“Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits”. - Psalm 103: 2
They are many reasons why we ought to praise God, that you are breathing is one - no matter how hopeless you think your situation is, the breath you enjoy is a sign that things could definitely get better; but the how would things be better, if we do not continually/ have not thanked the one who has graciously given you the gift of having a tomorrow to look forward to?
In praising God, we become less(dropping all iota of pride, humbling ourselves before the one who is the epitome of majesty) acknowledging that he is greater.
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see”(Hebrews 11:1); how best can we express our faith in God than by praising Him for what he has done, what He has not done and what He will do?
The exquisite joy experienced in praising God is a source of strength. When we praise God, we open the doors of his fullness towards us. In praising God, the love relationship(with Him) is made more real and personalised, “God inhabits the praises of His people”.
God expects everybody( everything that has breathe) to praise him. Psalm 8:2a reads “from the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise...”, even the young ones are not exempted from this noble duty. if man refuses to praise God, the stones will cry out(Luke 19:40). Would you live in a generation where God would raise stones to worship him? “Let the high praise of God be in their mouth and a two-edged sword in their hands”(Psalm 149:6); to defeat the our adversary, to overcome seemingly impossible situations we cannot do it all alone with the sword but also by praising God, “praises move God”.
If the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures are constantly worshipping God(Revelation 19:4), how much more mere mortals? We who he has made ruler over the works of his hands and crowned with glory and honour(Psalm 8:5), owe him a duty to praise and worship him without ceasing and tell the world of his wonders towards men.
Paul and Silas despite being imprisoned without cause, praised God with their feet bound and the miraculous happened that night - leading to the salvation of many souls. “Praising God brings a display of his power in hitherto difficult circumstances”, even when it seems our prayers/requests have not been granted - the believe that He who promised is also able to perform(Romans 4), more than we could ever ask or imagine - will keep his praises in our mouths.
David(the man after God's heart) had the habit of continually praising God, even when he walked in the valley of the shadow of death. The praises of God continually on David's lips made him witness the hand of God in his life, from running from Saul to being pursued by his own son, yet in all this David still declared “I will bless(praise) the Lord at all times”. Why then should you not praise God?
Henry F Lyte's hymn 'Praise, my soul, the King of Heaven' tells us how, when and why we should praise the everlasting King.
In praising, our burdens are lifted off our shoulders and placed on him who truly cares for us.
“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of his lips that confess his name”(Hebrews 13:15) - this is the whole duty of man.
Enenim Ubon is on twitter @EnenimUbon
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