Psalms 67:3
Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You.
The Word of God often personifies creation – sky, mountains, sea, and trees – offering songs of praise to the Creator. They exalt the majesty, power, and grandeur of their Maker day and night, without ceasing. Then why does God also expect praise from people?
We are a unique creation, made in the image of God and gifted with free will. When He breathed into man’s nostrils, we became living beings. By sharing His own breath with us, God literally gave us life (Genesis 2:7). Therefore, it is fitting for us to praise the Lord as long as we have breath within us.
Praise Him for who He is, for He is worthy. This is not to puff up God – He is Almighty, whether we praise Him or not. Praise is a powerful weapon given to believers to enthrone God over our challenges. Praise opens our eyes to new realities, increasing our hope and faith. It magnifies God and cuts our problems to their actual size.
Moreover, praising God can be a powerful remedy for depression, hopelessness, and fear. A praise-filled person sees God’s fingerprints in every aspect of life. Praise enables us to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).
At times, we may need to praise God before an impenetrable wall and trust Him to bring it down in response to our faith, as He did at Jericho (Joshua 6:20). At other times, we may need to lift shouts of victory, as Jehoshaphat did, bringing confusion and destruction into the enemy’s camp (2 Chronicles 20:21–23). Our miracles could be a long way off, but we can march towards them with a daily attitude of praise.
As the season of Lent calls us to examine our hearts and realign our lives, let’s respond by remembering to praise the Lord every single day.
