HALELLU YAH !

Praise To God - The Importance of Praise
Praise to God is what we offer in acknowledgement of God's excellent being. You might think that praise is the same as saying "thank you," but there is a difference. Thanksgiving describes our attitude toward what God has done, while praise is offered for who God is. Psalm 18:3 says "I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise…"

All believers are commanded to praise God! In fact, Isaiah 43:21 explains that praise is one reason we were created, "This people I have formed for Myself; they shall declare My praise." Hebrews 13:15 confirms this: "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise - the fruit of lips that confess his name."

Praise originates in a heart full of love toward God. Deuteronomy 6:5 says, "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." Are you a Christian today? If so, you know that you love God because He first loved you! Without God's love, any praise you can offer is hollow. Love, born from a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, is an essential part of your praise.

Praise To God - How to Praise God
How can you bring praise to God? What can you do to make it an integral part of your life? Praise can be expressed in song, in verse, or in prayer and it is to be done continuously! Psalm 34:1 instructs, "I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips." Psalm 71:6 says, "From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother's womb. I will ever praise you."

Praise to God is expressed outwardly through our everyday actions, as well as inwardly in our thoughts. Praise is an act of Christian worship.

"Where do I begin?" you may ask. "How do I start praising God?" If praising God is new to you, try praising God for who He is to you, personally. Proclaim that God's goodness is without measure; it is abundant and overflowing! Here are some ways to get started:

• Praise God for His holiness, mercy, and justice (2 Chronicles 20:21, Psalm 99:3-4).
• Praise God for His grace (Ephesians 1:6).
• Praise Him for His goodness (Psalm 135:3).
• Praise God for His kindness (Psalm 117).
• Praise God for His salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Praise to God can be offered anywhere! In time, it will become as normal as taking a breath. Sometimes we praise God inwardly as in Psalm 9:2, "I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High." Other times we have opportunity to give glory and praise to our God publicly. Psalm 22:22 says, "I will declare your name to my brothers; in the congregation I will praise you." Search out opportunities to bring praise to God!

Praise To God - Who Praises God?
Praise to God, while offered particularly by His children as the freewill expression of grateful hearts, will one day be offered by everyone! The Bible says that when He comes again, all mankind will praise Him and acknowledge Him as Lord. He is King over all the earth. When we know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, our hearts long to praise His name. Philippians 2:9-11 tells us His name represents His being, describing who He is, "Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

The Bible also records:

• All nature praises God (Psalm 148:7-10).
• The sun, moon, and stars praise Him (Psalm 19:1 and 148:3).
• The angels praise Him (Psalm 148:2).
• Even the wrath of men is used by God to praise Himself (Psalm 76:10).
• Children are to be taught to praise God (Psalm 78:4).

Praise To God - Do You Proclaim His Praise?
Your praise to God is evidenced through your salvation. 1 Peter 2:9 says, "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."

How are you offering praise to God today? Do you know Him as your Lord and Savior? If not, why not begin there. Learn more about salvation. When others look at you, do they see a reflection of God's praise? Psalm 113:3 declares, "From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised."

Praise To God - Do You Praise GOD In Your Prayers?
Whether you adopt or adapt the following, or compose a praise program of your own, I pray that this suggested "praise program" may help your praise ascend plentifully and purposefully to God in ways that will make the angels blush with envy!

