6. A MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART

6. A MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART

THE ART OF AUTHENTIC PRAISE

1. Praise requires focus (Psalm 9:1). We are to praise God with our whole heart. It is those moments when every bit of our focus is dropped from every other distraction, and we give God our entire heart and mind. We need praise and worship in our own lives for our spiritual health. It has to come to a place where we are focused.

2. Praise is not confined. It cannot be boxed-in. We cannot give it lots and lots of rules.

A. Yadhah (Hebrew) – means to speak out and confess.

B. Tehillah (Hebrew) – laudation, hymn, or song.

C. Zamar (Hebrew) – to play or make music.

D. Halah (Hebrew) – To be bright or shine. The root word is “radiance.”

You sing it, say it, play it, or show it. Praise does not have any bounds. You are focusing on the wonders of God. Let loose! Praise and worship. Pure praise. It is something so acceptable to Christ.

3. Praise is a choice (Psalm 103:1-5). It is something we choose. The best time to praise is when you don’t feel like praising. It is a single-minded focus on the Lord of lords. David is talking to his own soul. He is telling himself to praise God. He is attempting to change his focus from his circumstances on to his God.

Psalm 42:5 – attach yourself to God and put your hope in Him; and praise Him whether you like it or not. Praise will change the way you feel.

4. Praise is to become a habit (Psalm 34:1). Don’t just say it, mean it. When something happens, think of someway that you can turn it into a praise report, and say it to God. It is a constant focus on God.

5. Praise becomes compulsory when there is true intimacy (Psalm 63:1-4). When we are in a relationship with Christ there are times in our lives that we cannot help but praise. It comes from intimacy; from truly knowing God and watching Him work. Power means what He does; glory means who He is. When you know Him in that intimacy, you cannot help but praise. His love is better than life!

6. Praise is contagious (Psalm 52:9). Praise God in the midst of the people.

Psalm 34:2 – our praises affect the people around us. It calms people’s spirits and they rejoice in the Lord.

7. Praise Him for who He is universally (Psalm 8:1-4). He is reminding himself of who God is universally, and that affects us personally. It reminds him God can do it.

2 Kings 19:14-19 – scared to death, Hezekiah takes his need, lays it before the Lord, and begins by saying “You alone are God, and you are seated between the cherubim.” He reminds himself of who God is and what He is capable of doing (Jeremiah 32:17).

8. Praise Him for who He is personally (Psalm 144:1-4). David is saying He is mine and He belongs to me – listen to that personal approach. The more we see Him universally, the more we see Him personally. How precious this is.

9. Praise Him with a new song (Psalm 40:1-4). God is continually doing something new in your life. He is continually adding a new chapter in your life (new song, testimony).

10. Praise invites the audience of God (Psalm 22:3). The original Hebrew word means “to sit and dwell.” When we praise God, he comes to sit a spell. It is something that brings His complete focus to you; something that completely gets His attention – and He sits before us and He listens.