful hearts, will one day be offered by everyone! The Bib=
le
says that when He comes again, all mankind will praise Him and
acknowledge Him as Lord. He is King over all the earth. When we know Jesus
Christ as Lord and Savior, our hearts long to praise His name. Philippians
2:9-11 tells us His name represents His being, describing who He is,
"Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name =
that
is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in he=
aven
and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Chris=
t is
Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
The Bible also records:
Praise To God - Do You Proclaim His Praise?
Your praise to God is evidenced through your salvation. 1 Peter 2:9 says,
"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peo=
ple
belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you ou=
t of
darkness into his wonderful light."
How are you offering praise to God today? Do you know Him as your Lord and
Savior? If not, why not begin there. Learn more about salvation<=
span
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:#444444'>. When others look at you, do the=
y see
a reflection of God's praise? Psalm 113:3 declares, "From the rising of
the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be
praised."