Christians know they should pray. Most of us confess sins now and then. We talk about reading, studying, and memorizing the Bible.
But do you think about PRAISE?
The Book of Psalms reminds us that we are here to praise God, and when we spend time praising Him, it blesses Him and it blesses us. I once visited a pastor in his hospital bed, and he got excited talking about it: “Did you know that YOU can bless GOD? The Bible says, ‘Bless the LORD, oh my soul!’ [Psalm 103:1.] We all want God to bless us, but it’s time for us to bless GOD!”
God draws near when you praise Him.
“The Lord inhabits the praise of His people” Psalm 22:3. Consider Paul and Silas—singing to God while bound in prison. God showed up and they were miraculously released, Acts 16:25-26. When we praise God, we are drawn closer to Him.
Praise can be singing, but praise can also be talking to God, telling Him how great He is—which will also remind you! Read the Psalms aloud. Talk to God through those words of praise, through 150 chapters, 150 lyrics. God must value praise—the longest book in the Bible is this book of praise. Psalm 23 may be best known. But the second most popular may be Psalm 100, a psalm often read from the pulpit during the worship portion of church services:
Shout joyfully to the Lord all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful singing.
Know that the Lord He is God:
It is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving
And His courts with praise:
Give thanks to Him and bless His name.
For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting;
And His truth endureth to all generations.
Psalm 100.
Now read the psalm again—read it to yourself, but also read it to God, talking to Him through these words, praising Him for His many great attributes.
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