“Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
 praise him in his mighty heavens!
Praise him for his mighty deeds;
 praise him according to his excellent greatness!
Praise him with trumpet sound;
 praise him with lute and harp!
Praise him with tambourine and dance;
 praise him with strings and pipe!
Praise him with sounding cymbals;
 praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 150:1-6; all Scripture quotations are from the English Standard Version).

Christians frequently confuse praise and worship. Some think they are synonymous or only slightly different. Some churches think praise includes the high-tempo, upbeat songs at the beginning of a service, while the softer, slower ballads constitute worship.

In fact, praise is an element of worship. Worship includes praise and quiet, humble adoration. It involves everything we do to acknowledge Jesus as the Lord of our lives and is not limited to the quieter parts of a church service.

Praise is usually verbal, either spoken or sung. It can include dance or other outward expressions of devotion to God. It might involve sharing a testimony about how God has done something in your life. It often flows from a spirit of thankfulness.

Praise usually focuses on God’s attributes and actions. We celebrate who He is and what He has done for us. The Book of Common Prayer says, “We praise God, not to obtain anything, but because God’s Being draws praise from us.” We praise Him because He has shown us His love and grace, so we cannot help but get excited, let it flow out from within us, and share it with others.

Praise is easy when we are in church, especially if it is a church with vibrant music and an emotionally expressive service. However, praise should be part of a Christian’s daily life. It should be part of our prayers. It should infiltrate our fellowship with other believers, and it should be central to our evangelistic outreach as well.

How can we incorporate praise into our daily prayers and lifestyle?

First, take time to express your love and devotion to God. When you begin praying, do not begin with your requests. Instead, express your appreciation of Who God is. Thank Him for what He has done for you in the past. Reflect on some of His attributes and what they mean to you. Speak this out loud at the beginning of your prayers.

Second, include praise during your prayers. Set aside time to sing His praises. Include some of your favorite church songs. In previous generations, some Christians kept hymnals handy, along with their Bibles, so they could sing to God. Keep a CD or playlist of favorite worship songs queued so that you can take a few minutes to sing your praises to God.

Third, thank God for what He has done for you. Always take note of the little ways that God might be working daily in your life and thank Him for it. Tell others how He has blessed you recently. You can do this when you are with fellow believers. However, it can also be a stepping stone to sharing your faith with those who do not know Jesus. Even if you are not an evangelist who knows how to lead someone to decide to follow Christ, you can tell people your story. Share what God means to you and how He has blessed you. Let them know why you have faith in Jesus. This can plant a seed; maybe it will create an opportunity to invite them to church.

Praise is an outward expression of our worship. When the Holy Spirit dwells within us, our worship becomes a river of living water (John 7:38) that flows outward to drench our lives and expose the people around us to God’s presence. Let the stream of praise flow forth and refresh yourself and others.

Lord, thank you for being worthy of praise. I praise You as my Lord, deliverer, healer, and Savior. Today and forever, I praise and glorify You and thank You for Your love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

What does “praise” mean to you? How can you incorporate praise in your prayers and life? Share your thoughts in the comments field below.

Copyright © 2025 Michael E. Lynch. All rights reserved.