PROPHETIC WORSHIP
Author: Pal Roebert & Evan Schoombie

INTRODUCTION
Today many Christians are asleep, in a coma. We hear the Word preached, but it is as if we are under anaesthetic, unaware of what is going on around us spiritually and in the world we find ourselves in.
The Holy Spirit wants to revive us because He lives inside of us.

WHAT IS PROPHETIC WORSHIP?

Prophetic worship is is Spirit-led worship – it is simple. We think if something is not complicated it is not good enough, yet the Lord tells us to be like children, to keep things simple.
Worship is going into the Holy of Holies. From the moment the worship service begins, we are on a journey towards that place. One of the words translated worship in Greek is "Proskuneo." It literally means to "prostrate oneself in homage." It is used in Matthew 2:2 "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.'' (my emphasis). But while it means to bow it also means to "Kiss towards", to blow a kiss towards God!

Worship is like a bridge into the Spiritual realm. It takes us into God's presence and to become aware of His presence is part of worship. We need to flow under the direction of the Holy Spirit because he has new things for us in every service. God is a God of variety and ever so original. Every sunrise is new and original, no two snow-flakes are the same, in the same way no two meetings with Him will ever be similar. He has something new to say to us whenever we stop to listen. The Holy Spirit is like the wind. We can't see the wind, but the result thereof is visible:
"The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.'' (John 3:8)

Prophetic worship is catching the wind of the Holy Spirit for a specific service and flowing with it.
The main aim of the Holy Spirit is to focus us on Jesus. This is difficult for musicians, worship leaders and pastors alike. We all have agendas, programmes and egos to struggle with. There needs to come a time when a true death to self and all these other things come so that we may indeed be lead by the chief Worship Leader, the Holy Spirit.
"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life" (John 6:63)

During Prophetic Worship Some Things Happen

SPIRITUAL WARFARE:
This is reflected in the songs. One might find that the music starts to flow in the direction of sounds of war. The drums might start to feature. The worship leader should be sensitive enough to step out of the way and let the anointing go at this point and make room for the Holy Spirit to flow through the percussive instruments etc. to go to battle and lead the people in spiritual warfare.

"The Lord will cause His glorious voice to be heard, and show the descent of His arm, with the indignation of His anger and the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, tempest, and hailstones. For through the voice of the Lord Assyria will be beaten down, who struck with a rod. And in every place where the staff of punishment passes, which the Lord lays on him, it will be with tambourines and harps; and in battles of brandishing He will fight with it." (Isaiah30:30-32)

INTERCESSION:
Fantastic times of prayer and intercession may be released during prophetic worship. One needs to be open to the prompting to the Holy Spirit and ready to drop the agenda at a minute's notice. We were in Bloemfontein doing a worship conference and the first session was about to begin. As we walked onto the stage we noticed that there was a massive atlas behind us. The musicians started playing but somehow we felt that we had to pray for the nations. To our surprise there were many people from other nations and yet more who were supporting missionaries or had children and families serving the Lord in foreign countries. We had a glorious opening session and ended singing our national anthem, black and white brothers hand in hand together, under the leading of the Holy Spirit, instead of teaching what was on the agenda for the first two hours of the conference programme.
"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God" (Romans 8:14).

PROPHECY:
A word of prophecy is released. The Rhema (spoken word) is spontaneously dropped into your spirit. One needs to ask the question though whether this is a word for oneself personally or for the body. Prophesy is like creating, declaring the word for NOW. We can't say "last week the Lord said!" That is old news. What is He saying now? This brings glory and life!
"They are created now and not from the beginning; and before this day you have not heard them, lest you should say, `Of course I knew them.' "(Isaiah 48:7)


SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY IS RELEASED
"This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: `Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the Lord of hosts. `Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain!'"(Zechariah 5:6-7)
When the Lord speaks anything to you during the worship (especially if you are leading the meeting or are in the team,) and a spiritual determination comes to your heart as there is power in those words. In II Corinthians 6:16 (b) we read: "For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: 'I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.''' ---- Like with Adam.
Too often we are doing all the talking so that there is no time for the Spirit to talk. For years we have only had a monologue with God. How monotonous and boring this must be for God and frustrating it can become for you, yet we do this with God, we do all the talking. Mostly asking, never taking the time to listen and then to verbalise what we perceive He is saying.


