This is Praise
The Transformative Power of Praise: Starting the Year in Worship
As a new year unfolds before us, we're presented with a unique opportunity to establish the foundation upon which we'll build the coming months. While many focus on resolutions, goals, and ambitious plans, there's something far more powerful that deserves our attention: the practice of genuine, heartfelt praise.
Beyond the Doing to the Being
We live in a culture obsessed with doing. Everywhere we turn, we're bombarded with messages about productivity, achievement, and performance. Even in spiritual circles, there's often an unhealthy emphasis on "doing Christianity" rather than being transformed by Christ. But here's a profound truth that can revolutionize our spiritual lives: God has called us to be, and the doing naturally flows from that place of being in Christ.
This isn't about earning salvation through works. It's about cultivating a relationship with God through Jesus Christ that creates the right attitude and heart, enabling us to act in love and grace. Works emerge organically because of the attitude of the heart, not as a means to manipulate God's favor.
E.M. Bounds captured this beautifully when he said, "Gratitude arises from the contemplation of the goodness of God." When we take time to truly contemplate who God is and what He has done, praise becomes not a duty but a delight.
The Vital Connection Between Praise and Prayer
Praise and prayer are inseparably linked. While prayer encompasses many forms—intercession for missions, petitions for the homeless, prayers for family—praise occupies a unique and essential place. It's not about begging God for things or presenting Him with a shopping list of desires. Instead, praise is about laying aside our demands so we can simply fellowship with Him.
When we come to God in praise, we're not claiming promises, reciting proofs of His power, or manipulating Him to answer our prayers. There are no hooks, no ulterior motives. We simply say, "Thank You, Lord, for who You are. You are awesome."
Consider the vastness of the universe—the billions of galaxies, each containing millions of stars. We can barely comprehend a million, let alone a billion or trillion. Yet the God who created all of this knows us intimately. How did He find us in the vastness of His creation? The answer lies in His unfathomable love and attention to detail.
Three Foundations of Praise
First, praise recognizes God for who He is, not just what He does. Ralph Haring said that praise is "simply the making of glory." The Scripture tells us that "from glory to glory He's changing me." This transformation isn't forced—it happens naturally as we worship and praise Him. He is the sovereign Creator and Ruler of the universe, worthy of our adoration simply because of who He is.
Second, praise loves God for all His goodness. This isn't about demanding things from God. It's about laying aside our demands to fellowship with Him. When we adore God and enter into a love relationship with Him, we share love at the highest relationship level possible. Everything else fades into insignificance when we're truly focused on praising and worshiping Him.
Third, we must vocalize our love. Hebrews 13:15 instructs us: "Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name." There's something powerful about verbalizing our praise. It cements in our thinking and emotions what God is doing in our spirit. Even when alone, praying and praising out loud strengthens our focus and enriches our love for God.
If you've read Revelation, you know that worship around God's throne will be vocalized and loud. The word "Hallelujah"—meaning "praise the Lord"—is the same in every language, and it will flow like oceans from the lips of the redeemed.
Six Practical Principles for a Life of Praise
1. A praise life is a ministry unto the Lord. First Peter 2:5 tells us that we are "living stones" being "built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." Every believer is part of the praise ministry of the kingdom of God. This isn't reserved for worship teams or church leaders—it's for everyone who names Jesus as Lord and Savior.
2. A praise life teaches us to be generous. Stingy people struggle with giving praise because the price feels too high. The world teaches us to elevate ourselves by knocking others down, but praise does the opposite. It lifts up. When we maintain a heart of praise, we naturally become more generous with our encouragement, our love, and our resources.
3. A praise life is a weapon for spiritual warfare. When something is troubling you, praise the Lord. Worship. Sing. The Archbishop of Canterbury, William Temple, declared that "the world will be saved by only one thing, and that is worship." Though we may not fully understand how praise affects us spiritually, it's undeniably powerful. When we step out of our comfort zones to praise God publicly, we create opportunities for others to encounter the gospel.
4. A praise life begins in adoration. Adoration—the love expressed through praise and worship—is the only thing we can truly give God. We have nothing worthy to present to Him on our own merit. We're sinners saved by grace. Yet in His mercy, He has filled our lives with joy, peace, and His anointing. All we can do is thank Him. Revelation 4:11 declares: "You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created."
5. A praise life leads us to higher spiritual ground. When we're not complaining, when we're not down in the mouth, when we choose praise instead of whining, it lifts us—and those around us—to a higher place. Isaiah 58:14 promises: "Then you shall delight yourself in the Lord; and I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth." The word "delight" means to thoroughly enjoy. When we thoroughly enjoy our relationship with God, He takes care of everything else.
6. A praise life dismisses the devil. As Mary Schlosser said, "I sing the doxology and dismiss the devil." There's something about worship that breaks the enemy's hold. When we're focused on praising God, darkness must flee.
Make a Joyful Noise
Psalm 100 provides a beautiful blueprint for a life of praise:
"Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations."
As we move forward into this new year, let's establish a foundation of praise. Not because we're trying to manipulate God or earn His favor, but because He is worthy. Because worship transforms us. Because praise is the weapon that defeats our spiritual enemies and the key that unlocks higher spiritual ground.
When we make praise our priority, everything else falls into place. God takes care of the details when we seek His kingdom first. So sing the doxology. Dismiss the devil. And watch as God transforms your life from glory to glory through the simple, powerful act of praise.
