Praise is an amazing gift from God even though many believers today don't see it that way.
For the most part, we have lost a sense of why we praise God.
Is it that He has an ego problem and needs to be constantly told how awesome He is?
Does He have a low self-esteem that He needs to be constantly affirmed?
Does He suffer from fits of depression that He needs constant encouragement and spirit boosts?
Well, no.
God is neither an egomaniac nor a narcissist.
He doesn’t suffer from dysthymia or clinical depression either.
He is a God who is confident in who He is, in complete control of His emotions and one who does not need perpetual ego massages.
Now what all this means is that He could do without our praises or anything else for that matter.
His very title ‘God’ means self-sufficient.
So every time you say, "God", you are basically saying, “You don’t need me or anything else”.
He is a self-contained God.
A resource by Himself and for Himself.
Without us, He is God. Without Him, we are nothing.
So He could definitely do without us telling Him how great He is.
The truth is, He was great before we came along, and He'll be great long after we're gone.
He is the same yesterday, today and forever. (see Hebrews 13:8)
He is the same whether you praise Him or not.
Which begs the question...
If not for God, then for who is praise for?
Well, praise is for us!
Praise a gift from God that allows us to experience the love and presence of God and also attract His intervention in our lives.
Time and time again in the Bible, we read of praise attracting the help of God.
It's an action of faith that the devil has no strategy against.
Infact, praise was Israel’s most effective battle strategy.
Every time they went into battle, and the tribe of Judah went first, they won.
Now Judah in Hebrew means ‘praise’.
So every time praise went first, God would fight for them.
It’s the same for us today.
Praise brings God into our daily life battles.
It allows Him to handle all the things in our lives that we cannot.
Now I’ll admit there's nothing as daunting as maintaining an attitude of praise when facing a myriad of problems.
When how we feel wants to override how we faith.
When every emotion in our bodies is crying out:
"Why should I?!"
"What has He done for me lately?!"
"Where was He when this happened to me?!"
When those in our lives who are like Job's wife are telling us,"Barech Elohim, va mut!" (curse God and die!)
It certainly takes alot to praise God in a storm.
However, we need to understand that praise is not a reaction to the good things God does in our lives but a revelation of who He is.
This is why Paul and Silas could praise God in prison bound in chains clueless of what fate awaited them.
These guys didn't just know about God, they knew God (intimately) and neither circumstances nor how distraught they probably felt could change the revelation they had of Him.
To them, God was worthy of praise whether they were bound in chains in prison or free as birds.
Circumstances and feelings were immaterial.
You see, when we sing a song like, ‘Good Good Father’, we're not complimenting God.
We're simply telling Him something He has revealed to us about Himself.
It's foolish and ignorant to think we're gassing God up by praising Him.
He doesn't need our praise to be God.
Whether we praise Him or not won't add or take away from who He is.
We magnifying God doesn't magnify God...He's already magnified.
Magnifying Him simply means we've come to the realization that He is magnified.
We're simply stating a truth that He has revealed to us as we fellowship with Him in relationship as His children through praise, prayer and His word.
True praise comes from a place of revelation..not emotions.
Emotions change but revelation doesn't.
Seasons change but who God is doesn't.
We don’t just praise Him when we’re busking in the sun but also when we’re drenched in rain because come rain or shine, He is good.
King David says in Psalms 34:1:
"I will praise the LORD at all times. I will constantly speak His praises."
At all times means at all times...whether good or bad.
The devil can steal anything else from us, but lets not let him steal our praise.
Praise is the key to our restoration as children of God.
Praise your way out no matter how long you've been in your storm or how long it takes to come out.
The beauty of it is that as a child of God, you are not just waiting on God, you are waiting in God.
Noah was in the ark as he waited for the floodwaters to subside, and so are you.
The ark is a picture of Christ and the Bible says you are in Christ. (see 2 Corinthians 5:17)
So keep praising God, beloved.
May His praise ever be on your lips.
It not only attracts His tangible love, presence, comfort and help, but it also maximizes God and minimizes your storm(s) in your eyes.
So the next time you find it difficult to praise God or feel like you are doing Him a favor, remember it is all for you...He doesn't need it.
God bless you.
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