How to Praise When We Don’t Feel Like It
Psalm 8
O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Nothing says Pentecostal to this Baptist girl more than praise hands. Only at concerts or at friends’ churches did I get to experience the praise hands while growing up. When I say “experience,” I mean watching. My hands just didn’t naturally lift high in worship. Praise hands are amazing. It is such a beautiful picture of a heart posture. But I don’t need praise hands to praise God.
Many times, standing during Sunday morning worship, my heart will swell with thanksgiving and awe at the love and grace of my Father. In those moments, my heart lifts up its own invisible hands to the Father. Its a soul praise. A praise to God with no words or outward posture. I listen to the words of a song or the beautiful music, letting the goodness of God soak my very being, and my heart rejoices with the glory of God.
I’ve also stood up singing on a Sunday morning weighed down with heartache and grief, unable to utter a single word or even read the words on the screen. During the time of praise, my heart is bent low in deep sorrow, not even able to see the goodness of Him. In those moments, the Holy Spirit slides into the seat next to me and lets me praise God with unspoken words. The Spirit speaks for me, interceding before the Father, voicing the needs I cannot.
Praise isn’t about joy. Praise isn’t an emotion or something we have but something we do. Praise isn’t about singing the songs on Sunday morning. Praise is what we lift to the Father, no matter the outward position. It is an act of the will. It is the response of the heart. Praise is something God has called us to do during our season of growth. Praise is the first step we can take toward growth. Look up.
O Heavenly King, may I lift my eyes to praise you. No matter how I am feeling, may I lean into your faithfulness and always find a reason to praise you. Amen.
**This is excerpt from my book, The Glorious Ordinary – check it out below.
How to praise, when we don’t feel like worshiping.
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O Heavenly King, may I lift my eyes to praise you. No matter how I am feeling, may I lean into your faithfulness and always find a reason to praise you. Your glory fills the world. From the stars to the seas you reign and rule as perfect King. Sometimes I feel small and invisible to you, but I’m not. You are mindful of me, even in all of my ordinary-ness. You care for me, even when it seems life is full of pain. You are my healer, healing more than the body. You are my salvation, even when the storm lingers. Creation holds testimony to your greatness. Let me open my eyes and see your majesty today. Amen.
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