Why Is It So Important (and Refreshing!) to Praise the Lord?
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Often when someone shares good news, a Christian will exclaim, “Praise the Lord!” Praise the Lord GIFs even exist, which give a pictorial representation for texts.
The exact phrase, “Praise the Lord” occurs thirty-nine times in the ESV Bible translation, and most are found in the Psalms (thirty-one). The verbal exclamation of “Praise the Lord” since the beginning of the world is countless.
Where in the Bible Are We Encouraged to Praise the Lord?
Romans 15:11 is the only place in the New Testament which has the exact phrase, yet throughout both the Old and New Testaments, we are encouraged and even exhorted to give our praise to the Lord.
Some of the specific Old Testament passages which exhort us to praise the Lord may be found in:
Psalm 22:26; Psalm 102:18; Psalm 104:35; Psalm 106:1, 48; Psalm 111:1; Psalm 112:1; Psalm 113:1,9; Psalm 115:18; Psalm 116:19; Psalm 117:1; (and many other Psalms), and Jeremiah 20:13.
Why Do We Praise the Lord?
One could write a series of books on this vast subject. As it is, the following are but a few of the many reasons we praise our God.
Why do we praise God? Because:
- He loves us (John 3:16).
- He saved us from death (John 3:16).
- We are commanded to praise Him (Psalm 104:35; Psalm 105:45; Psalm 106:1; Jeremiah 20:13; Romans 15:11).
- If we don’t who will (Luke 19:40)?
- He gives us understanding of Himself through His Word (2 Timothy 2:7).
- He helps us understand His Word (2 Timothy 2:7).
- He has welcomed us into His kingdom (Matthew 6:33, 7:21).
- He has adopted us as His children (John 1:12; Romans 8:15; Ephesians 1:5).
- He has revealed Himself through His creation (Psalm 19), and through Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:15-20).
- When God looks at us (Christians), He sees Jesus (Romans 8:1; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:23).
Why Is He Worthy of Our Praise?
The list is inexhaustible. Here are a few reasons the Lord God is worthy of our praise:
- He is God (Psalm 46:10).
- He is sovereign over all (Acts 4:24; 1 Timothy 6:15).
- He is holy (Leviticus 11:44), righteous (Ezra 9:15), just (Deuteronomy 32:3-4), good (Luke 18:19), compassionate (James 5:11), merciful (Exodus 34:6), gracious (Romans 5:15), and faithful (Deuteronomy 7:9; 2 Timothy 2:13), (among many other characteristics).
- He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for our sins (John 3:16).
- He gave us His Holy Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee of our salvation in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:22).
- He is the Creator (Genesis 1:1; John 1:1-3)
- He is the only One who can give us eternal life with Him (John 17:2-3).
What Does It Look Like to Praise the Lord?
Have you ever known a Christian whose conversation sounds like a song, as if their voice is a smile that cannot be dampened? We are told to rejoice in the Lord always (Philippians 4:4), and it’s a good guess the person just described might be doing just that.
Ephesians 5:18b-20 gives us a wonderful model of the expression of praise, “but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The command may be subtle, but the inference is there, and why not? We serve a good and holy God who wants His glory and our good. Romans 8:28 tells us our great God works all things together for the good of those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose. That’s cause to rejoice and praise the Lord.
Many think they can praise the Lord only in a corporate setting, such as weekly church services or along with others at a conference or worship music event. But there are so many ways we can praise the Lord.
7 Refreshing Ways We Can Praise the Lord
In our quiet time of prayer. Because God knows the hearts of men, He will hear our praise if it’s only in our hearts. But if the situation warrants, sing or praise aloud with great joy to the Lord as you pray, read Scripture, and extoll Him for the awesome God He is.
Praise the Lord in song. This is a no-brainer, right? Sing a psalm from the Bible or sing along with recorded worship music (or even with a friend who’s with you). Groups have been known to gather in public places and bust out in worship, not only praising God, but sharing the good news through their biblical songs of praise to the Lord.
Bible study: Oftentimes when studying Scripture, we will read verses we recall have been turned into song lyrics. Pull up the music on your favorite player and sing along. Raise holy hands to the Lord as You praise Him (1 Timothy 2:8).
While outdoors: A stunning sunrise or sunset. The sound of birdsong in the morning or evening. Water babbling over the rocks in a stream, or the swell of an ocean wave. Stargazing. Beholding the light of fireflies. Even the shade of a mighty oak tree. All these imprints of God’s creation will inspire us to praise the Lord.
Corporate worship: Joining in community with our brothers and sisters to worship is one of the most beautiful ways to praise the Lord. Our voices meld together in prayer, hymns, and teaching of the word.
Sharing your testimony: The Lord repeatedly tells us to remember our salvation (2 Kings 22-23; 1 Chronicles 16:12; Psalm 71:15-16; Matthew 5:16; Matthew 28:19-20). Sharing what He has done for us as individuals brings God glory and, as we do, we praise the Lord.
Supporting missionaries with letters of praise to God for their work. We often miss this opportunity, but the encouragement we send to missionaries brings praise to the Lord (1 Timothy 1:2).
Why Is This So Important for Our Growing Faith?
It’s easy to be selfish and wallow in our infirmities or anxieties. What we need to remind ourselves is the best is yet to come! As believers in and lovers of the Lord Jesus Christ, we have nothing to fear from man (Proverbs 29:25; Hebrews 13:6). And we have nothing to fear about what will happen to us or to the world (John 16:33).
This world cannot contain the praise due the Lord and, if He does not receive praise from humans, He told us in Luke 19:40 the stones would cry out. It’s a strong metaphor, but can you imagine the hush in heaven and earth if no one gives Him the praise He is due? The phrase about silence being deafening would suffice to describe the void.
When we give our praise to the Lord God, we take our attention off ourselves and focus it on the Creator—the Giver of Life—the Savior of our souls. When we praise the Lord, we acknowledge our lowly state and our desperate need for Him. We are compelled to seek Him and to lean into Jesus and press on toward the end, which is glory. When we praise the Lord, we become less and He becomes more. When we praise the Lord, we magnify His name and glorify Him.
A Prayer of Praise to the Lord
Lord God Almighty,
You are worthy of all our praise. You alone are awesome, and You are gracious and holy. I join David when I say I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful and yes, my soul knows it very well. As You lead me in Your ways, Father, I pray everything I think, do, and say will speak of my love and praise for You. This I pray in the matchless name of Jesus Christ,
Amen.
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Gilitukha
