“Praise our God, O peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard.” Ps 66:8
Growing up, my family never went to church, and I mean never—not a single time. I didn’t know the standard hymns, prayers and creeds that others knew. I certainly knew nothing about praise. I do remember praying sometimes, but it was more like “Help Wanted.”
When I became a follow of Jesus Christ at age 21, someone taught me the ACTS method of praying: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication. I struggled even to begin. Awkward and self-conscious, I felt God deserved more eloquent praises than what I could come up with. The words seemed frozen and contrived. Someone suggested singing—but they’d never heard me sing. I inched along with turtle steps.
When I began memorizing Scripture, at age 35, this new dimension opened up my prayer life. Finally, perfect words at my disposal, stored and ready—words to praise God now on my lips.
“Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.” Psalm 103
Someone else’s words speak what my heart wants to say, so I borrow them, and make them my own. God’s Word reminds me of the reasons to praise, and gives me the words to praise. I recite them aloud … and I worship.
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9
Hearing those words, coming from my own lips, stirs up my gratitude, and praise overflows.
God’s Word directs my attention to the One who is worthy, and aligns my heart with His. When I praise God, my soul thrives, bad attitudes subside, troubles diminish, and joy rushes in.
Here’s one of my faves:
“Shout with joy to God, all the earth!
Sing the glory of his name;
Make his praise glorious!
Say to God, ‘How awesome are your deeds!
So great is your power
That your enemies cringe before you.
All the earth bows down to you;
They sing praise to you,
They sing praise to your name.’
Come and see what God has done,
How awesome his works in man’s behalf!” Psalm 66:1-5
I’d love to hear from you which psalms and other portions of Scripture become praise on your lips.
I’ve just begun to memorize longer protions of Scripture but here is one verse that I love to use to praise God:
Psalm 19:1
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows and proclaims His handiwork.
Yes, love it! That entire psalm points to God’s majesty and is so uplifting!
My family too never darkened the door of a church so I can so relate to the awkwardness of prayer and praise but through the years of walking with Jesus and savoring His word it is becoming easier to praise Him through His mighty word! I am enjoying learning and singing the older hymns and currently working on memorizing John 14. Our God is awesome and lovingly patient with us! Let’s dance, twirl and learn to praise Him more & more! Thank you Janet for sharing your inspiration!
Thank you Sandy, so glad you joined us. John 14 – wow, so rich and so personal!
Yes, I find memorized Scripture great for praising. At the moment I have 3 favorites:
the start of David’s last prayer at the end of 1 Chron, it begins like this, “Blessed art Thou…”
and the start of the Levite’s prayer in Nehemiah which begins, “O may Thy glorious name be blessed and exalted….”
and in Isaiah 40, “Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand….”
Each is sublime and full of praise to our great God and Father.
Hi Jane, I looked up the 1 Chronicles passage and you’re right it is perfect. I have to share it with everyone. Mine is NIV
“Praise be to you, O Lord, God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.
Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.
Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.” 1 Chronicles 29:10-13
Hi Janet, I do like the use of ‘splendor’ in this NIV translation – my version says ‘victory’. But ‘splendor’ as relating to our Father is a great word! I have started this New Year reviewing and today I am at Psalm 29 and it says, ‘Worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness’… isn’t that just marvelous.
I just went back and read Psalm 29. Eleven verses jam-packed. Wow, good one!
I love Psalms 100. It gives me a direction of how I should enter into His presence, and of who I am before Him. “Shouting, joyfulness, thanksgiving, praise, joyful songs, He is God and we are the sheep of his pastures…….” all in this psalms.
I agree – love it!