READ: Psalm 150
“Praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.” (Psalms 150:4-6)
To praise is to recognize and celebrate His nature and character, e.g., “Lord, you are gracious and kind always.” As this psalmist writes, there are many different ways to praise; it doesn’t have to come through words, and it can even come through dancing.
Sometimes I include songs of praise at the start of my quiet times, and it sets me in the right frame of mind. After all, Jesus starts the Lord’s Prayer with “hallowed be your name, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Praise reminds us that our lives aren’t about ourselves, it’s about Him and His will.
Praise is an act of worship. It helps us understand our place relative to Him. He is all powerful and we are infinitely at his mercy. He is our creator, and we are the creation. He reserves the right to do as he deems fit. He is the CEO, and we are the entry-level employees. We should be doing exactly what he tells us to do, no more or less. When we understand this, we can finally submit to his will and do what is best for His kingdom, others, and ourselves.
So consider incorporating praise into your personal quiet times and into your prayers.