Praise and Worship

The Bible tells us that the entire Christian life is lived by faith: We are saved by faith (Ephesians 2:8); we walk by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7); we please God by faith (Hebrews 11:6); and we overcome the temptations of the world by faith (1 John 5:4). But faith can seem like an abstract concept — how do we practically demonstrate faith?

The Bible tells us that faith has a language, and that language is praise. When Paul and Silas were put in prison for doing God’s will and preaching the gospel, they praised God, and their praise literally opened the jail cell doors-for them and for all the other prisoners (Acts 16: 25, 26)! Your praise to God has the power to open jail cell doors in your own life and in the lives of others. When you praise God, you make God big and your problems small; and as you do this, God will show Himself strong on your behalf.

There are many ways to praise God. You can call on His name, which is YHWH (LORD) and Jesus; you can recount all of the great things He has done for you (freed you from sin and death, given you eternal life, made you victorious, and given you every spiritual blessing, to name a few); or you can sing to Him, make a joyful shout, and lift up your hands to Him.

The result of praise is a more intimate relationship with God – “God inhabits the praise of His people” (Psalm 22:3). When you praise God, you make a throne for Him, from where He will show His glory and do mighty things in your life. The great thing about praising God is that it does not depend on feelings, but is an act of the will. No matter what is going on in your life, you can live a lifestyle of praise to God. Just like Paul and Silas, you will see the miraculous happen as you praise Him!

Verses

“I will praise you, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High” (Psalm 9:1, 2).

“And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the LORD, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: ‘Praise the LORD, for His mercy endures forever.’ Now, when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated” (2 Chronicles 20:21, 22).

“But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:23, 24).