“Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon…” (2 Chronicles 20:22)

 Praise is identified in the Bible as what brings God to us, and us to God. Praise is a language of faith. If you have praise to offer, you have God. It is the cheapest way to get His attention. Psalm 47:7, “For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with understanding” When understanding is applied to God’s Word, there will be a knowing-edge that brings forth a provocative and undeniable result. When you understand the fact that God is King and He is on the throne, praises that is rooted in the heart will be rendered unto Him so as to get into His presence. No wonder the Psalmist stated in Psalm 100:4, “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise…” Without doubt, there is no iota of lie, confusion or contradiction in the Bible except if the reader is confused who often contradicts him or herself. It is written in Psalm 22:3, “But you are holy, enthroned in the praise of Israel.” With a clear understanding that God inhabits the praises of His people, will you not consider that God is within your reach more than you can ever imagine? Rendering praises unto God is a very serious matter, and it is for those that want to touch Him and be touched by His presence. Praising God is rendering a sacrifice. Hebrews 13:15, “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” Since Praise is a sacrifice to God and it also takes us to God, it is best to be sanctified before the sacrifice. God is holy and he will not respond where there is sin. Also, we cannot gather in sin and claim to be sacrificing unto Him in praise worship. Praise is sacrifice and it is proper to render a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is our reasonable service. (Romans 12:1). 1 Samuel 16:5, “And he said, ’Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.’ Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice. “  At the time Samuel was sent by God to go and anoint David, it is clear that sanctification comes before sacrifice. A sacrifice without sanctification is a distant to God. Once, the children of Israel were to present themselves before God, “So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and sanctified the people, and they washed their clothes. 15 And he said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not come near your wives.’” It is proven throughout the Bible that God has to be approached without sin. What kind of praise have you been rendering to God when you come before him? Praise is not noise-making, it is not keeping time to the music with our hands, it is not a performance, it is not drawing attention or gaining attention, it is not in the choice of nice words with a nice beat. Thank God for Jesus who has taken away our sins. If believers will confess with sincere and genuine heart, in the name of Jesus, praising Him will bring the presence of God because He is God that inhabits the praises of His people. When God is in your praises, your enemies will be ambushed, chains will be broken; victory will become your portion. Who should praise God? You should sing praises to God while you have being. The Psalmist said so, “I will sing praises to the Lord while I have my being.” (Psalm 146:2) In several pages of the Bible, it is written that those who fear Him should praise Him. Praise Him with the voice of joy, with harp and melody; praise Him among the people or in your secret closet. Psalm 34:1, “I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Praising Him all the time will raise you up to Him. Believers, like it or not, God has spoken; He has laid down His expectations that will generate manifestation. He will not come again to lower the standard or raise it. When believers choose to do just as He asked, the result will match His promises. Coloring the word of God, taking the word of God out of context, or adding to the word of God will only take a believer through emotional ruin. Approach the word just as God prescribed and He would be found by main. He is truly faithful indeed. God performs in prayer and He will perfect in your praises.
 
Will you sing praises to the Lord while you have your being?
"But I will hope continually, and will praise You yet more and more.” (Psalm 71:14)
 
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