Choosing Praise: A Heartfelt Response to God
Summary
### Summary
Over the past few months, we've experienced incredible moments of celebration and rejoicing, witnessing God's work among us. From the summit to our 40th anniversary, we've had many reasons to praise God. Today, I want to encourage us to choose praise, regardless of our current circumstances. Praise is more than just singing songs or clapping hands; it is a posture of the heart that acknowledges God's sovereignty and goodness.
The Hebrew word for praise, "halal," means to give thanks, glorify, boast in, and exalt. We were created to praise God, as Colossians 1:16 and Psalm 150:6 remind us. Praise is a choice we make to glorify God for who He is, not just for what He does. It is a deliberate act of faith, even in challenging times.
We looked at the story of Paul and Silas in Acts 16, who chose to praise God despite being beaten and imprisoned. Their praise led to a miraculous earthquake that freed them and ultimately brought salvation to the jailer and his household. This story teaches us that praise is not circumstantial but a powerful expression of faith that invites God to move.
It's important to acknowledge our struggles and not ignore them. Psalm 42:11 shows us that we can be honest about our feelings while still choosing to praise God. We can ask the Holy Spirit to help us choose praise, as Ephesians 5:18-20 encourages us to be filled with the Spirit and give thanks to God.
Even if we don't experience an immediate breakthrough, our praise can change our perspective and fill us with hope, joy, and peace. Our prison moments can become opportunities for others to encounter God, just as the other prisoners and the jailer's family did through Paul and Silas.
As we continue to choose praise, let's remember that God is working on our behalf and for others. Our praise can lead to freedom and salvation for those around us. Let's be people who choose praise, acknowledging God's sovereignty and inviting His power into our lives and the lives of others.
### Key Takeaways
1. Praise is a Deliberate Choice: Praise is not dependent on our circumstances or emotions. It is a deliberate choice to glorify God for who He is. This act of faith acknowledges God's sovereignty and invites His power into our lives. [07:33]
2. Honesty in Praise: It's essential to be honest about our struggles and not ignore them. Psalm 42:11 shows us that we can acknowledge our discouragement while still choosing to praise God. This honesty allows us to seek the help we need and invites the Holy Spirit to fill us with hope. [08:06]
3. The Power of Praise in Difficult Times: The story of Paul and Silas in Acts 16 demonstrates that praise can lead to miraculous breakthroughs. Their choice to praise God in prison led to an earthquake that freed them and brought salvation to the jailer and his household. Praise is a powerful expression of faith that can change our circumstances and impact others. [09:56]
4. Praise Changes Our Perspective: Even if our circumstances don't change immediately, praise can shift our perspective. It fills us with hope, joy, and peace, allowing us to experience God's presence and power in our lives. This change in perspective can sustain us through prolonged seasons of difficulty. [14:00]
5. Praise as a Witness to Others: Our choice to praise God can be a powerful witness to those around us. Just as the other prisoners and the jailer's family were impacted by Paul and Silas's praise, people in our lives can encounter God through our expressions of faith. Our praise can lead to freedom and salvation for others. [20:54]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:24] - What is Praise?
[02:11] - Praise Beyond Worship
[03:02] - The Hebrew Meaning of Praise
[03:53] - Created to Praise
[04:40] - Praise as a Choice
[05:32] - Biblical Examples of Praise
[06:16] - Paul and Silas in Prison
[07:33] - Praise is Not Circumstantial
[08:06] - Honesty in Praise
[09:17] - Holy Spirit Helps Us Praise
[09:56] - The Power of Praise
[11:02] - Praise as an Expression of Faith
[12:09] - When We Don't Get a "Suddenly"
[13:33] - Practical Ways to Praise
[14:00] - Gratitude and Scripture
[15:22] - Personal Testimony of Praise
[16:24] - Impact of Praise on Others
[18:07] - The Good News of Jesus
[19:08] - Experiencing God Through Praise
[20:54] - Praise as a Witness
[22:15] - Testimony of Olivia
[31:35] - Choosing Praise in All Seasons
[32:44] - Closing Prayer and Invitation
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Acts 16:22-34 - The story of Paul and Silas in prison.
