True Praise

By: Mae Archila

Friday, August 1, 2025

“I will extol the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt His name together.” Psalm 34:1-3

The book of Psalms is a collection of songs, prayers, and poetry that praises God for who He is and what He has done. Praising God wasn't just David's priority; it was an integral part of his life. Praising God brought David peace. That’s why praise for God was always on his lips. He praised God in his quiet times, but in Psalm 34 he also challenges us to "exalt His name together."

Corporate praise is special, but it can also be very personal. Summer Praise Night at CCM is an awesome experience, especially when we view it through the lens of Psalms. When we praise God together, we experience His presence as individuals and as a body of believers. Praise intimately connects us with God as we express our love for Him in songs.

Early on, I learned it's vitally important to praise and worship God before the sermon starts. Worship prepares our hearts and it clears our minds. It helps us receive what God wants to say, so don't ever take it for granted (and don't be late for it either). See it as preparing your heart for God’s message.

Let the whole world bless our God and loudly sing his praises. Our lives are in his hands, and he keeps our feet from stumbling. Psalm 66:8-9 (NLT)

Have you ever watched children praise God? They worship God in a genuine, pure, and sincere way because their carefree life allows them to focus on their creator. We can learn a lot by watching children praise God... they remind us to approach God humbly, with a sincere, trusting heart. Children are not burdened with life’s complexities, so we must leave our worries behind when worship God. Lay them at the altar before you praise Him!

Praise the Lord. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him! Psalm 147:1

Praise helps us remember who God is. He is our creator, sustainer, redeemer, and our everlasting God. Everything in life comes from Him! Psalms 146-150 all start out by saying “Praise the LORD.” Those opening words remind us that He is the only one worthy of our praise. Ask God to fill your heart with praise for Him, then let it come out of your lips.

Lift The Lord's name up in praise, and be sure to obey His commands!