Praise

Praise. I have been thinking about this word and our responsibility to it.

Both of my children are involved in multiple sports. Watching them play I get so excited when they make a touchdown, spike the ball, make a basket and many other things. I yell out “good job” and etc. I want them to know I am proud of them and what they are doing. I also praise them when they bring home good grades or do stuff around the house.

I got to thinking about our praise to God. Are we as quick to give praise to God as we are to our children or other people? Are we as quick to recognize what God does for us? I asked my 14 year-old daughter, Sarah, why we were quick to give praise at a sports event, but not as quick to give praise to God for all that He does for us. She did not have an answer. I told her it was something to think about.

The other Sunday as I was getting ready for church, an old song came on that gave me pause as it went along with my thoughts on praise. Here are the words to Praise the Lord by The Imperials.

When you're up against a struggle That shatters all your dreams
And your hope's been cruelly crushed By Satan's manifested scheme
And you feel the urge within you To submit to earthly fears
Don't let the faith your standing in Seem to disappear

CHORUS:
Praise the Lord
He can work through those who praise Him
Praise the Lord
For our God inhabits praise
Praise the Lord
For the chains that seem to bind you Serve only to remind you
That they drop powerless behind you When you praise Him

Now Satan is a liar And he wants to make us think
That we are paupers When he knows himself
We're children of the King So lift up the mighty shield of faith
For the battle must be won We know that Jesus Christ is risen
So the works already done

I have been working to quickly give praise to God in all things. The other weekend I went to my daughter’s volleyball tournament some distance away and there was a cost to get into the game. I was not sure if I had any money on me. When I checked another compartment in my wallet I found some money. I said “praise God” as I was thankful I had money on me. Sometimes little things get by us or we take them for granted when it is really God working in our lives.

Let’s work to be quick to give praise to God in everything!

Blessings,