Rooted in WorshipSample

When Should I Praise the Lord

Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.

Psalm 150:1-6

This is the final Psalm in the book of Psalms. Throughout the 150 Psalms, the people of God are specifically exhorted ninety-five times to praise God, and the concept of praise is referenced 250 times. The message is obvious. The sun should not set without words of praise flowing from our lips to our Lord.

Every day, in various ways, we should praise the Lord during all kinds of moments!

For whatever he has done, however, you can—praise the Lord.

When you are with others in his sanctuary, and when you are not—praise him.

When you gaze upon an element of his beautiful creation, look heavenward and praise him.

If he has stepped into your story with acts of might and power—praise him.

If he has entered your journey and demonstrated his surpassing greatness against that which you could not surpass—praise him.

In every imaginary way, with what you know would honor him—praise him.

If he has charged into your story like the blast of a trumpet to overtake the circumstances and confront the issues you faced—praise him.

If he has gracefully and mercifully, like the sounds of the harp and lyre, stepped into your story and brought calm and peace—praise him.

If he has granted you favor and blessing that would cause you to shake a tambourine and dance—praise him.

If he has shown Himself faithful in your march towards wholeness and peace in a way that you could announce your joy with the flute—praise him.

If he has intervened in your story like a sudden and unexpected clash of cymbals that wonderfully reverberated throughout your circumstances—praise him.

If the only act of greatness you have known of him, is He has provided you the breath you have—praise him.

In your kitchen, sitting on your patio, in your bedroom, in your car, walking down a street, flying across the mountains, in a moment of silence, or amongst the noise, on the way to work, at work, as you run, walk, or skip, as you lay your head down for the day or rise to start your day, as you sit quietly, or sit with a crowd, as you sing, hum, or play an instrument, as you gather with others who praise the Lord—so should you and I. Even as you finish reading this sentence—praise the Lord!

Reflection:

Today, consider ways that you can offer praise to the Lord throughout your day. Consider things like writing a sticky note of praise and placing it on your mirror, singing a song of praise while you drive in the car, sharing God Sightings with the family over dinner, or looking out at the night sky and expressing your praise to God in a simple and personal conversation. Make today a day of praise!