Praise is What We Do
We are a nation of complainers. Oftentimes we worry and complain about what is not going well on our behalf and all the things that we are unhappy about. Someone once said, “Take your complaints to the Lord on your knees.” Sometimes it’s easier to complain than pray because prayer takes the attention off you and places it on someone or something else.
A member of my family recently required serious surgery, so I set my mind to pray. Instead of complaining or worrying, I praised God for directing the hands of the surgeons. I praised Him because I knew He loves me and delights in answering my prayers. Thank the Lord that the surgery was successful!
Having a mindset of praise is critical as a believer. Praise is one’s response to the revelation of who God truly is. True praise to God originates in the heart and is not a mere outward show (Matt 15:8). Corporate praise, when done in an orderly manner, brings Him glory (1 Cor 14:40). Praise is also firmly embedded in an individual's everyday life. In the Old Testament, the prophet Amos brought out that praise is intricately linked to a person’s lifestyle (Amos 5:21-24).
Praise comes from a Latin word meaning ‘value’ or ‘price.’ Thus, to give praise to God is to proclaim His merit or worth. Many terms are used to express this in the Bible, including ‘glory,’ ‘blessing,’ ‘thanksgiving,’ and ‘hallelujah,’ the last named being a transliteration of the Hebrew for ‘Praise the Lord.’ So, for all we encounter this year, we walk forward with praise on our lips because praise is what we do.
I don’t have the rights to this song, but I want to leave you with its message:
“Praise is What I Do”
(William Murphy/Global Gospel Group, 2115)
“Praise is what I do/ When I want to be close to You.
I lift my hands in praise/ Praise is who I am.
I will praise You while I can/ I'll bless You at all times.
I vow to praise You/ Through the good and the bad.
I'll praise You/ Whether happy or sad.
I'll praise You/ In all that I go through,
Because praise is what I do/ 'Cause I owe it all to You.”
A member of my family recently required serious surgery, so I set my mind to pray. Instead of complaining or worrying, I praised God for directing the hands of the surgeons. I praised Him because I knew He loves me and delights in answering my prayers. Thank the Lord that the surgery was successful!
Having a mindset of praise is critical as a believer. Praise is one’s response to the revelation of who God truly is. True praise to God originates in the heart and is not a mere outward show (Matt 15:8). Corporate praise, when done in an orderly manner, brings Him glory (1 Cor 14:40). Praise is also firmly embedded in an individual's everyday life. In the Old Testament, the prophet Amos brought out that praise is intricately linked to a person’s lifestyle (Amos 5:21-24).
Praise comes from a Latin word meaning ‘value’ or ‘price.’ Thus, to give praise to God is to proclaim His merit or worth. Many terms are used to express this in the Bible, including ‘glory,’ ‘blessing,’ ‘thanksgiving,’ and ‘hallelujah,’ the last named being a transliteration of the Hebrew for ‘Praise the Lord.’ So, for all we encounter this year, we walk forward with praise on our lips because praise is what we do.
I don’t have the rights to this song, but I want to leave you with its message:
“Praise is What I Do”
(William Murphy/Global Gospel Group, 2115)
“Praise is what I do/ When I want to be close to You.
I lift my hands in praise/ Praise is who I am.
I will praise You while I can/ I'll bless You at all times.
I vow to praise You/ Through the good and the bad.
I'll praise You/ Whether happy or sad.
I'll praise You/ In all that I go through,
Because praise is what I do/ 'Cause I owe it all to You.”