Foundations of Faith: What Does It Mean to Be a Christian?نموونە

A Life of Praise

An incredible gift has been given to you. Give thanks and praise to God for taking you from the path of destruction and giving you eternal life through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance — an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.”

-1 Peter 1:3-4 NLT

Throughout Scripture, God’s children take time to worship and praise Him. The Book of Psalms is sometimes referred to as a book of praise and worship. It provides many examples for God’s people to worship Him for who He is and the way He’s working out His plan and purpose for His creation.

When you praise God, you’re praying, singing, and using your words to thank God. Others hear you praising and are moved by God’s Holy Spirit, drawing them into experiencing this excitement and joy you have over God.

If praise feels unfamiliar, think about how you react at your favorite sporting event when your team gets a point, or how you raise your hands up and sing along with your favorite artist at a concert. You’re celebrating the team or performer through your actions. When you praise God, you’re doing the same thing, and God is so worthy of your praise!

However, believers don’t just praise God when things are going well. Even when your circumstances aren’t ideal, praise God. Even when you get a bad report from the doctor, praise God. Even when your child is disobedient, praise God. Even when (fill in the blank), praise God.

This may feel impossibly hard because it doesn’t seem logical or a natural reaction to trials, however, this is how you grow in your love and understanding of God’s ways and what He’s done for you! You are acknowledging that while things are not going the way you want them, you know that God is here for you, and He is working things out in His will.

A great example of praising God in hard times comes from Paul and Silas in Acts 16:25. Silas and Paul were in chains in prison, and they began praising God and singing hymns:

“Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.”

Paul and Silas weren’t expecting what happened next, but God honored their praises. Their chains fell off, the cell doors were opened, and the other prisoners and even the jailers were changed by this mighty act of God!

He is the Creator, and He sees the big picture, so even when we can’t see beyond our circumstances, we can rest assured that He is working things out for His glory, and He is worthy of our praise!