Transformative Power of Praise in Our Lives

 

Summary

Filling our days with praise is a transformative practice that aligns our hearts with the goodness and beauty of God. Often, our misconceptions about God hinder our spiritual journey. For instance, a game show question about sins that could get one kicked out of heaven revealed common misunderstandings about what truly matters to God. Jesus emphasized love as the greatest commandment, yet many focus on superficial sins. Our spiritual struggles often stem from what we think we know but are wrong about, especially regarding God and worship.

C.S. Lewis, in his reflections, struggled with the idea of God demanding praise, likening it to a dictator's need for adulation. However, he came to understand that praise is not about God's neediness but about our own spiritual health. Praise is the natural overflow of enjoyment and admiration. It is not about complimenting God but about recognizing and responding to His inherent worthiness. When we praise, we are fully awake to the reality of God's goodness, and our lives become richer and more complete.

God does not require our worship out of neediness. Instead, praise is a reflection of our inner health. It is an expression of gratitude and recognition of the beauty and goodness around us. Even in times of sadness or suffering, praise is crucial because it roots us in reality and reminds us of God's redemptive work. By filling our days with praise, we become more aware of the blessings we often take for granted, such as the beauty of nature, the gift of music, and the presence of loved ones.

Today, let us not live on autopilot but be mindful of the goodness surrounding us. Every good and perfect gift comes from God, and by acknowledging this, we align ourselves with His divine purpose. Praise is not just an act of worship; it is a declaration of inner health and spiritual vitality.

Key Takeaways:

1. Misunderstandings about God can hinder our spiritual growth. Jesus emphasized love as the greatest commandment, yet many focus on superficial sins. Our spiritual struggles often stem from misconceptions about God and worship. [01:45]

2. C.S. Lewis's reflections reveal that praise is not about God's neediness but about our spiritual health. Praise is the natural overflow of enjoyment and admiration, recognizing God's inherent worthiness. [06:29]

3. God does not require our worship out of neediness. Praise is a reflection of our inner health, an expression of gratitude, and a recognition of the beauty and goodness around us. [07:15]

4. Even in times of sadness or suffering, praise is crucial because it roots us in reality and reminds us of God's redemptive work. It is not about being chirpy but about acknowledging the goodness amidst brokenness. [10:08]

5. By filling our days with praise, we become more aware of the blessings we often take for granted. Every good and perfect gift comes from God, and acknowledging this aligns us with His divine purpose. [11:13]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:22] - Introduction to Praise
[00:38] - Misunderstandings About God
[01:22] - Jesus' Greatest Commandment
[01:45] - The Failure to Love
[02:11] - C.S. Lewis on Praise
[03:27] - The Nature of Praise
[04:07] - God is Not a Narcissist
[05:20] - The Role of Praise in Life
[06:29] - God’s Worthiness
[07:15] - God’s Non-Neediness
[08:20] - Praise as Inner Health
[09:22] - Expressing Praise
[10:08] - Praise in Suffering
[10:56] - Recognizing Blessings
[11:13] - Conclusion and Call to Praise

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Filling Our Days with Praise

Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 22:37-39 - "Jesus replied: 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
2. Psalm 50:12-14 - "If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it. Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High."
3. James 1:17 - "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

Observation Questions:
1. What misconceptions about God were highlighted in the sermon, and how do they affect our spiritual journey? [00:38]
2. How did C.S. Lewis initially perceive the idea of God demanding praise, and what changed his understanding? [02:24]
3. According to the sermon, what is the role of praise in our lives, especially during times of sadness or suffering? [10:08]
4. How does the sermon describe the relationship between praise and recognizing the blessings in our lives? [11:13]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Jesus' emphasis on love as the greatest commandment challenge common misconceptions about what matters to God? [01:34]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that praise is a reflection of our inner health rather than a requirement from God? [07:15]
3. How does the concept of praise being "inner health made audible" change the way one might approach worship? [09:22]
4. What does the sermon imply about the importance of being mindful of the goodness surrounding us in our daily lives? [10:25]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when a misconception about God hindered your spiritual growth. How can you address and correct this misconception moving forward? [00:38]
2. C.S. Lewis struggled with the idea of God demanding praise. Have you ever felt similarly? How can you shift your perspective to see praise as beneficial for your spiritual health? [02:24]
3. In moments of sadness or suffering, how can you intentionally incorporate praise into your daily routine to stay rooted in reality and God's redemptive work? [10:08]
4. Identify one blessing in your life that you often take for granted. How can you express gratitude for this blessing in a tangible way this week? [11:13]
5. Consider the ways you currently express praise in your life. What is one new practice you can adopt to fill your days with more praise and admiration for God's goodness? [00:22]
6. How can you become more aware of the "good and perfect gifts" from God in your everyday life, and how might this awareness impact your relationship with Him? [11:13]
7. Think of a specific area in your life where you feel disconnected from God's goodness. What steps can you take to realign your heart with His divine purpose through praise? [10:25]

Devotional

Day 1: Misunderstandings About God Hinder Spiritual Growth
Misunderstandings about God can significantly hinder one's spiritual growth. Many people focus on superficial sins, believing these are what matter most to God, when in fact, Jesus emphasized love as the greatest commandment. This misalignment often leads to spiritual struggles, as individuals may concentrate on the wrong aspects of their faith journey. It is crucial to recognize that our spiritual struggles often stem from misconceptions about God and worship. By realigning our understanding with the teachings of Jesus, we can overcome these struggles and grow spiritually. [01:45]

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9, ESV)

Reflection: What is one misconception you have held about God that you need to reevaluate in light of Jesus' emphasis on love?


