Keep Praising
Hebrews 13:15, “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”
Morning friends! Let’s just take a moment and give thanks for another day that we can live with positive thoughts and actions. For most, beginning our day with prayer is very substantial in how the moments of the day will proceed. Today, let us take some time and ask ourselves about praising. When you hear someone speak on praising, do you shy away, or do you openly engage in the conversation? What are your true feelings on how and when someone should be using praise? Should we not speak on how many different ways the word praise is connected to? In society, people look at praise as outwardly complimenting someone for a particular feat of accomplishment in either educational, sports or work promotions, even elections. These are not things we shouldn’t do, they are just things that should not let us become excessively overconfident and get a complex of being superior to everyone else. Taking praise is not the sin, boosting your own ego to think you are above everyone and God is where the sin begins! But I would like to move to a better type of praise; the one that involves thanking God for anything that He has provided, even those accomplishments! To truly avoid those ego praises; one must turn their praise to the one who actually gave you that talent, that ability, that education; the God that created you and planned out your journey! Remember to praise anywhere, at any time, in any place! Praise can be an expression of a changed life, the gift of birth, the opportunity to share Jesus’ love, etc. Why not praise Him when you make it through traffic, miss all the red lights, get across the train tracks just in time? Lift your hands in thankfulness during worship, during music time, at a concert; just anywhere that you feel God has answered a prayer you prayed! Psalms 34:1, “I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” True praise is meant to be a real way of life; it sustains our spiritual vitality, it changes the atmosphere around us; leaving us in peace and satisfaction of a true loving God! The affect that praise has will act like a domino effect and radiate from one person to another, until the whole room is filled with a joy and worship; acknowledging God is in that room! Even in the bad, or the sad times; give God the glory, for He knows the plans He has for you; so, I say, “keep praising”!
Scriptures:
Read: Psalms 34:1, Hebrews 13:15, Psalms 145:1-2, I Thessalonians 5:16-18, Psalms 35:28, Psalms 71:14, Psalms 113:3, Psalms 63:4, Jonah 2:9, Psalms 61:8, Ephesians 5:19, Psalms 150:1-6, Isaiah 43:21, Ephesians 1:3, Daniel 2:23, Psalms 111:1, I Corinthians 14:15, Ezekiel 3:12, Jeremiah 33:11
Prayer:
Dear God, thank you for all that you have provided for us and all the talents you gave each of us. Thank you, God, for helping us to understand how praise brings us closer to you. Dear God, thank you for showing us the difference in self-praise and thankful praise. Give us strength to show our praise now matter where we are so we can bring thankfulness to you. Amen.