07-12-2026 The Power of Praise

Text: Psalm 92:1

                This morning we’re going to look at how praising God affects our lives.  Our text is found in Psalm 92:1 where the Psalmist writes:  “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto You Name, O Most High.”  This is a wilderness Psalm, which proclaims the Sabbath as God’s Rest for His people.  Here, Israel sings of Him and addresses Him as the Lord and the Most High.  Throughout the Psalms, there are many calls to praise God.  Testimonies of personal praise can be found in Psalm 63:1-5, 71:8, 14, 22-24, 119:164, and 146:1-2.  And there we are invited to join in praise in Psalm 107:8, 15, 21, 31, 135:1-3, 147:1, and 150. 

                Thanking and praising God is a good thing.  The truth is, we can never say thank you enough to parents, friends, leaders, and especially to God.  When we allow thankfulness to become an integral part of our lives, we find that our attitude toward life changes.  We become more positive, gracious, loving, and humble.  And it allows our complaints to dissolve into gratitude.  So, let’s look three reasons why praising God is important in the life of a Christian.

                First, it’s better to praise God than to panic.  Sure, it’s easy to praise the Lord when things are going well in our lives.  But things don’t always go well.  And when they don’t our nature is to panic.  But Jesus says in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me you might have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation but be of good cheer:  I have overcome the world.”  There are many things in life that can cause us to panic:  problems with health, problems within the family, problems with our finances, and problems with other people, just to name a few.  But panic in these situations only deepens the trouble affecting us.  Jesus is telling us that while things may be dark, despite how they look, remember everything is under control.  All we need to do is to trust and believe in Him.  So, before  you reach the point of panic, remember that God loves you and the death of Jesus proves His love.  Instead of panicking remember to trust God and look to Jesus for the help and comfort that you need to weather the storm.

                Second, it’s better to praise God than to be pessimistic.  What does it mean to be pessimistic?  We all know people that have the tendency to expect only bad outcomes, are always gloomy, joyless, or unhopeful.  That is a pessimist.  And if we’re not careful, it can become a permanent way of life.  Some people are natural grumblers.  They make a habit of finding faults in every situation and make the choice to complain about everything.  Do you know that pessimism is the opposite of faith?  It’s doubt in action and screams loudly about the lack of believe and trust in our God and His Son Jesus. 

                Paul tells us in Roman 1:17, “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, the just shall live by faith.”  Paul is reminding us that when we have strong faith, we have no reason to be pessimistic because we have been made right with God through the death of Jesus and are now justified in the sight of God.  Paul goes on to remind us in Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them who love God, to them who are called according to His purpose.”  When we choose to serve and obey Jesus, we become useful and usable servants to do His vital work.  Obedience begins as we renounce other masters, identify ourselves with Jesus, discover His will and live according to it, and consciously turn away from all conflicting interests.  When we lean on our faith and remember all that we have been given we have reasons to praise God.

                Third, praising God makes us more thankful and prevents us from being problem-conscious individuals.  Of course, everyone has problems and Christians are no different.  This world isn’t a perfect place nor are we perfect people so there are always going to be problems.  This is the result of the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and has affected humanity until Jesus establishes His eternal kingdom.  But we have no reason to live focused only on what’s wrong.  As children of God, we can overcome faithless pessimism.  Paul writes in Philippians 4:6-8:  “ (6) Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.  (7) And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  (8) Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” 

                Imagine never being anxious about anything!  That may seem impossible because everyone has worries include the job, home at home, at school, and so many situations in which we will find ourselves.  But Paul’s advice is to turn our worries into prayers.  Do you want to worry less?  All you need to do is pray more.  Whenever you start to worry about something, make it a habit to stop yourself and reflect on what God has already done for you, then pray about the situation at hand.  And don’t forget to take time to listen to what God has to say to you and thank Him for all the good work He has done in your life, in your church, your community, and in the world.  Remember too, that what we put into our minds determines what comes out in our words, desires, and actions. 

                Paul tells us to train our minds to focus on thoughts that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy.  Do you have problems with impure thoughts and daydreams?  Then examine what you’re putting into your mind through movies, the Internet, books, conversations, television, video games, and magazines.  Replace harmful input with wholesome material.  Read your Bible and pray often.  Ask God to help to fill your mind with good and pure thoughts.  This takes practice, but doing the hard work is well worth the effort you make.

                God’s peace is different from the world’s peace.  True peace isn’t found in positive thinking, in the absence of conflict, or in good feelings.  It only comes from trusting God to work out everything in your life in a way that is best for you as you fulfill your role in God’s work in the world.  Our citizenship in the eternal kingdom of Jesus is sure, our destiny is set, and we have victory over sin.  We must let God’s peace guard our hearts against the anxieties of this world that try to bring us down and keep our focus off Jesus.  When we trust God, He gives us a peaceful perspective in a traffic jam, on a difficult phone call, in a troubled relationship, and even when our own death draws near. 

                We should all make praising God for the depth and breath of the love He has for us and for all that He does for us daily become second nature in how we live our lives.  Praising God is powerful because it demonstrates our faith and trust in Him and opens the door to allow us to tell others about how and why we can be calm in the chaos around us and to be optimistic in every situation in which we find ourselves.  Praising instead of panicking, praising instead of being pessimistic, and praising instead of focusing on problems takes determination and practice.  But when you allow it to become a lifetime habit, that my friends is when you experience the power that comes from living your life praising God.

                Until we meet again, may God bless you and keep you, may He shine His light on you, show you grace, and give you peace in all the days ahead.