Day 2: Praise Reflects Our Spiritual Health
C.S. Lewis's reflections reveal that praise is not about God's neediness but about our spiritual health. Praise is the natural overflow of enjoyment and admiration, recognizing God's inherent worthiness. It is not about complimenting God but about acknowledging His greatness and responding to it. When we engage in praise, we are fully awake to the reality of God's goodness, and our lives become richer and more complete. This understanding shifts the focus from a duty to a joyful expression of our relationship with God. [06:29]

"Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name." (Hebrews 13:15, ESV)

Reflection: How can you incorporate praise into your daily routine as a natural expression of your enjoyment and admiration of God?


Day 3: Worship is Not About God's Neediness
God does not require our worship out of neediness. Instead, praise is a reflection of our inner health, an expression of gratitude, and a recognition of the beauty and goodness around us. It is a way to align ourselves with the divine purpose and acknowledge the blessings we often take for granted. By understanding that worship is not about fulfilling a need in God but about nurturing our spiritual well-being, we can approach it with a renewed sense of purpose and joy. [07:15]

"Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit." (Philippians 4:17, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you express gratitude today for the beauty and goodness you see around you?


Day 4: Praise in Times of Suffering
Even in times of sadness or suffering, praise is crucial because it roots us in reality and reminds us of God's redemptive work. It is not about being chirpy but about acknowledging the goodness amidst brokenness. By focusing on praise during difficult times, we can find strength and hope, knowing that God is at work even in our struggles. This perspective allows us to see beyond our immediate circumstances and trust in God's greater plan. [10:08]

"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." (Habakkuk 3:17-18, ESV)

Reflection: How can you practice praise today, even if you are facing challenges or difficulties?


Day 5: Awareness of Blessings Through Praise
By filling our days with praise, we become more aware of the blessings we often take for granted. Every good and perfect gift comes from God, and acknowledging this aligns us with His divine purpose. Praise is not just an act of worship; it is a declaration of inner health and spiritual vitality. By cultivating a habit of praise, we can live more mindful and grateful lives, recognizing the abundance of God's gifts in our everyday experiences. [11:13]

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." (James 1:17, ESV)

Reflection: What is one blessing you have overlooked recently, and how can you express gratitude for it today?

Quotes


One of the things that gets in the way of our life with God is when we misunderstand him. Nancy and I were watching an episode of a game show called Family Feud not longer we liked that show, and one of the questions was, name a sin that you could get kicked out of heaven for, and it was really interesting. [00:00:41]

If you were to read Jesus, where in the world would you get the idea that those would be the top three things that would get you kicked out of heaven, when Jesus was so clear that the basic commandment is love God with all your heart soul mind and strength, and love other people love your neighbor as yourself. [00:01:22]

Our problem very often in life as well as in spiritual life isn't so much what we don't know it's what we think we know that we're wrong about, and we have all kinds of misguided ideas and thoughts particularly when it comes to God, and so I want to talk about one of those today and that has to do with worship or praise. [00:01:52]

When I first began to draw near to belief in God, and even for some time after it had been given to me, I found the stumbling block in the demand so glamorously made by all religious people that we should praise God, still more in the suggestion that God himself demanded it. [00:02:29]

We all despise the person who demands continued assurance of his own virtue, intelligence or delightfulness. We despise still more the crowd of people around every dictator every millionaire every celebrity who gratify that demand. Folks write sometimes about the difference between conditional esteem somebody who feels good about themselves only when they're being propped up by circumstances or other people. [00:02:48]

Thus a picture once ludicrous and horrible both of God and his worshippers threatened to appear in my mind. The psalms were especially troublesome in this way, praise the lord o praise the lord with me praise him and why lewis writes incidentally did praising god so often consistent telling other people to praise him. [00:03:19]

The sense in which the picture deserves or demands admiration is rather this, that admiration is the correct, adequate, or appropriate response to it, that if paid admiration will not be thrown away, and that if we do not admire we shall be stupid insensible and great losers we shall have missed something. [00:05:49]

In that way many objects both in nature and in art may be said to deserve or merit or demand admiration. It was from this angle which may seem to some irreverent that I found it best to approach the idea that God demands praise, he is that object to admire which, or if you like to appreciate which is simply to be awake. [00:06:12]

God is not needy god is not a narcissist, and god is not needy, the miserable idea that god should in any sense need or crave for our worship like a vain movie star wanting compliments or a vain author presenting his books to people who never met or heard of him, is implicitly answered by the words this is from psalm 50. [00:07:12]

The most obvious fact about praise whether of god or anything strangely escaped me, I thought of it in terms of compliment approval or giving of honor I had never noticed that all enjoyment spontaneously overflows into praise, unless shyness of the fear of boring others is deliberately brought into check it, the world rings with praise. [00:08:09]

Praise almost seems to be inner health made audible praise almost seems to be inner health made audible, because when we find something worthy something admirable our experience of it is not fully complete until we have expressed praise of it, and if that something is a person we want to express that praise not just generally not just to others but to the person herself or himself. [00:09:20]

Fill the day with praise, find that which is good, if this is the day where there is sadness or suffering in your life, it may be the praise is more important on this kind of day than any other time because praise is not chirpy it is not saccharine it is rooted in reality, there is goodness all around us. [00:09:56]

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Transcript
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