No matter how many times we go through life’s ups and downs, we can’t help but be in awe of God’s goodness. There’s something deeply gratifying about taking a moment to recognize all the amazing things He’s done for you. Praise is a beautiful way to celebrate God, and to do so not just when things are going perfectly, but at any moment, whether it’s big or small. It’s about acknowledging His greatness, His love, and His unwavering presence in our lives. When we praise God, we’re not only honoring Him, but we’re also aligning our hearts with His truth and experiencing the fullness of His peace. Praise is powerful, and it can change everything, bringing joy, perspective, and strength.
When most of us think about praising God, singing, shoutin’, and jubilant rejoicing come to mind, but praising our Creator is so much deeper than that. Praise is a posture of the heart—it’s about choosing to glorify God even when everything around you is trying to steal your joy. And let’s be honest, that’s not always easy. But the Bible makes it clear that praise is powerful, and it’s what God’s people ought to do.
What is Praise?
Praise is giving God the glory, honor, and thanks He deserves, and doing so from our internal well of authentic gratitude and faith. It’s acknowledging who He is—our Creator, our Savior, and our Redeemer—and offering up our hearts in worship. In Psalm 145:3 (NLT), we’re told, “Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness.” Praising God is recognizing His greatness and goodness, no matter what we’re facing. It’s not just about what He does for us, but about who He is. Think about it—He’s the God who created the universe, who knows every star by name, and who holds the world in His hands. And He loves us, even on our worst days. That alone is enough to praise Him for an eternity.
It’s not just about acknowledging His greatness; praise also brings us into God’s presence. Psalm 100:4 (NLT) tells us, “Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name.” When we praise God, we step into a space where we can experience His love, peace, and joy. We invite Him into our hearts in a very real way.
This is not something forced; it’s a conscious decision we make to bring our whole selves into harmony and alignment with God’s goodness. It’s beyond bliss—far surpassing anything a mere human could ignite within us. It’s the highest form of adoration we can offer, and God has equipped and called us to praise Him in a way that draws us closer to His heart.
How Do We Praise God?
How do we praise God? The answer to this question is really quite simple: we praise Him as authentically and genuinely as we are capable. Praise comes in many forms, and it doesn’t always have to look like a worship service. In fact, praise can be expressed in your everyday life, in all kinds of ways. It’s a lifestyle, something that can flow through every part of our day. One of the most powerful ways we praise God is through song. Psalm 95:1-2 (NLT) invites us to lift our voices: “Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him.” Whether we’re belting out a favorite worship song in the car or quietly singing praises to our Creator in our room, music that glorifies our Heavenly Father can align our hearts with His truth. When we sing and declare His greatness and our love for Him, we set our hearts in alignment with His Spirit.
But praise isn’t only in what we sing; it’s also in how we pray. Prayer is a way to express our adoration and thankfulness to God. Instead of just asking for things, we can take time to acknowledge the totality of His awesome being and all that He has done. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT) reminds us, “Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” Praise through prayer will shift our focus away from our struggles and turn our eyes toward God’s greatness. It’s in those moments of prayer that we remember His faithfulness, intentionally allowing our hearts to rest in His peace.
Praise is also something that flows through our actions. Every act of kindness, and every time we serve others with the heart of Christ, we are praising God with our lives. He delights when our hearts are truly aimed at pleasing Him. In Colossians 3:17 (NLT), Paul encourages us, “And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.” Our lives are meant to reflect God’s love and grace. It’s a privilege to praise Him and demonstrate our gratitude and appreciation through everything that we do.
In fact, praise isn’t complete without gratitude. As believers, our hearts should continually overflow with thankfulness and praise for God. Psalm 103:2 (NLT) says, “Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.” When we’re challenged with heartbreak, problems in our marriages, illness, or any other form of pain and suffering, we may not think we can muster the courage or faith to praise God wholeheartedly, but praise is a spiritual offering. When we make the conscious decision to set our internal dial to gratitude, the Spirit transcends whatever is trying to keep us down. As God reminds us in 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT), “My power works best in weakness.” It’s about surrendering to praise through the Spirit and allowing him to take the lead.
Praising God is so important because its essential to our relationship with Him. It changes us and strengthens our faith. So, we must be committed to make praise a lifestyle. It should be our go-to when life is good, when life is hard, and even when life feels impossible. Psalm 150:6 (NLT) says: “Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord!” Don’t let a moment go by without praising God, because He alone is worthy of it all. ■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“The Importance of Praising God”, written by Rev. Fran Mack. Edits by Kim Times and K. Lizzie for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2024. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.