Praise is one of the great themes of the Bible — the right response of God's creatures to God's character. From the Psalms to Revelation, Scripture calls for praise constantly. These verses are for the worshipper, the songwriter, the gratitude journal, and the moments your heart needs to sing.
“Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.”
The final line of the Psalter — universal praise.
“I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
David's continual praise.
“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD... Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise.”
The classic praise psalm.
“By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”
Praise as the new covenant sacrifice.
“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things.”
The praise of heaven, around God's throne.
“I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works. I will be glad and rejoice in thee.”
Whole-heart praise.
Make praise a daily rhythm. Read a psalm aloud. Sing — even when you don't feel like it. List specific reasons. Praise in seasons of plenty AND of want (Habakkuk 3:17-18). Praise heals the heart and prepares for prayer. The God who made you for praise is glorified when you offer it.
Biblical praise is the right response of God's creatures to his character. It includes verbal worship (Psalm 34:1), singing (Psalm 100), thanksgiving (Hebrews 13:15), bodily expression (Psalm 47:1), and life devotion (Romans 12:1). Praise focuses on who God IS (his attributes) and what he HAS DONE (his works). It is offered in joy and in difficulty (Habakkuk 3:17-18).
Not because God is needy or insecure — but because (1) it is the right ordering of reality (God is supremely worthy); (2) praise is good for us, fixing our gaze on the true source of all good (Psalm 16:11); (3) it joins us with the heavenly worship (Revelation 4-5); (4) it strengthens faith and orients the heart. C.S. Lewis: 'In commanding us to glorify him, God is inviting us to enjoy him.'
Habakkuk 3:17-18 — 'Although the fig tree shall not blossom... Yet I will rejoice in the LORD.' Praise in hard times focuses on God's unchanging character — his goodness, faithfulness, sovereignty, love. Not 'praise for' the difficulty, but 'praise in' the difficulty. It is an act of faith and trust, not feeling.