All Christians know that they should praise God at all times. We know we should sings songs that glorify God, dance in his presence, talk about his goodness, and much more. But when we are going through difficult times, the enemy convinces us to magnify our problems instead of magnifying God.
Yesterday, my pastor preached about the “Benefits of Praise”, and the lesson was uplifting.
Number one: Praise will bring goodness to your heart. There will be problems in your life but when you praise God, goodness will bubble up in your heart. Keeping your mind on God and thanking him will cause you to remember his goodness, and that will cause you to want to live right. “I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips” (Psalm 34:1).
Number two: Praise will bring joy to your soul. The Bible says the joy of the Lord is our strength. Therefore, when sorrow is in your life, praising God will give you the strength to endure the problems you face. The Bible also says God lives in our praises. This means praising God will usher in his presence, and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty. “I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together” (Psalm 34:2-3).
Number three: Praise will radiate you. Instead of complaining, you will be content. You will have the right attitude and will shine instead of being gray with sorrow. “Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame” (Psalm 34:5).
Number four: Praising God will deliver you from your enemy. When Paul and Silas were in prison, they praised God and were delivered. “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose” (Acts 16:25-26). Psalm 34:4 also reads, “I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.’
Number five: Praising God will bring you closer to him. Since he lives in your praises, his presence will become more evident in your life. “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel” (Psalm 22:3). Another relevant Scripture is “Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him” (Psalm 34:8).
Sermon’s Scripture: Psalm 34:1-8
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