Welcome, friends! Let's talk about praise.
There is nothing more life-transforming or powerful than praise. Not praise of ourselves or praise of others. I’m talking about praising our Father, living a life centered on gratitude and thankfulness.
One of my favorite verses about praise is Psalm 28:6-7.
“Praise the Lord! For he has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving."
What a wonderous thing that we worship a Father who hears our cries. Not only does he hear us, but he helps us. One thing I try to practice in my daily life is to reach out to Him when I need help instead of trying to do it on my own.
When I start to feel confused or concerned, I’m making it a habit to stop and talk to God. My prayers are more conversations. I talk to Him about all kinds of things. I ask him if I should be worried or concerned,or if is there something I need to do, and then I stop and quiet myself and listen. Sometimes I get a clear thought as an answer, and sometimes I get a strong feeling. And sometimes I get nothing, and that’s okay too. I usually figure that if something important needs to be told to me, it will be. I trust that He will tell me what I need to know through the Holy Spirit that abides in all who truly believe.
Praise, gratitude, and thanksgiving are woven throughout the Bible. They're not just actions; they're transformative attitudes that shape our hearts and minds.
Praise is like a healing balm for the holes in our hearts. The empty spaces that we fill with all the wrong things. Word of gratitude and songs of praise will fill those holes faster than anything. Life often leaves us bruised, uncertain, or empty. Yet, when we turn our hearts toward praise, something remarkable happens. It's not about denying the struggles or pain but acknowledging the presence of God in the midst of it all.
The Psalms, especially, are a treasure trove of verses about praise.
Psalm 100:4 says, "Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name."
There's a connection between gratitude and intimacy with God. When we approach Him with a heart of thanksgiving, it opens the door to a deeper relationship. And the Father wants nothing more than a true relationship with us. It’s why we are here on Earth.
Consider Paul's encouragement in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, "Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus."
We are called to be thankful in all circumstances—not just when things are easy or favorable. It’s easy to be thankful then. It's far harder and a real challenge to be thankful when things aren’t easy, when life is throwing rocks at us, and everything is seemingly falling apart. Those are the times we see the mighty power of praise.
And then we have the favorite verse of everyone graduating from high school.
Philippians 4:6-7: "Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."
Colossians 3:17: "And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father."
Hebrews 13:15: "Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name."
How do you praise? Is it through words or songs? Acts of kindness? Silent prayers? There’s no right or wrong way. My absolute favorite way to praise is through music. I love going on long walks and listening to praise music. Prayer walks. I take in the beauty of the world the Father gave us and let my heart open wide to take in His love and kindness. And I offer Him the joy of my soul. If I start a prayer walk on a day I’m feeling discombubulated or weary, by the time I’m done, I’m happy.
If you spend 45 minutes praising our sweet Father and letting his goodness wash over you, of course you’re going to feel better. It works every time!
As we go throughout today, let’s try to be grateful and thankful for our lives – the big things and the little things. Let’s try not to grumble or complain. Turn off the news. Get off social media. Open your bibles or turn on some music and let Him fill all the empty, lonely, hurting places inside. He’ll do it! Be open to it.
Remember, praise isn't just a response; it's a way of life that transforms us from the inside out. May you experience the joy and peace that come from a heart filled with gratitude and praise.
I’d love to hear how you praise and the difference it makes in your life. Send me an email to susanne@therecoveredchristian.com or comment here.
Have a wonderfully recovered day!
Susanne