2. Psalm 42:11 - "Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!"
3. Ephesians 5:18-20 - "Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
### Observation Questions
1. What were Paul and Silas doing around midnight while they were in prison? ([06:57])
2. According to Psalm 42:11, what does the psalmist do despite feeling discouraged and sad?
3. In Ephesians 5:18-20, what are believers encouraged to do instead of getting drunk with wine?
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the story of Paul and Silas in Acts 16 illustrate that praise is a deliberate choice rather than a response to circumstances? ([07:33])
2. Why is it important to acknowledge our struggles and not ignore them when choosing to praise God, as mentioned in Psalm 42:11? ([08:06])
3. How can being filled with the Holy Spirit, as described in Ephesians 5:18-20, help us to choose praise in difficult times? ([09:17])
### Application Questions
1. Think about a recent challenging situation you faced. How did you respond, and how might choosing to praise God have changed your perspective? ([14:00])
2. Reflect on a time when you were honest about your struggles with someone. How did that honesty impact your ability to praise God? ([08:06])
3. How can you incorporate praise into your daily routine, even when you don't feel like it? What practical steps can you take? ([13:33])
4. Identify a person in your life who might be impacted by your choice to praise God. How can your praise serve as a witness to them? ([20:54])
5. When you are in a "prison moment," how can you remind yourself that God is working on your behalf and for others? ([16:24])
6. How can you ask the Holy Spirit to help you choose praise in your current season of life? What specific prayers or actions can you take? ([09:17])
7. What are some ways you can express gratitude and thankfulness to God this week, even if your circumstances don't change immediately? ([14:00])
Devotional
Day 1: Choosing Praise in All Circumstances
Description: Praise is not dependent on our circumstances or emotions. It is a deliberate choice to glorify God for who He is. This act of faith acknowledges God's sovereignty and invites His power into our lives. Choosing to praise God, even when life is challenging, is a powerful expression of faith. It shows that we trust in God's goodness and sovereignty, regardless of what we are going through. This choice to praise can transform our hearts and minds, filling us with hope and peace. [07:33]
Psalm 34:1-3 (ESV): "I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!"
Reflection: Think of a current challenge you are facing. How can you choose to praise God in the midst of this situation today?
Day 2: Honesty in Praise
Description: It's essential to be honest about our struggles and not ignore them. Psalm 42:11 shows us that we can acknowledge our discouragement while still choosing to praise God. This honesty allows us to seek the help we need and invites the Holy Spirit to fill us with hope. Being honest in our praise means we don't have to pretend everything is perfect. Instead, we bring our true selves before God, trusting that He understands our pain and struggles. This authenticity in our relationship with God can deepen our faith and reliance on Him. [08:06]
Psalm 42:11 (ESV): "Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt discouraged. How can you bring that honesty before God in your praise today?
Day 3: The Power of Praise in Difficult Times
Description: The story of Paul and Silas in Acts 16 demonstrates that praise can lead to miraculous breakthroughs. Their choice to praise God in prison led to an earthquake that freed them and brought salvation to the jailer and his household. Praise is a powerful expression of faith that can change our circumstances and impact others. When we choose to praise God in difficult times, we invite His power into our situations. This act of faith can lead to unexpected and miraculous outcomes, not just for us but for those around us as well. [09:56]
Acts 16:25-26 (ESV): "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened."
Reflection: Think of a difficult situation you are currently facing. How can you use praise as a way to invite God's power into this situation?
Day 4: Praise Changes Our Perspective
Description: Even if our circumstances don't change immediately, praise can shift our perspective. It fills us with hope, joy, and peace, allowing us to experience God's presence and power in our lives. This change in perspective can sustain us through prolonged seasons of difficulty. When we choose to praise God, we are reminded of His goodness and faithfulness. This shift in focus can help us see our situations through the lens of God's promises, giving us the strength to endure and the hope to persevere. [14:00]
Habakkuk 3:17-18 (ESV): "Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation."
