How To Praise God: A Comprehensive Guide
Praising God can fill our hearts with joy and bring us closer to our Creator. If you want to deepen your relationship with God through praise and worship, you’ve come to the right place.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: Praise God by worshiping Him through prayer, song, Scripture reading, thanksgiving, and living according to His Word.
In this comprehensive guide, we will explore what it means to truly praise God, the power and benefits of praise, types of praise, and practical tips for making praise a consistent part of your spiritual life.
Understanding What it Means to Praise God
Praising God is a central part of the Christian faith. It involves expressing our awe, gratitude, and love for who God is and what He has done. Here are three key aspects of what it means to praise the Lord genuinely.
The Heart Behind Praise
Praise begins in the heart. It flows out of an inner sense of wonder and appreciation for God’s attributes and actions (Psalm 103:1). Praise is not just going through religious motions or reciting memorized words.
True praise engages our emotions and thoughts as we reflect on God’s greatness and goodness. We praise God for who He is – His holiness, sovereignty, faithfulness, mercy, and love.
We praise Him for what He has done – His creation of the universe, salvation through Jesus, guidance in our lives, and countless acts of grace and protection.
Praise as an Act of Reverence and Adoration
Praising God is an act of reverence and adoration. It is humbly acknowledging God as supremely glorious and beautiful. Praise exalts His name and honors His exalted position as King of kings and Lord of lords (Psalm 95:3).
When we praise God, we are reminded of how transcendent and marvelous He is. Our perspective shifts from being self-focused to God-focused.
Praise lifts our eyes above our circumstances and helps us see the grandeur of the One who holds all things in His hands.
Praise Centers Our Focus on God
A key result of praise is that it centers our focus on God rather than ourselves. When we praise Him for His love, power, and redeeming grace, our attention turns toward Him. We become less occupied with our needs and problems.
Regular praise keeps our lives God-oriented. We begin to see things from His perspective. Praise renews our vision of how awesome He is and how privileged we are to know Him.
The Benefits and Power of Praising God
Praise Draws Us into God’s Presence
Praising God has the incredible effect of drawing us into His presence (Psalms 22:3). As we lift our voices in worship and adoration of God’s glorious attributes, it ushers our spirit into the very throne room of heaven to commune with the Almighty (Hebrews 4:16).
There have been testimonies of people having life-changing divine encounters as they devoted time to praise and worship.
In God’s presence there is fullness of joy (Psalms 16:11). Many Christians have experienced unspeakable joy, peace that surpasses understanding (Philippians 4:7), healing and restoration as they praised God.
Truly, praise brings us into the manifested presence of God where there is tangible evidence of His glory.
Praise Releases God’s Power
Praise is a powerful spiritual weapon. When God’s people praise Him, it releases His power to work on their behalf. There are several examples in the Bible that illustrate this.
In 2 Chronicles 20, King Jehoshaphat and his army praised God as they went to war, and God fought for them and defeated their enemies. In Acts 16:16-34, Paul and Silas were imprisoned for preaching the gospel.
At midnight, as they prayed and sang praises to God, He sent an earthquake that shook the prison and set them free.
Praise demonstrates our trust in God to move on our behalf. As we praise Him for who He is, it moves Him to show Himself strong and intervene supernaturally in every challenging situation we face (2 Chronicles 20:21-22).
Praise Defeats the Enemy
Praise scatters the enemies that come to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). The enemy hates it when we praise God. There is something about praising Jesus that breaks strongholds and brings deliverance.
In 2 Chronicles 20, praise threw the enemy camp into confusion and they defeated themselves. Praise releases God’s power to give us victory over any adversary we may have.
As we make a declaration of praise, God arises as the mighty warrior on our behalf (Exodus 15:3).
Depression, oppression and discouragement are not a match for heartfelt praise of our Savior. We enter into spiritual warfare through praise and experience breakthrough in areas that once seemed impossible (Psalms 8:2).
Praise Lifts Our Perspective
Praising God enables us to rise above negative circumstances as we focus our gaze upon Him. The resulting shift in perspective gives us victory over fear, worry and doubt.
We gain insight into the greatness and sovereignty of God over every challenge we face. Our faith is strengthened to believe for good things ahead, as our inner being resonates with songs of praise and victory (Acts 16:25).
We can look to inspiring Bible characters like king David, who praised God even in the valley of the shadow of death. He was able to declare “I will fear no evil” because his confidence was in his good Shepherd.
Lifting our eyes to Jesus reminds us of His triumph on the cross and gives boldness to walk through seasons of adversity (Psalms 23).
