FAITHFULWORD.ORG | TEACHINGS

Psalm 95:1-6; Hebrews 13:15; Psalm 135:1-3; Psalm 147:1; 50:23; 22:3; [Romans 9:6-8]; Psalm 51:15-17; 69:30, 31; 54:6; 57:7; 63:4-6; 104:33, 34; 138:1, 2; Ephesians 2:5; [John 3:16; 10:28]; Ephesians 1:6-14; Hebrews 13:14, 15; II Samuel 6:14: II Chronicles 6:10-14; Psalm 95:1-6; Psalm 113:1-3; 119:47, 478; I Peter 2:9; Revelation 5:11-13

Come and let us praise the Lord together! To praise God is to worship Him. God is worthy of all our praise. When we praise God, He receives the love, adoration and glory that He rightfully deserves. The praise of His people is very near and dear to the heart of God and is one way they demonstrate their love and affection for Him.

Praise is a wonderful aspect of sacrificial living and worship of our God and Father. Hebrews speaks of offering the sacrifice of praise to God continually and the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name. “Giving thanks” literally means to confess the truth with regard to God and His Word. Praise is to speak and confess the virtues and characteristics of God.

When we praise God, it is pleasant. In the Old Testament times, the people had to go to the temple to praise God and bask in His presence. Part of the joy and benefit of worshipping the Father in spirit and in truth is that wherever we go, we can be in His presence and give praises unto Him. When we praise God, we focus our attention on the Blesser, and not so much on the blessings.

God dwells within us by way of the spirit. But the Lord’s portion is His people. God desires to have love and adoration from us in return for His goodness, kindness and love towards us. Psalms says God dwells in the praises of His people.

Whether our words are spoken aloud or spiritually, or in songs or dance, God is interested in praise from the heart. A key to developing a heart of praise is to keep our hearts fixed on God. Praise should be a natural out flowing from our bellies and mouths. As we look at God’s creation and ponder the spiritual things we have through Christ, it will be like a fire inside and will bubble forth in praise to our God. Meditation and praise are often together in verses.

We praise God for the spiritual blessings we have. Ephesians says we are to BE to the praise of His glory. The word “be” is better translated as “continually become.” It is a continual state of growth.

Through praise, we give thanks to God. Through praise, we celebrate victory and pour our hearts out to God. Through praise, we honor and glorify God. We express our love and devotion to God, allowing Him to sit on the throne of our hearts. Praise is appropriate and honorable in times of rejoicing and in times of trouble, in times of abundance and in times of need. Praise is a way we carry out our religious service – to worship God. It is always a good time to praise the Lord and sing unto Him.