Reflection: How can you shift your perspective to focus on God's goodness and faithfulness today, even if your circumstances remain unchanged?
Day 5: Praise as a Witness to Others
Description: Our choice to praise God can be a powerful witness to those around us. Just as the other prisoners and the jailer's family were impacted by Paul and Silas's praise, people in our lives can encounter God through our expressions of faith. Our praise can lead to freedom and salvation for others. When we choose to praise God openly, we demonstrate our faith and trust in Him. This can inspire and encourage others to seek God and experience His love and power in their own lives. [20:54]
1 Peter 2:9 (ESV): "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."
Reflection: Think of someone in your life who needs to encounter God's love. How can your praise and faith be a witness to them today?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Praise is a choice that we make to glorify God because of who He is. Praise is a choice we have, like Graham said, to exalt because He is the God of all creation. Revelations 4.11 says this. You are worthy, our Lord of God, to receive glory and honour and power. For you created all things and by your will they were created and have their being." [03:53] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Can I encourage you, my friend, that you and I today, we can choose praise. See, praise is not circumstantial. Praise is not dependent on the situation we're in. Praise isn't based on our feelings, our emotions. Praise is a deliberate choice that we can make based on who God is and what He has done." [07:33] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Praising God is an expression of faith. You know, if I think of that song, You are worthy of it all. For from you are all things, and to you are all things. I thought about singing it and then I was like, I might get the note wrong, so better not to. You deserve the glory. You know, it's a song, you are worthy of it all. For from you are all things, and to you are all things. It acknowledges God's sovereignty in every situation." [11:02] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "We choose to praise despite the outcome because he is so worthy of your praise, of my praise. So can I encourage you, my friend, whatever season you might be in, keep expressing faith through praise and be encouraged. God still moves powerfully today." [12:09] (13 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Can I encourage you, my friends, wherever you find yourself today in this season, you know, maybe you're riding that mountaintop high. Maybe you're walking through a season in the valley. Maybe you're just walking along somewhere in between. Can we be people that choose praise? Praise that acknowledges who God is. Praise is an expression of faith that you are sovereign, Lord. You are mighty. You are worthy of everything." [31:35] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "But let's be honest, like as human beings, in some seasons it can be easier to praise. You know, in seasons where, like we're in now, rejoicing and celebrating, it can be easy to say, yes, let's praise. But my heart says, praise Him. My heart is for me and that us as a people, we will continue to adopt a posture of praise. That we would choose praise. Because the Bible has many accounts where people like you and I chose to praise." [04:40] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "See, hear my heart here. It's not about ignoring our situation. It's not about ignoring the circumstance or pretending everything is okay. Can I say with all the love of my heart, sometimes we can over-spiritualize and be like, praise the Lord, everything is great. When really there's turmoil internally. You know, sometimes we can be like, and my heart is that we may need to be acknowledging those things, acknowledging that, look, I'm going through stuff." [08:06] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "But what does that look like today? Can I encourage you? It's acknowledging who God is, is thanking him for all he has done. Like super practical points, just thanking him for who he is. Gratitude and gratefulness is such a powerful tool as we honor God. You know, read out, speak, study scriptures about praise. Good example, the Psalms of praise, Psalm 146 to 150. If you want to study praise, they're called the five whole hallelujahs, five full praise the Lord's because they're all about praising the Lord." [13:33] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "You know, my prayers like that prayer that Paul prayed in Romans 15, 13. I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much more. Much hope, joy, and peace as you trust in him. Then you will have more and more hope and it will flow out of you by the power of the Holy Spirit. What a powerful promise that we have that hope flows out of you by the power of the Holy Spirit." [14:33] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "You know, as we shift our perspective and go, I'm going to posture myself to praise you. Be encouraged that as you do, God is working on your behalf, but not just for you, also for other people. But you know, as I wrap up this morning, sometimes it's easy to kind of go like, oh, you know, that's easy. Like some people think like pastors have a supernatural power that we don't face stuff or that, you know, it's just for specific people that can experience this power, the praise or choosing this posture, but it's for each and every one of us." [22:15] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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