‘PRAISE IS WHAT I DO’
While sitting a familiar song popped into my head, and as I listened to the melody playing in my head, my thought processes began
beg the question; ‘what is it about praise that moves God on our behalf?
Here are some of the lyrics to the song playing in my head:
Praise is what I do when I wanna be close to you I lift my hands in praise Praise is who I am I will praise him while I can ill bless him at all times
and I vow to praise
you through the good and the bad I'll praise you whether happy or sad I'll praise you in all that I go through because praise is what I do cause I owe it all to you praise is what I do even when I'm going through I've learned to worship you Now, my circumstance do not even stand a chance, my praise outweighs the bad
Just for some backdrop, lets look at this word ‘PRAISE’ and what it means: for starters praise displays approval or admiration; by meeting out commendation, accolades, and
also showing gratefulness as a recipient os such merit either in words, or some act of adoration. Praise can be rendered openly as we know to be public, or it can be done privately! There are a number of things that can and have been manifested when praise
is received, for when praise is properly given the responses can be quite note worthy. Anyone can be the object of praise, but I beg the question, would the object of your adoration be praiseworthy? Is the object of our praise just that, an object;
or does the subject of our praise have substance?
It has been noted that the highest form of praise (compliment) is to imitate someone, and that is a genuine compliment praising
one; even if it was unintended. Lets deal with a $3.00 word, which is: 'ingratiate' meaning to bring oneself into favor with someone by flattering them; however, one must be careful for flattery is about self and true praise is sincere and comes from
the heart. Dale Carnegie once stated “The contrast between appreciation and flattery? One is sincere and the other insincere. One comes from the heart out; the other from the teeth out. One is unselfish; the other selfish. One is universally
admired; the other universally condemned.” So if one is to offer true imitating, which is the highest form of flattery (compliment) it must stem from a heart that is true and spiritually speaking a heart that is contrite and repentant if favor
is to be a consequence! We must realize when we praise God, we praise ourselves, because we are who we associate with! Therefore, I submit the following quote: “Imitation is the greatest form of flattery, but worship is the greatest form
of adoration.”
History/eytimology of the word Praise, praise is from the Latin word meaning “worth” or “cost.” So, to give praises to the EL
Shaddai (All Mighty God) is to embrace the merit of His worth. Many places in the Bible, cite and point to various terms used to state praise to and for the EL Elyon (God most high), to include but not limited to: “glory,” “blessing,”
“thanksgiving,” and “hallelujah,” with the last named being a transliteration of the Hebrew for “Praise the Lord.” The Hebrew title of the book of Psalms (“Praises”) comes from the same root as “hallelujah”
and Psalms 113-118 have been specially designated the “Hallel” (“praise”) psalms
While the Bible is replete with warnings and encouragements for us
as people to praise Him; there are also warnings about the quality of this praise. Praise is to originate in the heart and not become mere outward show (Matt. 15:8). Corporate praise is to be carried on in an orderly manner (1 Cor. 14:40). Praise is also firmly
linked to an individual’s everyday life (Amos 5:21-24).
Understanding that we as children of God, we owe Him praise, it is critical for us to render praise to God as
a first priority, for if we are praising and worshiping others before God, we are in violation of Scripture when the Lord says “You shall have no other gods before Me.” Ex. 20:3 and why would we give another the glory and honor that belong to the
loving and merciful Real God. For God will not allow one to tort His glory. Read Isa. 42:1-8 with the emphasis on the 8th verse.
Praise honors God is various ways
and we must be mindful to exercise the various ways to praise His as we are led by the Holy Spirit a few ways one can give God praise:
Include the offering of physical movement (2 Sam.
6:14), silence and meditation (Ps. 77:11-12), testimony (Ps. 66:16), prayer (Phil. 4:6), and a holy life (1 Pet. 1:3-9). However, praise is almost always linked to music, both instrumental (Ps. 150:3-5) and, especially, vocal. Biblical songs of praise range
from personal, to spontaneous outbursts of thanksgiving for some intervening act of God (Ex. 15: Judg. 5; 1 Sam. 2; Luke 1:46-55,67-79) to formal psalms and hymns adapted for corporate worship in the Temple (2 Chron. 29:30) and church (Col. 3:16).
Praise is what I do to get closer to God, and Psalms 100 & 150 says it best in closing, and if we follow the Scrip of God as best we can by the power of the Holy Spirit out of the
sincerity of our hearts we will reap the consequences of God inhabiting the praises of His sheep. I DARE YOU TO PRAISE HIM!!!!
If any of these writings and studies bless you, just
send a shout back saying ‘praise is what I do!
Be Blessed Bishop Doby