What Happens When We Praise God?

Psalm 150:1-6

Perhaps no book exemplifies the spirit of praise and worship more than the book of Psalms. It records more verses of praise than any other book of the Bible. Obviously, God wants the praise of His people.

God tells us to give Him thanks for everything (1 Thess. 5:18), even when things press against our souls. We may not understand what is happening; we may never understand. But God's will in each circumstance is that we praise and thank Him.

But why? It's because praise is the clearest and most direct means by which you declare your dependence on God. it repeats your trust in Him in the midst of darkness. It confesses your allegiance and devotion to the One who was crucified for you and to whom you are eternally joined.

Consider a few specific benefits we derive from praising the Lord:

Praise magnifies God:  praise puts our focus on God, not on our problems. God's power, presence, and ability transforming our thinking.

Praise humbles us:  when we worship God, we gain a right view of ourselves. Praise deflates excess pride and ego. We gain a healthy self-image, based on God's view of us. By removing pride, praise strengthens us against temptation.

Praise reveals our devotion to God: if I love Christ, I will praise Him. If He has first place in my life, I will honor Him with worship and thanksgiving.

Praise motivates us to holy living: praise opens our hearts to want to live the way God desires - holy and separated unto Him, to do His will above our own, to want to be like Him more than anyone else. The more we worship Him, the more like Him we will become.

Praise increases our joy: joy is the constant companion of praise. If we feel depression or discouragement, praising God will soon bring us joy.

Praise establishes our faith: the greater we see our God, the smaller we see our problems.

Praise elevates our emotions. Worry, fear, and doubt cannot survive for long in an atmosphere of praise.

If you want to see a difference in your relationship with Christ and in your walk with Him, start to praise Him today. Continue even when you feel prone to give up. Commit yourself to a life of praise and fellowship with Jesus - and experience the fullness of what God means by "joy".