Why Praise is Valuable: Christian Perspective
“Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.” (Revelation 19:6)
Worship is often experienced throughout the believer’s everyday life. Whether it be on Sunday morning, a worship night at your church, or your own individual devotional time, Christians are often known for taking part in it.
Yet, have we truly grasped the power of praise? Have we truly meditated on just what happens when we worship God?
Worship is far more than music and words. If it was only about the type of music sung, the catchiness of the words, or the skill level of the worship leaders, then it would cease to be worship; it would be another performance. However, true worship is something far more beautiful.
It is a declaration of the holiness of our God. It is an acknowledgment that He alone is worthy to be exalted. It is an act of surrender to the living God.
God’s Presence in Worship
The Psalmist writes: “Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel” (Ps. 22:3)
The Hebrew word for enthroned is yaw-shab’ (יָשַׁב), which means “to sit, remain, dwell.”[1] This points to an amazing truth.
God does not simply listen in on our praises; He dwells within their midst.
What does it mean exactly? The Holy Spirit is within us as children of God (Rom. 8:14-18). But when we worship, we are inviting His presence into our midst. We are welcoming Him into our houses, our rooms, and our lives.
What a humbling thought. The God of the universe, who is all-powerful, decides to dwell in the praises of His people.
The power of praising God reminds the children of God that it is not about us, our abilities, but simply about who He is. Every word uttered in a sincere heart is an act of surrender towards our great God and is powerful in the midst of whatever circumstances we may face: stress, illness, heartbreak, spiritual battle, etc. We are giving Him the adoration He deserves.
Where to Praise
The power of praise is not confined to a specific location. It is not about where we worship but how we worship, as God chooses to bless His beloved child. When the Samaritan woman questioned where it was best to worship (a mountain or in Jerusalem), Jesus brought attention to this beautiful truth.
“But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24).
What matters most is the posture of the heart, the reliance on the Holy Spirit, and believing His Word. Worship can take place anywhere. There is certainly beauty in praise within a community (which is incredibly valuable, as seen in Heb 10:25). However, worship can be powerful in solitude, whether in one’s home, during prayer time, or throughout the day.
It doesn’t depend on our feelings but rather on our decision to exalt the One who first loved us.
A Glimpse into Eternity
Praise also serves as a powerful reminder of our eternal home. Here are a few passages from Scripture show us a beautiful glimpse of what we have to look forward to.
After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” (Rev. 7:9-12)
“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Rev. 21:3-4)
“No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.” (Rev. 22:3)
Praise reminds us where we truly belong. Where we will dwell one day. There will come a day when the children of God will gather as one under Christ. Then, we will praise our God from the throne room. When everything is made new and perfect. No more crying, no more pain, no more sorrow.
But until that day, we have everything we need to praise Him here on this earth. To be a light in the darkness. And to proclaim His goodness and sovereignty over the earth. He still has a plan. His name will be exalted among the nations.
Wherever you find yourself today, know that you can be a vessel to exalt His name today. You may be struggling with past sins, rejection wounds, fears, etc. I encourage you to lay it at His feet today. Those things do not disqualify you from praising our God. He longs to bring light to any areas of darkness within your heart. He is gentle, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love (Joel 2:13). Lift your eyes to the Father who sees you.
May we continue to praise Him with all our hearts here today.
Blessings,
[1] Strong’s Hebrew: 3427. יָשַׁב (yashab) — to sit, REMAIN, DWELL. Accessed July 31, 2021. https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3427.htm.