As a new year unfolds before us, we're presented with a unique opportunity to establish the foundation upon which we'll build the coming months. While many focus on resolutions, goals, and ambitious plans, there's something far more powerful that deserves our attention: the practice of genuine, heartfelt praise.
Beyond the Doing to the Being
We live in a culture obsessed with doing. Everywhere we turn, we're bombarded with messages about productivity, achievement, and performance. Even in spiritual circles, there's often an unhealthy emphasis on "doing Christianity" rather than being transformed by Christ. But here's a profound truth that can revolutionize our spiritual lives: God has called us to be, and the doing naturally flows from that place of being in Christ.
This isn't about earning salvation through works. It's about cultivating a relationship with God through Jesus Christ that creates the right attitude and heart, enabling us to act in love and grace. Works emerge organically because of the attitude of the heart, not as a means to manipulate God's favor.
E.M. Bounds captured this beautifully when he said, "Gratitude arises from the contemplation of the goodness of God." When we take time to truly contemplate who God is and what He has done, praise becomes not a duty but a delight.
The Vital Connection Between Praise and Prayer
Praise and prayer are inseparably linked. While prayer encompasses many forms—intercession for missions, petitions for the homeless, prayers for family—praise occupies a unique and essential place. It's not about begging God for things or presenting Him with a shopping list of desires. Instead, praise is about laying aside our demands so we can simply fellowship with Him.
When we come to God in praise, we're not claiming promises, reciting proofs of His power, or manipulating Him to answer our prayers. There are no hooks, no ulterior motives. We simply say, "Thank You, Lord, for who You are. You are awesome."
Consider the vastness of the universe—the billions of galaxies, each containing millions of stars. We can barely comprehend a million, let alone a billion or trillion. Yet the God who created all of this knows us intimately. How did He find us in the vastness of His creation? The answer lies in His unfathomable love and attention to detail.
Three Foundations of Praise
First, praise recognizes God for who He is, not just what He does. Ralph Haring said that praise is "simply the making of glory." The Scripture tells us that "from glory to glory He's changing me." This transformation isn't forced—it happens naturally as we worship and praise Him. He is the sovereign Creator and Ruler of the universe, worthy of our adoration simply because of who He is.
Second, praise loves God for all His goodness. This isn't about demanding things from God. It's about laying aside our demands to fellowship with Him. When we adore God and enter into a love relationship with Him, we share love at the highest relationship level possible. Everything else fades into insignificance when we're truly focused on praising and worshiping Him.
Third, we must vocalize our love. Hebrews 13:15 instructs us: "Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name." There's something powerful about verbalizing our praise. It cements in our thinking and emotions what God is doing in our spirit. Even when alone, praying and praising out loud strengthens our focus and enriches our love for God.
If you've read Revelation, you know that worship around God's throne will be vocalized and loud. The word "Hallelujah"—meaning "praise the Lord"—is the same in every language, and it will flow like oceans from the lips of the redeemed.
Six Practical Principles for a Life of Praise
1. A praise life is a ministry unto the Lord. First Peter 2:5 tells us that we are "living stones" being "built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." Every believer is part of the praise ministry of the kingdom of God. This isn't reserved for worship teams or church leaders—it's for everyone who names Jesus as Lord and Savior.
2. A praise life teaches us to be generous. Stingy people struggle with giving praise because the price feels too high. The world teaches us to elevate ourselves by knocking others down, but praise does the opposite. It lifts up. When we maintain a heart of praise, we naturally become more generous with our encouragement, our love, and our resources.
3. A praise life is a weapon for spiritual warfare. When something is troubling you, praise the Lord. Worship. Sing. The Archbishop of Canterbury, William Temple, declared that "the world will be saved by only one thing, and that is worship." Though we may not fully understand how praise affects us spiritually, it's undeniably powerful. When we step out of our comfort zones to praise God publicly, we create opportunities for others to encounter the gospel.
4. A praise life begins in adoration. Adoration—the love expressed through praise and worship—is the only thing we can truly give God. We have nothing worthy to present to Him on our own merit. We're sinners saved by grace. Yet in His mercy, He has filled our lives with joy, peace, and His anointing. All we can do is thank Him. Revelation 4:11 declares: "You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created."
5. A praise life leads us to higher spiritual ground. When we're not complaining, when we're not down in the mouth, when we choose praise instead of whining, it lifts us—and those around us—to a higher place. Isaiah 58:14 promises: "Then you shall delight yourself in the Lord; and I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth." The word "delight" means to thoroughly enjoy. When we thoroughly enjoy our relationship with God, He takes care of everything else.
6. A praise life dismisses the devil. As Mary Schlosser said, "I sing the doxology and dismiss the devil." There's something about worship that breaks the enemy's hold. When we're focused on praising God, darkness must flee.
Make a Joyful Noise
Psalm 100 provides a beautiful blueprint for a life of praise:
"Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations."
As we move forward into this new year, let's establish a foundation of praise. Not because we're trying to manipulate God or earn His favor, but because He is worthy. Because worship transforms us. Because praise is the weapon that defeats our spiritual enemies and the key that unlocks higher spiritual ground.
When we make praise our priority, everything else falls into place. God takes care of the details when we seek His kingdom first. So sing the doxology. Dismiss the devil. And watch as God transforms your life from glory to glory through the simple, powerful act of praise.
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