All the earth worships you and sings praises to you… Psalm 66:4
We
are commanded throughout scripture to praise
God and to worship Him alone. The
terms are similar, but not synonymous. Praise is easy. We praise people for a
job well done: kids for good grades,
a neighbor for mowing our lawn, or a spouse for taking out the trash. Praise
doesn't cost us anything. It is a reward for performance. Through words, music,
or dance, we can praise God for the great things He has done. Praising God is
good, but we should not limit our heart’s expression to praise only.
Part
of God’s mysterious nature is the requirement to worship Him alone. Worship is
the losing of oneself in the adoration of someone or something greater. The
human spirit is designed for worship, and if we are not worshiping the Lord, we
will worship something else. Sports stadiums and rock concerts are filled with
worshipers. Shopping malls and casinos pack in the worshipers every weekend. Worship
is where we go to find validation and purpose. In order to worship God, we must
set aside our pride and acknowledge His right to rule over us. Worship reminds
us that we are not God. We can praise
God for what He has done, but we worship God
for Who He is. To experience true communion with Him, we need both.
Consider the differences
between praise and worship. Are you practicing both in your communication with
God?
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