Praise

Praise is defined as expressing gratefulness and love by words, singing, dancing or song, as an act of worship: a hymn of praise to God.   To worship is to glorify, honor, praise, exalt, and please God. Our worship must show our adoration and loyalty to God for who He's been to us, or because He is God.  Praise is to express your admiration for God and His goodness.  Colossians 3:16, says Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
1 Chronicles 16:29, says Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him! Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness;

Miraculous things happen when you praise God.  Acts 16:16-34 says, Paul and Silas were in prison. As they began to pray and sing hymns to God, the foundations of the prison were shaken, the doors were opened, and their chains were loosed.


Let’s take a look at Psalms 23, that starts with the Lord is my shepherd.  A shepherd by define is one who cares for and guides those he’s in charge of.  According to dictionary.com, A shepherd is also one that teaches and ministers. Verse 3 in Psalm says He leadth me into righteousness for his name’s sake.  I love the 23rd Psalm, so I’ll go ahead and list it in it’s entirety. 

Psalm 23,
1.    The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want
2.    He maketh me to lay down in the green pastures.  He leadth me beside the still waters
3.    He restoreth my soul
4.    He leadth me in the path of righteousness for his name’s sake.  Yey though I walk through the valley of the shadow death, I will fear no evil.  For God is with me.  Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5.    He prepareth a table before me in the presence of my enemies.  He anointh my head with oil; my cup runth over.
6.    Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

We have many reasons to praise God.  First of all we should praise Him because of Who He is.  We should praise, honor and glorify God’s name, presence and power, because He created all things.  We should praise God because while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).  We should praise Him for His daily renewing grace and mercy.
The basis, no matter, how you praise God is to show acknowledgement of how wonderful and amazing He is! True worship requires total commitment of our body, mind and spirit. It’s about exalting and adoring God even while struggling or in well doing.  Praising God has everything to do with having an intimate and profound relationship with God. 

Praising God isn’t just done with words.  Psalm 150:1-6 says, Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! ...

There are several ways you can praise God.

    Singing and speaking – Psalm 35:28.

    Lifting hands – Psalm 63:4

    Shouting – Psalm 47:1.

    Clapping – Psalm 47:1.

    Dancing – Psalm 149:3 – 150:4.

    Playing instruments – Psalm 33:2, Psalm 150.

    Standing – Psalm 135:1-2.

    Bowing and kneeling – Psalm 95:6.

How has praise and worship helped you win spiritual battles?

PSALM 86

Prayer in Time of Distress
A prayer of David. Hear me, Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and oppressed.
Preserve my life, for I am loyal; save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God; pity me, Lord; to you I call all the day.
Gladden the soul of your servant; to you, Lord, I lift up my soul.
Lord, you are kind and forgiving, most loving to all who call on you.
Lord, hear my prayer; listen to my cry for help.
In this time of trouble I call, for you will answer me.
None among the gods can equal you, O Lord; nor can their deeds compare to yours.
All the nations you have made shall come to bow before you, Lord, and give honor to your name.
For you are great and do wondrous deeds; and you alone are God.
Teach me, Lord, your way that I may walk in your truth, single-hearted and revering your name.
I will praise you with all my heart, glorify your name forever, Lord my God.
Your love for me is great; you have rescued me from the depths of Sheol.
O God, the arrogant have risen against me; a ruthless band has sought my life; to you they pay no heed.
But you, Lord, are a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, most loving and true.
Turn to me, have pity on me; give your strength to your servant; save this child of your handmaid. Give me a sign of your favor: make my enemies see, to thei

Praise and Worship 6/09 - 6/15

Psalm 34 (MSG)

A David Psalm, When He Outwitted Abimelech and Got Away

34 I bless God every chance I get;
my lungs expand with his praise.

² I live and breathe God;
if things aren’t going well, hear this and be happy:

³ Join me in spreading the news;
together let’s get the word out.

⁴ God met me more than halfway,
he freed me from my anxious fears.

⁵ Look at him; give him your warmest smile.
Never hide your feelings from him.

⁶ When I was desperate, I called out,
and God got me out of a tight spot.

⁷ God’s angel sets up a circle
of protection around us while we pray.

⁸ Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see—
how good God is.
Blessed are you who run to him.

⁹ Worship God if you want the best;
worship opens doors to all his goodness.

¹⁰ Young lions on the prowl get hungry,
but God-seekers are full of God.

¹¹ Come, children, listen closely;
I’ll give you a lesson in God worship.

¹² Who out there has a lust for life?
Can’t wait each day to come upon beauty?

¹³ Guard your tongue from profanity,
and no more lying through your teeth.

¹⁴ Turn your back on sin; do something good.
Embrace peace—don’t let it get away!

¹⁵ God keeps an eye on his friends,
his ears pick up every moan and groan.

¹⁶ God won’t put up with rebels;
he’ll cull them from the pack.

¹⁷ Is anyone crying for help? God is listening,
ready to rescue you.

¹⁸ If your heart is broken, you’ll find God right there;
if you’re kicked in the gut, he’ll help you catch your breath.

¹⁹ Disciples so often get into trouble;
still, God is there every time.

²⁰ He’s your bodyguard, shielding every bone;
not even a finger gets broken.

²¹ The wicked commit slow suicide;
they waste their lives hating the good.

²² God pays for each slave’s freedom;
no one who runs to him loses out.