When you hear “Praise God”, what comes to your mind? People “saying” Praise God? People putting their hand to the heart and looking up? Or do you see a person “on fire” for God and raising their hands to heaven, bowing down or kneeling? Dancing? Running?
When I was growing up, Catholic, I didn’t know what Praising God “looked” like, but heard people say it. I knew that phrase was in some hymns in our hymnal at church. Thought it was just a saying, lip service so to speak.
But, did you know the bible tells us to do more than that:
Psalm 150:1-6 ESV
Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
What does that look like to you? I think it looks like a huge celebration, a party, in God’s honor. Sometimes I see people raise a hand in church, some may look up to the ceiling, but that verse, in my mind, makes me want to jump and shout.
Psalm 95:1-11 ESV
Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.
Doesn’t God deserve more than just lip service? Doesn’t He deserve more than just singing a song? Doesn’t He deserve a shout of praise? A tambourine and a dance? Why don’t we show Him our praises?
I feel like maybe people are afraid of what others would say about them, what others would think about them. I say, if you feel the Holy Spirit’s presence and you want to raise both hands and sway and rock and talk out loud during a song praising God, then do it!
I felt the Spirit at church this past Sunday during the song “Here in your presence”, how could you not actually feel His presence during such a beautiful song? I let go of myself and allowed myself to sway and put my hands out to receive Him and I closed my eyes and had a moment just with God and myself. I talked to Him during that song and cried tears of joy!
If we all allowed the Spirit to work like that in our congregation, just think how powerful the Spirit would be!
Psalm 24:8-10 ESV
Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle! Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory! Selah
~Lisa Hedrick
