Written by Keywana Wright
Praise is an outward expression of one’s gratitude towards God. One may express their gratitude through the clapping of their hands and the dancing of their feet. One may shout out Hallelujah through a church service as they express thanksgiving unto God. Praise can get you out of a difficult situation that seems impossible to come out of. I am reminded of the story of Paul and Silas in the book of Acts 16:25-26KJV. “And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God and the prisoners heard them. (v.26) And suddenly there was a great earthquake. The foundation of the prison was shaken and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bands were loosed”. Perhaps you are feeling bounded up mentally in your mind or your emotions have you bonded up with all kind of mixed emotions.
Praise is a weapon that will free you from mental or emotional bondages. “Lift up your heads all ye gates and be ye lifted up ye everlasting gates and the King of glory shall come in.” Psalm 24:7. Praise can help you get a break -through in your life. Often we carry weights of depression, guilt, and failures from past relationship, disappointments, and unfilled dreams. I want to encourage you today; it doesn’t matter what you may be facing. Get into an attitude of praise and watch how your worst season can become your best season. In Zephaniah 3:20, “ At the time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the Lord.
What has held you captive in your life? Find a prayer partner and watch the chains of addictions, and insecurities fall off. When you praise ,you open the portal of blessings that will flow in your life. Have you heard of the phrase: When praises go up blessings come down?
Three praises scriptures
1. I will praise you as long as I live and in your name. I will lift up my hands. Psalm 63:4
2. I will bless the Lord at all times and his praises shall continually be in thy mouth. Psalm 34:1
3. Let everything that have breath praise the Lord. Psalm 150:6
Worship
Worship is showing God you love and adore him. Worship is an outer expression of love you have towards God. In Matthew 22:37 says “Jesus said unto him, thou shalt love thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. The bible tells us in John 4:23-24 “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” In order to worship God, you must have an established relationship with him. Everyone can praise God, but only the believer can worship God. Hannah was a worshipper she knew how to win the heart of God. Worship can bring an impossible situation possible.
As Hannah poured out her heart to God in I Samuel 1: 15, her impossible situation of having a child became possible as she prayed unto God. Worshipping God must come from the heart. The Lord looks at the heart of men rather than the outer appearance. The Lord is the only one that knows the heart of men. True worship takes you into the spirit realm. According to Pastor Kenneth Copeland, there are seven ways to express worship.
1. Barak- To kneel, to bless God, to bow down.
2. Halal-To be clear, to shine, to boast, to show, to rave.
3. Shabach-to shout loudly, to command
4. Tehillah-To sing praises, singing out the spirit spontaneously
5. Towdah-Extending hands, acting out of thanksgiving for what has or will be done.
6. Yadah-Extending the hands vigorously
7. Zamar-To touch the strings, to make music with instruments, mostly rejoicing.
In closing, praise and worship together can bring deliverance, it can set the captive free , and it can loose chain of bondages. It can also set a feeble mind free. Praise and worship both are outer expression of Thanksgiving and gratitude for who God is and what He has done for you. Everyone can praise God but only those who have a pure heart can worship God. God commends everyone to praise him. However, in order to worship you must worship God in spirit and in truth. Are you ready to praise and worship God?
Dear God help us to praise you for the things you have done for us. Help us God to worship you in spirit and in truth. Amen
Keywana Wright is a native of Flint, Michigan. She is a devoted mother of one daughter, Miss Tayler Williams. Ms. Wright is a self-publisher and author of the four short devotional books, ‘Walking in God’s Destiny’,’ Keywana’ s Collection of Prayers and Poems’, ’31 daily prayers for the Virtuous woman’, and ‘One leap into your God-Given purpose’. She is a motivational speaker, writer, life coach, and prayer warriors. A podcast program “Good Night Prayers with Keywana Wright” on Tuesday’s at 9pm.
Keywana is a Jr. Missionary and serves in various capacities at her local church as well as the community. Keywana’ s dream is to work and serve in full-time women’s outreach ministry. She has a God-giving love for women and to help them reach their purpose in the Kingdom of God. She believes in the power of prayer. She is a witness that there is nothing impossible to him that believe.
Over the past 15 years she has continued to work in the Human Service Field. She also has worked with domestic Violence and sexual assault victims. Keywana holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Family Life Education from Spring Arbor University. She has a certificate in Leadership in Ministry. Keywana’ s favorite bible verse, “In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy path. Proverbs 3:6
