FAITH CAPSULE: We praise God with our whole heart because He alone is the King of all the earth.

Psalm 148, 149, 150

Philippians 2:12, “…Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” The working out of our salvation is also in praising God. With fear and trembling in our life, we give God a well deserved praise because He is fearful in praises. It is not possible for anyone to express approval, admiration, commendation or laudation for someone they have no faith in. When we praise God, we are offering grateful homage in words, dancing, worshipful melody, or through our daily lifestyle. God stated in His command, “…For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God…” (Exodus 20:5). He is a jealous God; and the antidote of a jealous God is attention. Praise is an act of giving God all the attention he rightfully deserves. Praising God should be done continually. Psalm 150:6 says “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!” As long as you have breath, praising God should never cease.
How do we praise God? Psalm 47:7 states, “For God is the King of the earth; sing praises with understanding.” Praising God is not about going through emotions, especially when the heart is far from God. When we praise and worship God, it has to be in understanding just as required by the Psalmist. Psalm 9:1-2 pointed out how we go about in praising God, “I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.” We praise God with our whole heart because He alone is the King of all the earth. Also, it is impossible to praise God without joy. When we praise him, joy must flow because in the presence of God there is fullness of joy. (Psalm 16:11) What happens when we praise God the way we should praise Him? The Psalmist states, “But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel.” (Psalm 22:3) Where God is enthroned there He also inhabits. By this virtue, God inhabits the praises of His people. In God’s presence victory is certain. The wall of Jericho fell down flat through praise as commanded by God. (Joshua 6) Paul and Silas overcame the confrontation of their adversary by praying and praising God. (Acts 16:25-40) The word of God is true. As He was in the past so it is today and many are still testifying victory through praising and praying to God. Praising God in line of God’s required way of praise worship is seeking the presence of God. There is healing, deliverance and preservation in the presence of God. Why not give it all to Him in praise and worship?

Prayer for today: Let my heart not depart from praising You all the days of my life.