Did you know that it is actually our job as believers to praise the Lord? It’s true! It’s not your pastor’s job or your worship leader’s job to do that for you, It’s actually your job. It may be part of our pastor’s job to help facilitate praise and your worship team’s job to lead praise, but each of us that trust in the Lord are responsible for OUR praise to the Lord.
If you have spent much time in the church at all, you might have heard the words, “praise and worship” used interchangeably, but they are not the same. Praise is included in worship, but not just worship. Worship involves praise, but much more.
Praise can be rowdy and can even make a scene if you will. Now, I’m not referencing an inappropriate scene or a self seeking scene because our praise is to the Lord, not a performance for those around us. I’m sure at some point you have seen some crazy sports fans screaming and jumping and “praising” their team. This is a very different kind of praise but the point remains that it can get wild.
Psalm 100:1-2 says, “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.”
You see here that it mentions a shout for joy!! I know for some people the idea of praising God can seem very threatening and very intimidating. You can have a mind set to stand and praise God in your head, but that is not a true definition of praise. This can really be a sticking point for many people who trust in the Lord. I understand that if you’re an introvert making it uncomfortable for you to even walk into a room, it can be very intimidating to praise in a way that means other can see you. Just please, keep this in mind. Your praise is unto the Lord and is an outward expression of gratitude for all He has done. It is not meant for others to judge.
Let’s be clear, there are numerous ways to worship God. You worship Him with your tithes and offerings. You worship when you serve in the house of the Lord or in a place where your acts of service point people to Jesus. Some worship is sacrificial as in volunteering to give up rest to serve in church etc. praise, however is the fun part!
Psalm 150:6 says, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord.” That actually means EVERYTHING and certainly EVERYONE!
In Acts chapter 16 there is the incredible story of Paul and Silas being arrested AGAIN for sharing the Gospel. They weren’t murmuring and complaining about their circumstances or why God would let them be imprisoned again! No! They were calling into remembrance all the things God had done for them and how He had protected them so far. They were getting stirred up in their spirit man. Then we see that an earthquake happened right there…right in the middle of their circumstances!! The shackles were loosened and they fell off so that they were free, praise God!!! Praise can happen at anytime and in any situation!! If you are feeling bound in your circumstances, praise is a wonderful way to deal with the stress and fear you may grapple with. I say this not because it’s a “If I do this..God will do this” sort of thing, but because we have scriptural references for how God can break chains in response to praise.
Someday, when we have reached our eternal reward and we are in Heaven, there will be unbelievable praise before the Father. What a huge contrast to this carnal world we live in now. However, we don’t have to wait for Heaven because God is worthy to be praised now! Let’s be the scriptural and Godly example for others on earth. This is not for attention and not to seem pious, but to praise the Lord for all that He has done for us and in so doing cause others to follow our example!!
PRAISE the Lord!