GOD WANTS COMMUNION WITH US
He wants to speak. Write down what He says. Pray in tongues, stop, listen, what comes to mind is God speaking. He speaks in the first person. We have to give over control to the Holy Spirit and trust Him. We are so afraid to risk. What if it is my imagination, what if it the devil. Where is your faith?! The Word says :
"For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!"(Matthew 7:7-11)

In II Corinthians 3:17 it is written:
"Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."
Where the Holy Spirit is allowed to be Lord, where He is given full right of way, liberty to do as He pleases, where His is not limited, He will bring Liberty.

The Fear of man keeps us locked up in jail. We are often more concerned with the opinions and approval of man than with doing the will of God. It is part of human behaviour and needs to be brought to the cross. It happened already while Jesus was walking the earth:
"Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God". (John 12:42-43)
Liberty is not licence, doing as one pleases! We have to make sure it is the leading of the Holy Spirit. It is important to know that with every move of the Holy Spirit there is always flesh involved, excesses abound. The Lord is not fazed by this. It passes. It is part of our learning to discern the good from the best and the precious from the vile. That is why it is important to test everything and cling onto that which is good. To utterly dismiss something because it is strange or outside of our experience field is equally excessive and dangerous. The Pharisees accused Jesus of driving out Satan by Beelzebub and He said that that the sin against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven them, for you can not call that which is from God evil.

There is a fine line to be had when we "discern." We have to make sure that we are not "judging" something prematurely. We can take a leaf from the book of Gamaliel who said the following of the apostles:
"Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while...."
"And he said to them: 'Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men. And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it lest you even be found to fight against God.''' (Acts 34,35,38,39.)
We must invite the Holy Spirit to come and then, whatever we do, do not short circuit what He wants to do. (John 2:5 (b)-"Whatever He says to you, do it.'')

Paul instructs us in Efesians 5:18-19: "And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord..."

The Holy Spirit is like a Dove. We need to get to hear His voice, follow His leading and make a friend of the Holy Spirit.

WHAT DOES PROPHETIC WORSHIP INVOLVE?

1.SINGING
The voices of the people. Worship in the Spirit and in tongues. I Corinthians 14:15b " I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding."
- Singing a New Song
Unknown spontaneous songs. Start at home in your own quiet time, while you are driving showering. With "prophetic" a word to be remembered is "spontaneous." "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." (Colossians 3:16)


2.DANCE
There are many biblical references to dance. Miriam danced, David danced. The Psalms are full of examples. Anointed dancers respond to the Spirit inside of them and express their love and worship to God using their bodies. Simplicity is part of the language of the Spirit. When there is prophetic dance is it usually unrehearsed because the Spirit comes upon somebody and they express what the Lord is saying.

- Dance is controversial because it is highly demonstrative. It requires the use of the whole body in order to express joy, praise and worship before the Lord.
Hebrew and Greek words translated for dance mean "leaping, skipping, lifting up the feet, jumping." In other words, something spontaneous and unstructured.
"So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them walking, leaping, and praising God." (Acts 3:8)
"Let them praise His name with the dance; Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp." (Psalm 149:3)
"Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!" (Psalm 150:4)

- Examples of Dance in the Old Testament:

In celebration:
When the children of Israel were delivered from Egypt. They rejoiced because of the restoration of the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem.
When Jeremiah prophesied concerning the coming restoration, he prophesied that people would dance.

Spiritual Dance:
It is unsophisticated, spontaneous, primitive in style and can be expressed in skipping, whirling, leaping and jumping. Sometimes accompanied by musical instruments or singing.

By individual or group:
David danced before the Lord
Miriam and all the women danced
The spiritual dance is not dancing with a member of the opposite sex.
The bible states "Miriam and all the women danced"
"Young men and old men together"
Jeremiah 31:13a:"Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old, together;"
There is no age limit

Singing and dances often go together: (I Samuel 29:5) (Isn't this the David they sang about in their dances?)

There is a right time to dance: (Ecclesiastes 3:4)".. a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance."

Dancing Before the Lord:
This expression of praise is one of obedience to God's revealed Word that we are to praise Him in the dance. As an act of our will, even if we feel awkward in doing so, we obey God and join in with other believers as they dance before the Lord.

Dancing in the Spirit:
Dancing in the Spirit is when our whole body is completely under the control of the Holy Spirit. The believers during this time are completely "lost" in the Spirit and so totally absorbed in the move of the Holy Spirit's power upon their bodies that they are totally unaware of themselves or even others around them. If indeed from the Lord, it will always be in God's perfect timing so as to not detract from, but rather be in perfect harmony and flow with the move of God at that moment.