Types of Praise to God
Praise Through Prayer
One meaningful way to praise God is through prayer. Heartfelt, humble prayers focused on worshiping God for who He is lift His name on high.
We can praise His attributes – His goodness, faithfulness, grace, mercy and more (Psalm 106:1).
Lifting hands in prayer is also symbolic of surrender and offering praise (Psalm 63:4). Daily prayer and praise realigns our focus and priorities, directing our worship to the One worthy of it all.
Praise Through Song and Music
Singing praises through worship music and song is a long-standing Biblical way to glorify God (Psalms 96:1).
When the words we sing declare God’s wonder, love and power, it impacts our perspective. Upbeat melodies can lift our spirits while slower anthems can quiet our souls to focus on God alone.
From vocal praise to playing instruments, let everything that has breath praise the Lord (Psalm 150:6).
Research shows group singing increases positive emotions. So praising God through music with other believers magnifies our worship and multiplies our joy.
Praise Through Scripture and Testimony
The Bible contains endless examples of praiseworthy acts of God on behalf of His people. Recalling and declaring His faithfulness from Scripture reassures us of His steadfast love and stirs our hearts to praise Him more (Psalm 77:11-12).
We too can offer praise through sharing our own testimonies of God’s goodness.
In fact, research reveals that beyond boosting our own faith, when we tell others what God has done for us, it increases their sense of gratitude and desire to praise God as well.
Praise Through Thankfulness
Cultivating thankfulness is a form of praise that opens our eyes to just how much God has blessed us.
Despite trials, we can thank Him for His promise to work all things for our good in the end (Romans 8:28). Maintaining an attitude of gratitude keeps pride and entitlement at bay.
It enables us to echo the heavens that continually declare the glory of God (Psalm 19:1).
Studies actually confirm that reflecting on reasons to be thankful lowers stress and elevates mood. So praising God through giving thanks is beneficial beyond expressing love to our Creator.
Praise Through Obedience and Righteous Living
Putting God’s Word into practice by aligning our thoughts, words and actions with His commands allows us to honor Him with our lives. As we grow in spiritual maturity, we increasingly reflect His holy nature (1 Peter 1:15-16).
This practical praise proves our love for Him goes beyond lip service (John 14:15). And our upright conduct serves as a witness, pointing others to our Father.
Romans 12:1 encourages us to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice through obedient, praise-filled service.
This demonstrative exaltation ushers in God’s presence and favor both individually and corporately.
Tips for Incorporating More Heartfelt Praise
Set Aside Regular Times for Praise
Scheduling specific times for praise and worship is crucial. Set reminders on your phone for short praise breaks of 5-10 minutes a few times throughout the day.
Also aim to have at least 30-60 minutes dedicated solely to praise and prayer daily if possible.
Treat this time as seriously as you would an important work meeting or appointment. Find a peaceful spot to connect with God during your scheduled praise sessions.
Vary Your Expression of Praise
Get creative in how you praise God. Singing hymns, praying, writing praise poems, journaling gratefully about His blessings, and creating art for God are all great ways to mix up your praise.
Playing praise music and dancing freely can help enliven your spirit as well. Varying your expression keeps your praise fresh and heartfelt.
Fast from Negativity and Complaining
Minimize any negative input that can dampen your spirit of praise. Avoid spending excess time on social media, watching the news, or being around critical people whenever possible for a period of time.
Replace those activities with praise music, prayer, and spending time appreciating nature instead. This cleansing fast helps you reconnect with praise from a pure heart.
Memorize and Meditate on Praise Scriptures
Find key praise verses like Psalms 150, Psalms 100, and Ephesians 5:19-20 to commit to memory. Meditate deeply on the meaning of these verses.
Speak scriptures out loud to help imprint them on your mind and spirit. Bring them to mind during challenging or mundane moments to refocus your thoughts on praise.
Journal Your Praise Thoughts and Revelations
Writing praise statements mindfully can boost your faith. Maintain a praise journal to collect inspirations, lyrics, gratitude lists, testimonies, or whatever form conveys your authentic praise.
Journaling helps reinforce a lifestyle centered around heartfelt worship. Revisiting past journal entries also reminds you of God’s faithfulness when praise feels difficult.
Conclusion
Praising God should be at the very center of our life with Him. As we better understand what biblical praise is and make praise a consistent habit, we will draw closer to God, walk in greater spiritual power and victory, and enjoy deeper intimacy with our Creator.
No matter what you face today, take time to praise Him. Lift your voice in prayer and song, thank Him for His goodness, proclaim His greatness, and exalt His name alone. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
