The Importance of Praise

By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  11/22/23

In Psalm 100, the psalmist instructs us: “Shout for joy to the LORD, . . . Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. . . . Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations” (v.1-2, 4-5).

What is it about praise and thanksgiving that brings the Lord and the believer so close together? Praise melts our hearts so that we are no longer hardened by sin or disappointment. The Bible teaches that God is near to those who praise Him (see Psalm 145:18-19). He knows the deepest concerns of our hearts (see Psalm 139). And while He never requires our praise, He certainly desires it because He knows that praise places us in a position to receive His blessings.

Praise reveals the true spiritual condition of our hearts and molds us into people who are thankful.

Prayer: Father, help me to be a person who praises You all the time, for You are truly worthy of all praise! I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name” (Hebrews 13:15).