Praising God For Who He Is: A Comprehensive Guide

Praising God is one of the most fundamental parts of the Christian faith. It centers our focus on God, His character, and His many blessings in our lives. But with the busyness of life, it can be easy to neglect praise and worship.

If you want a comprehensive guide to praising God for who He is, you’ve come to the right place.

Here’s a quick answer: Praise God by reflecting on His attributes like love, faithfulness, sovereignty, holiness, grace, majesty, righteousness and more. Praise Him specifically through worship music, singing, Scripture, prayer, art, writing, and declaring His goodness aloud.

Let your praise flow from a heart of gratitude for God’s identity and acts.

In this detailed guide, we’ll cover why God is worthy of praise, the biblical basis for praise, how to cultivate a heart of praise, creative ways to praise God through different mediums, and more. By the end, you’ll have lots of tools, inspiration and motivation to praise God daily for who He is and all He has done.

The Character of God: Why He Is Worthy of Our Praise

God Is Love

God’s love is unconditional, faithful, sacrifice, and everlasting (1 John 4:8). His great love is manifested through creation and redemption. As an awesome display of love, God sent His one and only Son into the world so that we might live through Him (1 John 4:9).

What an amazing, agape love that God has lavished on us!

God Is Holy

The holiness of God means He is set apart, distinct, and totally other (Isaiah 6:3). He is righteous, perfect, sinless, and possessing unmatched glory. God’s holiness is the foundation for all His other attributes.

His holiness stirs our soul to worship Him as we cry “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty” (Revelation 4:8).

God Is Righteous

God is perfectly righteous in all His ways (Psalm 145:17). His righteousness means He always does what is right, just, moral, virtuous, and ethical. We can fully trust His character and judgments. Even when we face trials, we know “the Judge of all the earth will do what is right” (Genesis 18:25).

God Is Sovereign

As sovereign ruler over all, God reigns supreme with absolute authority, perfect control, and unwavering rule (Psalm 103:19). He directs the course of nations (Job 12:23) and commands the stars in their positions (Isaiah 40:26).

We can completely rely on His supreme power and take comfort that our lives are in His hands.

God Is Faithful

God remains trustworthy and keeps His promises forever because faithfulness is part of His holy character (1 Thessalonians 5:24). His faithfulness spans generations (Psalm 100:5) as He demonstrates loving devotion in all His words and ways.

What confidence we have knowing our faithful God will never leave nor forsake us!

The Biblical Basis for Praising God

Old Testament Commands to Praise

The Old Testament contains numerous commands and exhortations to praise God. In the book of Psalms, we find the refrain “Praise the Lord!” over and over again (Ps 106:1, Ps 113:1, Ps 135:1). God commands His people to praise Him through songs, thanksgiving, and declaring His wondrous works (1 Chron 16:8-36, Ps 9:11, Ps 26:7).

Praise is closely linked with giving thanks and recognizing God’s mighty deeds on behalf of His people (1 Chron 16:8-36, Ps 9:1-2).

The act of praise is not confined to the temple or tabernacle, but rather, something all of God’s creation is urged to do, since the whole earth is filled with His glory (Ps 148, Ps 150). Whether in community or privately, whether through music or poetry, whether silently or out loud, the Lord’s name and character are to be praised.

Psalms as Examples of Praise

The book of Psalms contains over 100 songs and poems of praise, making it an indispensable guide for understanding how to exalt God. Psalms contain expressions of joy, thanksgiving, awe, celebration of God’s attributes and past faithfulness, declarations of His worthiness, and more.

For instance, Psalm 100 overflows with joyful praise, calling everyone to “make a joyful noise to the Lord” and “come into his presence with singing!” (Ps 100:1-2). Psalm 98 beautifully summons all creation to worship: “let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it!

Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together” (Ps 98:7-8).

Many psalms praise God for His lovingkindness (Ps 106:1), His strength and power (Ps 21:13), His creation (Ps 104), His holiness (Ps 99), His righteousness (Ps 7:17), and His wonderful works (Ps 107). God is exalted for who He is, not just what He’s done.

The book of Psalms models heartfelt, thoughtful, genuine praise that focuses on God’s essence.

Praise in the New Testament

Praise continues as a major theme in the New Testament as well. For instance, at Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the crowds shouted out praise: “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” (Matt 21:9).

The book of Revelation is filled with praise scenes, with multitudes worshiping God and the Lamb, singing, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power” (Rev 4:11).

The epistles frequently encourage Christians to praise God. For example, the author of Hebrews declares, “Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name” (Heb 13:15).

Paul instructs believers to address one another “in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart” (Eph 5:19). Clearly, heartfelt praise is a central part of the believer’s life.

Cultivating a Heart of Praise

Thanksgiving and Gratitude

Giving thanks to God should be an integral part of our daily lives as believers. By cultivating a heart of gratitude, we acknowledge that everything we have comes from Him (source). Some practical ways to develop thankfulness include keeping a gratitude journal, praying prayers of thanksgiving, singing worship songs, and sharing with others how God has blessed you.

As we intentionally focus on what God has given us, our hearts overflow with praise.

Remembering God’s Past Faithfulness

God has been faithful to His people throughout history. When we remember specific examples of Hisprovision and protection in the past, it strengthens our faith and motivates us to praise Him more (source).

For instance, we can reflect on testimonies of God’s goodness in our own lives, stories of miraculous healings, or biblical accounts of God rescuing His people. Memorizing and meditating on Scriptures that recall God’s faithfulness, like Psalm 136, is another great way to fuel our praise.

