August 27, 2025
Praise Is a Full-Time Job
By Michael A. Youssef, Ph.D.
During a mid-week prayer meeting, an elderly man prayed, “Lord, we will praise You with our two eyes, by looking only to You. We will exalt You with our two ears by listening only to Your voice. We will praise You with our two hands by working in Your service. We will honor You with our own feet by walking in the way of Your statutes. We will magnify You with our tongues by bearing testimony to Your lovingkindness. We will worship You with our hearts by loving only You. We thank You for Your faithfulness that never wavers or ceases to be a blessing to us.”
Praise always exalts God. And if we take time to think about it, praise should be a full-time job. However, there may be times when you wonder, “How can I praise God for sorrow and disappointment?” One way we do this is by setting our minds and hearts on God’s grace and mercy. Even in times of deep sorrow and frustration, God remains faithful. He has a plan for our lives, and He will accomplish it.
David was the anointed king of Israel, yet for years he was forced to live life on the run from King Saul. From a human perspective, it seemed David had very little, if anything, to praise God for. However, he did just that. He wrote a wonderful testimony of praise to God:
I love you, Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies. (Psalm 18:1-3)
When you lift your voice to God with words of praise, you declare His goodness and faithfulness to an unbelieving world. Therefore, praise the Lord with all your heart!
Prayer: Lord, I want a heart of unending praise because You are worthy. Thank You that Your Holy Spirit in me is always praising You; help me tune my heart to His voice. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
“Therefore I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name” (Psalm 18:49).
Learn more in Dr. Michael A. Youssef’s sermon series Empowered by Praise: WATCH NOW | LISTEN NOW
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Watch Dr. Michael Youssef on this week's broadcast of Leading The Way at LightSource.com.
