God’s Steadfast Love

What is Praise & Worship?

The first component of prayer centers around praise and worship of the Lord. Often, praise and worship are lumped together to mean the same thing. In truth, there are slight differences between praise and worship.

Praise is defined as an acknowledgment of what someone has done. For example, you could praise a child for a job well done on a chore or your neighbor for caring for someone in need. In the case of praising God, this involves acknowledging all that he has done, is doing, and has promised to do in the future. Thus, praise is acknowledging God’s love, compassion, actions, and intentions.

Worship, on the other hand, is much more intricate. While praise can be closely tied to actions such as giving thanks, worship is much more about how you live your life. That is to say, worship is a lifestyle that aligns with where your heart is surrendered. In this way, when we worship the Lord, we live according to God’s character and actions—the things we have praised. Thus, praise is an acknowledgment of the things that define whom we worship, God himself. Worship is outward expression through a lifestyle of surrender to Christ.

When we praise and worship God, we acknowledge and respond in faith and surrender to him with our entire lives. The combination of these two aspects of prayer is powerful and humbling. Prayers should include elements of both praise and worship as we communicate with the Lord. We will be studying scriptures to support and teach these truths throughout the prayer and fasting season.

Daily Thought:

Psalms 116 and 117 contain the praise of an author astounded by the Lord's steadfast love and faithfulness. In Psalm 117, the author calls upon readers to do the same—praise the Lord for his deep love for his people.

Scripture Excerpt:

Psalm 117:1-2, ESV

Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!

Prayer Point:

Take today to praise God specifically for his steadfast love and faithfulness. Use this time to acknowledge all that he has done in your life.