Too often, I hide praise in my heart.
I hide His light under a bushel, when I should let this little light of mine shine.
If I stopped storing praise in my heart and started releasing it in words of worship,
my relationship with the Lord would become more REAL.
Sometimes, my pride prevents me from praising God. I put myself in His place, and fail to acknowledge His glory. Public praise helps me to give credit to whom it is rightly deserved.
I need to ask myself these questions: Am I focusing on God or focusing on myself? Am I thankful for His gifts or do I ignore His provision? Am I aware of how much He loves me?
He is constantly pursuing me with His love, and I should constantly respond with grateful praise.
My praise to the Lord shouldn't be an occasional thought-- it should permeate my life!
Public adoration shows that thankful love for the Lord is my reality, not just my religion.
Do I really see God as the source of overflowing, unshakable joy in my life?
Do I believe that all good gifts come from the Father?
Am I thankful that He faithfully offers forgiveness when I am unfaithful and undeserving of grace?
If so, it shouldn't be possible to contain His glory within the confines of my heart. Following David's example of unrestrained praise, my words of worship should flow unashamedly like a joyful linguistic dance before the Lord.
If I stopped storing praise in my heart and started releasing it in words of worship, my relationships with my peers would become more MISSIONAL.
When I have an opportunity to share God's praise, I may fear personal rejection. I may fear that I will look like a fanatic--that people won't "get it" when my words give credit to an unseen God.
I have been so guilty of this! I remember feeling uneasy about bold words of praise at a particular gathering. The group consisted of both believing and not-yet-believing friends. One of my sisters in Christ praised God's goodness with every single sentence that she spoke! My gut reaction...'Doesn't she know that they aren't Christians? Does she realize that this isn't a time of Christian fellowship?' Almost as soon as those thoughts entered my brain--wow!—was I convicted of my cowardice! She was so boldly honest! She didn't hesitate to show her genuine self--a grateful daughter who lived completely dependent on her Heavenly Father. And our friends got the chance to hear God's name glorified! They witnessed a beautiful act of worship without setting one foot into a church.
My public praise can be used powerfully to direct others to God.
Praise identifies my not-so-secret source of peace, hope, joy, and every blessing under the sun.
I just need the boldness to speak it.
When I allow my withheld thoughts of praise to mature into verbalized sentences, rather than stunting their growth by hiding them in my heart, my words participate in the Holy Spirit's work. Only the Holy Spirit can lift the veil of sin's darkness and shine truth's light into a deceived mind. I may never know how God will use public praise to work in someone's life. But if the words are never spoken, they certainly can't do any good
Where do you need to release words of worship?
At home? With friends? In the workplace?
Ask God for boldness to glorify His name.
"I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly;
see, I do not keep my mouth closed--
as You know, Lord.
I did not hide Your righteousness in my heart;
I spoke about Your faithfulness and salvation;
I did not conceal Your constant love and truth
from the great assembly."
(Psalm 40:9-10, HCSB)