Why Praise?

We might tend to think of our praises to God as insignificant, not worth much--until we consider what God did to gain them. God paid a high price for our praises. He freely gave the precious blood of His own Son for our praises. "In him we were also chosen...in order that we...might be for the praise of his glory" (Ephesians 1:11-12).

Could it be that the reason Scripture commands us to praise more often than to pray is because God so gloriously enjoys our praise?

The following is from a sermon by Samuel Faircloughpreached in 1650: "Now the Lord, who is of the most perfect understanding, and deepest skill and knowledge, declares himself to take infinite delight in his people's praises. It is his solace and pleasure to be attended with them, either in earth or in heaven, by men or angels; and his soul is ravished with the thoughts and contemplation of them."

 Our praises give solace and pleasure to God and His soul is delighted when we praise Him!  Selah! (Pause and think on that.)

Dear Father, I want to cultivate the habit of praising You, not just to obey a command or to gain victory over the enemy, but out of a desire to delight You.

"Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks" (John 4:23).