If you’ve ever been to one of four campuses at Greater Faith Church, one of the most distinct characteristics of our church is the liberty people have to worship and praise.
Some people shout, others dance, and some weep. To the untrained eye, it seems silly or foolish at first glance.
Why are these people behaving in such a manner?
But there are hidden benefits of praising God that you might be missing out on.
Let’s explore 3 of them:
1. Praise Restores Our Perspective
2 Corinthians 5:7 says, “We walk by faith and not by sight.”
It’s easy to get down in the dumps!
We’re emotional creatures and life can be hard at times. But if we’re not careful, we can get so focused on our problems, that we lose sight of the One Who can solve our problems. The more we focus on, talk about, worry about, obsess over our problems, the bigger they get. And the smaller God gets.
But when we give God praise, it shifts our focus away from the problem and onto the Solution.No matter how bad it gets, or how daunting it looks, God will always be bigger. By praising Him, instead of our situation, it puts everything back in its proper perspective.
2. Praise Renews Our Peace
Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!”
It’s hard to praise God when you’re having a bad day. But the opposite is true too. It’s hard to have a bad day when you’re praising God.
The truth is, when we’re having a bad day most of us would rather fold our arms and throw a pity party. And that’s exactly what the devil wants, and what our flesh wants. But if you would dare to praise God, even when you’re in a foul mood, He will renew your peace.
Remember, whatever you focus on, is what you’re trusting in. If your thoughts and energy and focus are on your problems that means you’re not trusting God. But when you turn your focus toward God, you’re also turning your trust toward Him. If you will praise Him, He will keep your mind in perfect peace.
3. Praise Gives Us The Victory
The devil thinks he has the upper hand. He accuses us day and night, attacking our minds, trying to confuse us, trying to discourage us. And if we try to fight him with our own human efforts, we’ll lose every time. But we don’t have to fight him with earthly weapons because he’s already been defeated. We just have to know it and declare it.
Revelation 12:10-11 says, “For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth—the one who accuses them before our God day and night. And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.”
The Word of God is eternal, from everlasting to everlasting. It’s not bound by time. What’s written in the Word of God has already been accomplished. Praise Him for it. Praise Him like you believe it and watch what happens.
When we open our mouths and praise God, it ushers in the presence of God and causes the enemy to flee. Praise is a weapon. And by it we have victory.