The Restoration of Dance was prophesied:
If we are Spiritual Israel, then this is for us today:
"Again I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt, O virgin of Israel! You shall again be adorned with your tambourines, and shall go forth in the dances of those who rejoice.
Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old, together; for I will turn their mourning to joy, will comfort them, and make them rejoice rather than sorrow. " (Jeremiah 31:4,13)

Warnings:
Beware of Carnal dancing!
Dancing of carnal nature is also associated with backsliding, idolatry, immorality and worldliness. Satan has a counterfeit for everything. Counterfeits only prove their is a genuine and an original!

Not for Show:
The purpose of dancing in praise to God was never intended for a show or performance that would draw the people's attention to the dancers. Instead the dance as an expression of praise is to be a spontaneous and intensive physical expression of praise to God that involves the whole assembly of believers. It is to be participated in by both women and men, and by both the young and the old.

Believers are not to stop praising and become "observers" or to in any way become distracted from intense praise during the time of "spiritual dance" or "dancing before the Lord" neither is the dance allowed to become a production where only a select few are performing for the others. This DOES NOT MEAN that there are not those who lead the dance - just as we have worship and music leaders. It only implies that the lead dancers lead the people into participating, using their entire beings in worshipping the Lord.

Our DRESS and ACTIONS must always be those that will glorify the Lord and not call attention to ourselves.

Enter in:
For believers to refuse to enter into the dance of praise before the Lord when the Holy Spirit is moving in that way is an act of rebellion before God. To be self-conscious and fearful of loosing one's dignity can grieve or quench the flowing of the Holy Spirit.

Some of the greatest "breakthroughs" happen as the move of the Holy Spirit comes upon a body of believers when each one is dead to self and moves in obedience to the Holy Spirit, entering in as David did, "dancing before the Lord with all his might."


3.MIME
There are different things to be done. Blow a kiss, kneeling, stretching out your hands. God is creative. Be open to obey Him because you may be the key of what the Lord wants to do for that particular meeting, and if you don't you may quench the Holy Spirit.


4.PROPHETIC ACTIONS
These are spontaneous, like an instrumentalist suddenly blowing the victory sound or the declaration of the coming of the King.
The flags and banners are all used so effectively as prophetic symbols and in prophetic actions. Each colour has a different meaning. The gold speaks of the glory and holiness of God, the red speaks of the love and blood of Jesus, the silver of redemption, the green of rebirth, the blue of the water of the Holy Spirit, the white of purity, the pink of first love, tenderness and healing etc.

But by using these flags prophetically, we are speaking in the spiritual realm, making declarations: "Jesus has made me righteous by His blood." "I call on the Holy Spirit!" Do not look at what you can see, because it will pass away, but look at what you can't see."
"And of the angels He says: "Who makes His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire.'' (Hebrews 1:7)
We can't see them, but know they are around and are ministering to us at the Lord's command. As we pick up these banners in faith we are declaring things to the heavenlies that the Lord sees as a sacrifice of praise and worship and it has an effect.


5.A RELEASE OF GLORY SOUNDS
Romans 8:22-23 "For we know that the whole creation groans and labours with birth pangs together until now. And not only they, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body."
Often the people start to groan and make melodious sounds instead of singing during worship times. It is as if the congregation is giving birth to something as a group or an individual can be experiencing this. A note: we should be very careful to judge another person's worship it is for God's consumption and not our own.


6.CONCLUSION
The key to prophetic worship is to hear the sound of the wind. We do not know from where it comes nor where it is going. Yet we must not block it. How do we block it? By following our own agenda.

Being spontaneous is of utmost importance. Keep flowing until you feel the cloud has lifted.

The Result: A theme will be visible. It would have flown right through the prophecy, the prayer, music. Listen to what is happening once the Spirit moves. Flow in the same direction. Prophetic worship is like an escalator that takes us into the presence of God and meets us at the point of our need. People come to our meetings to touch God's presence. What a privilege –what a responsibility!

What power, the sweet fragrance of the Lord comes and His Glory is revealed.

Habakkuk 2:20 "But the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him.''  

 

 

 

for his loving kindness endures forever.


Praise the LORD!

for He is good; For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

 

Posted: March 10, 2009
3:02 pm Eastern

By Janet Porter

When I was a kid, I read about David Wilkerson who took to Gospel to the gangs of New York. I even saw the movie "The Cross and the Switchblade" that was made about him. Many know about that, but most don't know what happened in his church just eight years ago.

