PRAISE CELEBRATES GOD

From the rising of the sun to its going down the Lord’s name is to be praised – Psalms 113:3

PRAISE is the Celebration of God as your heart’s ultimate and true home! The human heart finds no real rest except in God. God is the Centre and Focus of Praise. Praise is extolling God for what He has done and is doing. True praise celebrates and glorifies God and takes our eyes off ourselves. True praise is precious in the sight of the Lord. True praise draws us closer to God, and farther from the flesh.

In general usage, to praise is: to commend or to express approval or favourable opinion or assessment of someone. To commend God suggests entrusting yourself to His care. To approve of God implies turning your thoughts toward Him continually – He who has won your applause. To praise God is to profusely narrate the wonder of who God is and how He has made a difference in your life.

The scriptures are filled with injunctions to praise the Lord. The Psalms of David, in particular, are filled with testimonies of the Lord’s trustworthiness, and the expressions of confidence that He will again prove Himself trustworthy. Here are a few:

• Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever (Psa. 106:1).
• Praise the Lord. Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord (Psa.113:1).
• Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol Him, all you peoples (Psa. 117:1).
• Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord (Psa. 150:6).

Praise is like writing a letter of recommendation for God! Praise is glorifying God: showing Him admiration and bestowing honour to Him. To praise God is to recognize and testify to all of His admirable qualities. As you honour and glorify God for who He is and for what He has done in your life, and will yet do, you are making room for Him to work for you and in you! You are giving Him a place to dwell in the very centre of your life. You refuse to take Him and His benefits for granted.