Praise: A Practice and a Presence

October 29, 2021

Psalm 34:1

Praise: A Practice and a Presence

By Julia Phillips

“I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.“ - Psalm 34:1

Corrie Ten Boom once said, “If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed; if you look within, you’ll be depressed. But if you look to Christ, you’ll be at rest.” One of the best ways to train our minds to look to Christ is through the practice of praise, and we can do this throughout our daily routine. We can meditate on one of the Lord’s names and praise him as we get dressed in the morning. We can sing worship songs or hymns while driving in the car. We can take a walk and focus our intention on God as we behold his work of creation around us.

On any day, at any time, we can praise God for who he is. His goodness is constant and does not depend on our current circumstances. When we are feeling our worst, praise can lift our hearts out of the darkness. Scripture tells us that God inhabits the praises of his people, and his Spirit changes our perspective. By choosing to praise, we make space for his presence to move in our very beings. What begins as a conscious discipline to practice praise becomes a daily communion with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Praise transforms our minds with the word of truth, but it also changes our hearts with the Spirit of God. He works within us, and we find our rest in him.

Reflection:
What does it look like for you to praise the Lord continually in your daily life? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Related Resource:

Jesus calls the Holy Spirit a "gift" who will guide us, lead us, and empower us. Yet many believers don't experience the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives. This unique Christian small group Bible study provides a space in which we can explore what it truly means to "walk in the Spirit" on a daily basis. The Spirit-Filled Life small group curriculum centers on a 6-part video teaching series examining the life-giving and creative work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Begin to experience the gift today!