Rejoicing in Salvation

As Christians, we have the incredible privilege of knowing Jesus as our Savior. He sacrificed His life so that we could be forgiven and restored in our relationship with God. This free gift of salvation is worth celebrating every single day!

Spending time pondering the mercy and grace we’ve been shown often leads to heartfelt praise and thanksgiving. Songs and hymns about our salvation remind us of what Christ has done for us and fill our hearts with joyful praise (source).

Recognizing God’s Presence and Work

God is always actively involved in our lives as believers, even when we can’t visibly see Him at work. As we learn to recognize and acknowledge His unseen presence and sovereignty in our circumstances, our praise toward Him is strengthened.

Taking time to reflect on how God has guided our steps, opened doors, brought the right people into our lives, shut down unwise paths, and worked behind the scenes displays immense trust in His loving power. Our faith rises as we surrender control to Him, which inevitably leads to heartfelt praise.

Delighting in God’s Glory

Our glorious, holy God is worthy of all our praise simply because of who He is. When we meditate on His divine attributes – like His limitless wisdom, boundless love, flawless justice and infinite power – our response is to be filled with awe and admiration.

We praise God not just for what He’s done, but for who He is. He alone is supreme over all and deserves our delight, wonder and exultation. Regularly reflecting on the majesty and beauty of God’s character nourishes our innermost praise.

Creative Ways to Praise God

Through Music and Song

Singing praises to God has always been a meaningful way for believers to worship. Whether singing classic hymns with rich theology or modern worship anthems, praising God through music connects us to other believers across generations.

Some creative ideas include writing your own songs, playing instrumental praise music, or even using everyday sounds around you to make a “joyful noise” unto the Lord (Psalm 100:1). As the psalmist says, let everything that has breath praise the Lord! (Psalm 150:6)

Through Art and Creativity

God is the ultimate creative force in the universe, so what better way to praise Him than by using our own creativity? Painting, drawing, sculpting, photography, dance, filmmaking, poetry, creative writing, and crafts like quilting and woodworking can all become acts of praise when done with a heart of gratitude.

Displaying visual art with scripture in your home reminds you daily of biblical truths. Crafting handmade gifts for others spreads the message of God’s goodness. Get creative with the talents God’s given you!

Through Writing and Poetry

Journaling prayers, praise reports, or lists of things you’re grateful for are meaningful ways to praise God through writing. Writing encouraging notes to fellow believers lifts their spirits. Crafting poems, limericks or acrostics focused on God’s attributes flexes your creative muscles in praise.

Publish your writings to share online or in a local church bulletin to bolster others’ faith. Sites like Praise Poems publish Christian poetry as a testament to God’s glory.

Through Scripture and Meditation

The very words of Scripture contain powerful praises to God from faithful believers across thousands of years. Singing or praying passages word-for-word anchors your praise in biblical truth. Meditating on specific praise psalms like Psalms 100, 150 or145 etches gratitude into your heart.

Pick one descriptive name for God like Rock, Shepherd or Fortress, then research related verses from a concordance to see His character in new dimensions. Let scriptural praise kindle fresh awe of Him!

Through Declaring Praise Aloud

The simple act of speaking praise for God’s goodness allows us to physically utter thanks from our core. Praying aloud in tongues utilizes the incredible gift of Holy Spirit-inspired praise within us (1 Corinthians 14:2).

Singing or shouting praise breaks spiritual oppression and refocuses our minds on eternal truth. Combine spoken declarations of praise with the raising of hands or even dancing in enthusiastic awe of our King! Letvoicing praise strengthen and empower your spirit.

Incorporating Praise Into Everyday Life

Make Time for Focused Worship

Setting aside intentional time for praise and worship is vital for nurturing an attitude of gratitude. Try starting each morning with 10-15 minutes of worship music, scripture reading, and prayer to set the tone for the day. Or take time in the evening to reflect on God’s blessings that day.

Scheduling this focused time shows God He’s a priority in your busy life.

Cultivate Spontaneous Moments of Praise

We shouldn’t confine praise to structured worship times. Look for organic opportunities to glorify God throughout your routine. When you experience goodness, beauty or truth, express heartfelt praise. See God’s fingerprints on creation while gardening, hiking or stargazing.

Let your heart overflow with thankfulness for his gifts of relationships, opportunities, abilities or possessions. Developing this reflex of praise brightens everyday life.

Let Praise Flow From Your Work and Relationships

Work, family activities, and relationships provide contexts to live out heartfelt worship. Approach job tasks with gratitude and gusto while abiding in Christ, thereby infusing excellence into mundane logistics. Serve loved ones joyfully as unto the Lord.

Offer words of grace and validation to friends struggling to see their worth. As Timothy Keller says, “There is no higher calling than to pray into someone else’s life.”

Share Your Journey of Praise With Others

At times praising God amid suffering can perplex fellow believers, giving the impression of denial. But as apologist Ravi Zacharias declares, “You cannot live without joy.” When questions arise, humbly explain how almost losing everything redirected your worship to God alone.

Your steadfast hope and joy in affliction may inspire seekers disillusioned with life’s fragility. Model praising God’s character rather than fleeting blessings. Transparent testimonies can spark profound conversations about the peace surpassing circumstances.

Conclusion

Praising God for who He is lies at the heart of our relationship with Him. When we reflect on His character and works, praise naturally flows from grateful hearts in worship. We can cultivate greater praise by steeping ourselves in Scripture, remembering God’s faithfulness, and being creative in how we express adoration.

Set aside focused time to praise God every day. But also allow spontaneous praise to arise continually as you see His hand at work around you. Make praise the soundtrack of your life through all circumstances.

As you make praising God for who He is a lifestyle, you’ll experience His presence and joy in greater measure.