Are our lives full of Praise and adoration? How often do we activate our voices and thoughts in Praise of our Lord and Savior? There are times when we are so involved in a problem that prayers are substituted for Praise. There are times when we are involved in mental, physical, and spiritual skirmishes that Praise is forgotten. There are times when things are going so well that we forget to Praise Him. There are times when we feel Praise should be offered only after the victory and not during the battle.
On the other hand, there are times when we gather for corporate worship where Praise flows freely. There are times when we have secured victory and our battle fatigues are exchanged for garments of Praise. From the mountain tops to the valleys below, Praise should flow from every aspect of our being. It does not matter what the circumstances try to dictate. By Praising God we acknowledge His sovereignty and rule. Praise is God consciousness. Praise is the blanket that smothers the fires of discontent. Praise raises us above the clouds of confusion and frustration. Praise clears our minds of doubt, fear, and anxiety. Praise exchanges negatives for positives. Praise rejuvenates the overworked mind. Praise boosts our spirits. Praise sends Satan’s apostles (demons) into full retreat. PRAISE IS ACKNOWLEDGING THAT GOD IS IN CONTROL!
There was a song years ago that put it into perspective, it was called, LOVE HIM IN THE MORNING. Even though the song was about the love of God, I believe it can also be used to illustrate our response to that love. Simply changing the word love in the song to praise will illustrate when praise should be initiated. The lyrics are: “Love Him in the morning when you see the sun arising. Love Him in the evening cause He brought you through the day, And in the in-between times when you feel the pressure rising…” When we interchange love and praise, we will truly learn the effects of praise in our lives!
David, the King of Israel, had a jump start in understanding praise. He believed in a total acclamation of praise. In the 150th Psalm David expressed that everything that had breath should praise the Creator of life. As praise began to roll through the generations, it picked up speed through the reaction to the appearance of God’s Son and His completed work. Soon every living being had the capacity to acknowledge God through Praise. People ask what Heaven will be like. One thing we know for sure is that there will be a Praise gathering that is beyond human understanding. (Revelation 7:9-12 is one of a number of references to be considered) The Praises in Heaven will shake every Universe, Galaxy, Milky Way, and everything in existence. Praise begins with us here and now and leads to Praising our Lord there and then!
I remember years ago while driving to work, I suddenly became aware of the presence of the Lord. I began to praise Him for everything that my eyes saw. Everywhere I looked I was overcome with praise and adoration. The more I praised Him the more aware of His involvement in life was manifested. I had to pull off the road and just bask in His presence. May every Believer program his tongue to praise Him for His manifold blessings, for He is worthy!
