Praise Even if It Seems to Be Vain Repetition?

When Audine McChesney's husband became desperately ill with encephalitis, the doctor offered no hope of recovery. Someone encouraged Audine to praise God for his healing.

Praise? How could she praise in such a dark hour? Her husband had been ill for months. She was weak and dependent on her two teenage sons. There was no income and their small savings was gone. She had prayed many prayers but still had no answer.

But Audine was desperate and decided to try what the friend suggested. Through the black depression of the enemy, she endeavored to offer up praise. It was a real sacrifice of praise, but God's Word told her to offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually. King David said, "His praise shall continually be in my mouth."

Audine admitted that she failed many times, but the Holy Spirit always helped her to return to praising. Praise enabled her to rise above her circumstances. God became very real in the midst of her storm.

One rendering of Psalm 50:23 says, "Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me and to him that uses praise over and over again enough to form a trodden road will I show the deliverance of our God." Audine said, "God worked! In a few weeks, my husband was home and well."

Later her husband was desperately ill again. He had a stroke that caused damage to his brain resulting in memory loss and inability to communicate. But even in that, Audine found that praise brought her out of depression. At times her praise seemed like vain repetition, but it worked.

Audine said, "Can't you just see the beautiful sight of the appointed singers marching ahead of King Jehoshaphat's army praising the beauty of holiness, when the heathen nations came against them! When they began to sing and praise, the Lord worked mightily for them, putting ambushments against the enemy. Surely God will do the same for us."

May my praise bring joy to You, dear Father.

"He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me" (Psalm 50:23).