HOW TO PRACTICE THE POWER OF PRAISE

Our perceptions shift. Attending my very first church as a new believer, I remember enjoying the message, but wondering, “Why they had to sing so many songs?” Can you remember ever thinking that? As we grow to know more about the Lord and experience more of his grace, worship seems like the most natural response.

Recently, I have been giving much thought on how to practice thankfulness. This has drawn me into the Psalms. One thing that I have discovered is that thankfulness and praise are twins. We are going to look at the power of praise in this article.

WHAT IS PRAISE? 

To fully understand praise, it needs to be seen in the light of thankfulness.

1. Thanksgiving and praise are twin sisters—where you find one, you will usually find the other.

“I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness,and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High” (Psalm 7:17).

“It is good to give thanks to the Lord,to sing praises to your name, O Most High” (Psalm 92:1).

2. Thanksgiving and Praise honor God. Thankfulness honors God for what he has done…

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!” (Psalm 107:1).

3. Praise honors God for who he is…

“Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable” (Psalm 145:3).

Thankfulness recognizes how God has been good and loving towards us, which should lead us to praise him for being good and loving.

4. Praise is Holistic and Dynamic

True praise is holistic, meaning that it requires our whole being. It requires our mind, our heart and our spirit. It is also dynamic, meaning that while we are affirming our affections to God, he also affirms his affections towards us. Here is a simple equation…

Rational (Mind) + Emotional (Heart) + Supernatural (Spirit)

•Rational (Mind) — First, we have to rationally see that the Lord is good and steadfast in love towards us with our mind.

•Emotional (Heart)— Next, we have to be will to affirm God’s goodness and steadfast love with our emotions in our hearts. We speak or sing praises to him for his goodness and love.

•Supernatural (Spirit)— Then, the Holy Spirit interacts with us dynamically and the Lord downloads more grace upon us!

WHAT MAKES PRAISE SO POWERFUL?

1. The Lord is great and He is to be praise greatly (Psalm 96)

2. The Lord is good towards us 

“The Lord is gracious and merciful,

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

The Lord is good to all,

and his mercy is over all that he has made” (Psalm 145:8-9).

3. Praise is Our Purpose

(1). We were created to worship the Lord! —it’s our eternal purpose!

“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you” —St. Augustine

“Bring my sons..my daughters…everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” (Isaiah 43:7). 

“All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord, and all your saints shall bless you!” (Psalm 145:10)

(2). The Angels and heavenly host were created to worship the Lord!

“Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his host!” (Psalm 148:2).

“Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads [countless] of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice,  

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” (Revelation 5:11-12).

(3). Satan was also created to worship the Lord! He was a head worship leader in heaven!

• Satan was an angel —Cherubs were created to lead the heavenly host in the worship of God.

“You were an anointed guardian cherub. I placed you; you were on the holy mountain of God; in the midst of the stones of fire you walked. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you” (Ezekiel 28:14-15).

• Satan’s heart was proud because of his own splendor

“Your heart was proud because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground…” (Ezekiel 28:17).

• Satan desired to make himself like God the Most High.

“How you are fallen from heaven, O Day Star, son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! You said in your heart, I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High” (Isaiah 13:12-13).

• Satan tempts us to take pride in our own splendor. We are made in the image of God, and because of sin, can be tempted to act in the same pride. It was the same lie he told in the garden to deceive Eve.

“You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. For God know that when you eat from it you eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5).

Satan will do anything to keep us from praising God—If he is willing to be cast down for his rebellion he is willing to deplete us from any praise being on our mouth.

A LACK OF PRAISE IS A SURE SIGN OF SPIRITUAL WARFARE! PRAISING GOD IN ALL THINGS, AT ALL TIMES IS TO FIGHT THE BATTLE IN FAITH! 

Because we were created for God’s glory, to honor and praise him—the declaration of praise brings us into alignment with God’s purposes!

4. No Matter What See —Praise the Lord! Don't  let Hardships, Anxiety, Bills, or a World going crazy cause you to take your eyes off Jesus our victor!

(1). Be sober-minded & resist the devil! —Praise will restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you in Christ.

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1Pe 5:8-11).

(2). The Lord has established strength in our praise! Praise stills the enemy and avenger!

“Out of the mouths of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and avenger!” (Ps 8:2).

(3). The Lord preserves all who praise his name! Let praise be spoken from your mouth!

“The LORD preserves all who love him, but the wicked he will destroy. My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever” (Psalm 145:20-21)

(4). Praise Draws Us into His Presence! It brings us in the fullness of our joy here and now!Don’t wait until trauma to seek him—build confidence in your faith always!

“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth” (Ps 145:18)

“Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel” (Ps 22:3).

“In your presence is the fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalms 16:11).

HOW DO WE PRACTICE THE POWER OF PRAISE?

—We are to practice praise not only in congregational worship, but also in personal devotion!

1. Practice thankfulness daily—it opens our hearts to Praise the Lord!

2. Praise him verbally, speak it out loud, speak scriptural praise, sing praise songs, and make up your own praise!

3. Do it …

(1). Everyday

“Everyday I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever” (Ps 145:3)

(2).Continually

“I will bless the Lord at all times;

his praise shall continually be in my mouth” (Psalm 34:1).

(3). Completely—(Seven means complete or perfect)

“Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous rules [Word]” (Ps 119:164).