THE AWESOME POWER OF PRAISE
How Praising God Changes Every Situation!
“Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!” Psalm 150:6 (NIV)
JESUS: “… True worshipers worship the Father in Spirit and in truth. [That’s the] kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” John 4:23 (NIV)
GOD: “These people claim to be mine and praise me with their lips, BUT they don’t mean it! Their hearts are somewhere else, far from me. Their worship of me is just a routine repeated without thinking.” Isaiah 29:13
“I will praise you, LORD, with my whole heart!” Psalm 138:1 (NIV)
“… Let us praise the LORD [and] sing for joy to God, who protects us!” Psalm 95:1 (GNT; TEV)
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I PRAISE GOD WITH ALL MY HEART?
1. PRAISING GOD LIFTS MY SPIRIT
“Why am I so discouraged? And why am I so troubled and upset? Instead I will put my hope in God, and I will PRAISE HIM once again as my Savior and my God! When my heart is breaking, I remember your kindness.” Psalm 42:5-6 (GNT; TEV; NLT)
“To all who mourn in Israel, he gives beauty for ashes, joy instead of sadness, and praise instead of despair.” Isaiah 61:3 (NLT)
2. PRAISING GOD HELPS ME SENSE HIS PRESENCE
“The righteous [praise your name and] they live in your presence.” Psalm 140:13 (GNT; TEV)
“God, we [praise you and] thank you because you are near.” Psalm 75:1 (NCV)
3. PRAISING GOD ENLARGES MY PERCEPTION OF HIM
“I will praise the name of God with a song; [and] I will MAGNIFY him with thanksgiving.” Psalm 69:30 (ESV)
WHEN GOD GETS LARGER IN MY LIFE, MY PROBLEMS SHRINK
“The LORD is GREAT and is worthy of our highest praise, [because] HIS GREATNESS is beyond understanding.” Psalm 145:3 (GNT; TEV)
4. PRAISING GOD REMINDS ME OF HIS BLESSINGS
“Praise the LORD, I tell myself! With my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, I tell myself and remember all the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins. He heals my illness. He saves my life. He surrounds me with love and tender mercy. He fills my life with good things!” Psalm 103:1-5
5. PRAISING GOD ENLISTS GOD’S PROTECTION
“So the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army singing praise to the Lord and praising him. They sang ‘Give thanks to the Lord because his faithful love endures forever!’ The moment the people started singing and praising, the LORD caused the opposing forces to start attacking each other and they were completely defeated!” 2 Chronicles 20:21-22 (GNT; TEV)
“The LORD protects and defends me; [when] I trust him. He [helps me and fills me with joy as I praise him].” Psalm 28:7 (GNT; TEV)
6. PRAISING GOD FREES ME AND OPENS DOORS
“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing songs to God as the other prisoners listened. Suddenly, there was a strong earthquake that shook the foundation of the jail. Then all the doors of the jail broke open, and all the prisoners were freed from their chains.” Acts 16:25-26 (NCV)