1. God the Creator
   "Creator God, I praise you because you made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you'. . . . " (Nehemiah 9:6).
2. The Only God "God, I praise you because you are the LORD, and there is no other; apart from you there is no God. . . ." (Isaiah 45:5).
3. The Almighty God
   "O LORD God Almighty, who is like you? You are mighty, O LORD," and I praise you . . . ." (Psalm 89:8).
4. The Everlasting Father, the Ancient of Days
   "I praise you, Lord, as the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:9), the Everlasting Father (Isaiah 9:6), who lives forever and ever. . . ."
5. A Loving God
   "I praise you because you are a loving God, whose very nature is love. . . ." (1 John 4:16).
6. A God of Justice
   "Lord, I praise and magnify you, who is just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. . . ." (Romans 3:26).
7. The Trustworthy God
   "Heavenly Father, I give you my praise and adoration, because you are a "faithful God, keeping [your] covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love [you] and keep [your] commands. . . ." (Deuteronomy 7:9).
8. A Merciful God
   "You, O Lord, are a gracious and merciful God," (Nehemiah 9:31), and I praise you for your great mercy. . . ."
9. God my Refuge, my Fortress
   "I praise you, Lord, for you are my mighty rock, my refuge. . . .'" (Psalm 62:7).
10. A Longsuffering, Persevering God
    "Father, I praise you because you are patient with [all your children], not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance' (2 Peter 3:9). Thank you for your patience with me. . . ."
11. The Only Wise God
    "I give praise to you, my Father, the only wise God [my] Saviour' (Jude 1:25). May all glory and majesty, dominion and power, be yours both now and ever. . . ."
12. The Holy One
    "Holy, holy, holy are you, Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come. . . ." (Revelation 4:8).
13. A Personal God
    "I praise you, God, because you are a personal God, who gives me the honor of knowing you personally, just like you did to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. . . ." (Matthew 8:11).
14. A Giving God
    "Praise and honor be yours, O God, because you are a generous God, who did not even stop short of giving your own Son (John 3:16). . . ."
15. The Provider God
    "I praise you today, Lord, as my Jehovah-jireh, who will generously provide all [I] need'. . . ." (2 Corinthians 9:7).
16. The Shepherd God
    "I bless your name and praise you as my Jehovah-rohi, who will shepherd me and guide me in the paths of righteousness for your name's sake" (Psalm 23:1-3).
17. God my Victory
    "Praise to you, my God, because you are my Jehovah-nissi, God my victory, who always leads [me] in triumphal procession in Christ'. . . ." (2 Corinthians 2:14).
18. God my Peace
    "I praise you with all my heart, Lord, because you are my Jehovah-shalom, the God of peace [who] will soon crush Satan under [my] feet. . . ." (Romans 16:20).
19. The God Who Heals
    "Father, I praise you because you are the Lord who heals me. . . ." (Exodus 15:26).
20. The God of All Comfort
    "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort. . . ." (2 Corinthians 1:3).
21. The God of Miracles
    "Lord, I praise you because You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the people'. . . ." (Psalm 77:14).
22. A Forgiving God
    "I want to bless you with my praise, Father, because you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love'. . . ." (Nehemiah 9:17)
23. The Burden-Bearer
    "Praise be to the LORD, to God [my] Savior, who daily bears [my] burdens'. . . ." (Psalm 68:19).
24. A Faithful God
    "I praise you because your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies'. . . Great is your faithfulness'. . . ." (Psalm 36:5; Lamentations 3:23).
25. God the Blessed and Only Ruler, King of kings and Lord of lords
    "All honor and praise be to you, my God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords'. . . ." (1 Timothy 6:15).
26. God the Liberator
    "I praise you because You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD'. . . ." (Psalm 70:5).
27. The Lifter of My Head
    "Father God, I praise you because you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head' when I am weary or depressed. . . ." (Psalm 3:3).
28. A God of Light
    "I praise you, Lord, because you are my light and my salvation,' and because you know what lies in darkness, and light dwells with you'. . . ." (Psalm 27:1, Daniel 2:22).
29. A God of Joy
    "I give you my praise, O Lord, because you have granted [me] eternal blessings and made me glad with the joy of your presence'. . . ." (Psalm 21:6).
30. The God Who Answers Prayer
    "I praise and honor you, Father, because you are a God who loves to answer prayer, and who begins to answer even before I begin to pray" (Isaiah 65:24).
31. The God of All the Earth
    "I praise and adore you, Lord, as the Holy One of Israel. . . [my] Redeemer. . . the God of all the earth'. . . ." (Isaiah 54:5).

It may seem simple, but this "praise program" has energized my "praise life," helping me to praise God more knowledgeably and purposefully in prayer. It has also enlarged my vision and awareness of the praiseworthy God I love and serve and, I believe, increased the evidence of his godly character in my life. My prayer is that it may begin to do the same for you as well

 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.