1 Praise the Lord!
Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in his mighty heavens.
2 Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.
3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre.
4 Praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe,
5 Praise Him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.
6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
1. Who is to be praised? Praise is directed exclusively to the Lord, not us, not other people, not even blessings - but the Giver of blessings. In what ways do you find yourself sometimes directing praise toward people or accomplishments rather than toward God?
Application: This week, write down three specific attributes of God (who He is, not just what He has done) and set aside time to praise Him for those qualities each day.
2. Where is praise to take place? We are called to praise God 'in His sanctuary' and 'in His mighty heavens.' Praise happens in the gathered church and in the grandeur of creation - it is both communal and cosmic. How does your experience of praising God differ when you are in church with others versus alone in nature or in private prayer?
Application: This week, intentionally praise God in two different settings: once in corporate worship (such as church, small group, or family prayer) and once in nature (a walk outdoors, under the night sky). Notice how both experiences shape your heart.
3. Why do we praise? We praise Him for His acts of power and His surpassing greatness. Praise is both thanksgiving for what God has done and adoration for who He is. Do you tend to focus more on praising God for what He has done for you, or for who He is in His character? Why?
Application: Make a 'two column praise list'. On one side, list the mighty acts of God you've seen in your life (answered prayer, provision, healing). On the other side, list His unchanging attributes (love, holiness, mercy). Use this list in your personal praise time.
4. How do we praise Him? The psalmist calls us to praise with trumpets, harps, timbrels, dancing, strings, pipes, cymbals - all forms of expression. True praise is never passive. It engages our voices, bodies, instruments, and emotions. Aare you sometimes hesitant to express your praise outwardly? What holds you back?
Application: This week, expand your expression of praise in a new way - sing out loud, lift your hands, clap, journal a prayer of praise, or even dance before the Lord in private worship. Stretch yourself beyond your normal comfort zone to honour Him.