In the fall of 2001, Pastor David Wilkerson, of Times Square Church in New York City, was warned by God that a calamity was coming. For six weeks they felt an intense burden and enormous heaviness. A critical need for intercession was so profound that Pastor Wilkerson canceled everything on the church calendar – mission's conferences, youth events and every guest speaker.

For six weeks, there wasn't a sermon. Instead, there was intercession for our nation with weeping and repentance. They knew something was coming and that something was bad. And that something was soon. So they prayed. And prayed … and prayed.

Then Wilkerson felt God telling him something that seemed rather bizarre. He felt God telling him to make sandwiches – lots of sandwiches. What were they for? Who would eat them? That part wasn't clear, but his church did what they believed God was telling them anyway.

And on the 10th of September they stayed up all night making hundreds and hundreds of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. By morning they had about 2,000 sandwiches. At 8:46 a.m. the first plane hit the World Trade Center and Times Square Church was ready to feed and minister to rescue workers and victims of our nation's worst attack.

Making sandwiches all night is a strange thing to do. If someone told me to stay up all night making sandwiches, I'd probably tell them they were crazy. But if David Wilkerson says he's heard something from God today, I think we'd be crazy not to listen.

He now says he feels the same thing he felt leading up to the attack by radical Islam. In an "URGENT MESSAGE" dated March 7, 2009, Wilkerson said:

AN EARTH-SHATTERING CALAMITY IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. IT IS GOING TO BE SO FRIGHTENING, WE ARE ALL GOING TO TREMBLE – EVEN THE GODLIEST AMONG US.

For 10 years I have been warning about a thousand fires coming to New York City. It will engulf the whole megaplex, including areas of New Jersey and Connecticut. Major cities all across America will experience riots and blazing fires – such as we saw in Watts, Los Angeles, years ago.

There will be riots and fires in cities worldwide. There will be looting – including Times Square, New York City. What we are experiencing now is not a recession, not even a depression. We are under God's wrath. In Psalm 11 it is written:

… God is judging the raging sins of America and the nations. He is destroying the secular foundations.

The prophet Jeremiah pleaded with wicked Israel, "God is fashioning a calamity against you and devising a plan against you. Oh, turn back each of you from your evil way, and reform your ways and deeds. But they will say, It's hopeless! For we are going to follow our own plans, and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart" (Jeremiah 18:11-12).

In Psalm 11:6, David warns, "Upon the wicked he will rain snares (coals of fire) … fire … burning wind … will be the portion of their cup." Why? David answered, "Because the Lord is righteous" (v. 7). This is a righteous judgment – just as in the judgments of Sodom and in Noah's generation.

WHAT SHALL THE RIGHTEOUS DO? WHAT ABOUT GOD'S PEOPLE?

First, I give you a practical word I received for my own direction. If possible lay in store a 30-day supply of non-perishable food, toiletries and other essentials. In major cities, grocery stores are emptied in an hour at the sign of an impending disaster.

… I will behold our Lord on his throne, with his eye of tender, loving kindness watching over every step I take – trusting that he will deliver his people even through floods, fires, calamities, tests, trials of all kinds.

Note: I do not know when these things will come to pass, but I know it is not far off. I have unburdened my soul to you. Do with the message as you choose.

Warren Buffett has said that our economy has "fallen off a cliff." With the election of the most pro-abortion president (and Congress) in history, there's no question that we deserve God's judgment.

Just yesterday, Barack Obama signed an executive order to use children for spare parts. So much for defending the "least of these," as he so often quoted during his campaign. Cannibalizing the weak to help the strong. And by the way, don't believe everything you hear in the news – Obama didn't say he was against cloning. He said he was against "reproductive" cloning. Killing a new life after cloning one is another matter entirely: the cowardice of Obama's "Brave New World."

The bottom line is that we are economically and morally bankrupt. And it's reported that Iran now has all they need to build nukes.

So, when the guy who made the 2,000 sandwiches on Sept. 10 warns us: "AN EARTH-SHATTERING CALAMITY IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN," I think we would do well to heed it. And follow the words Wilkerson quotes from the prophet Jeremiah and "turn back each of you from your evil way, and reform your ways and deeds."

 

 

‘…. en mijn volk waarover mijn naam is uitgeroepen,
verootmoedigt zich en zij bidden
en zij zoeken mijn aangezicht
en bekeren zich van hun boze wegen,
dan zal Ik uit de hemel horen,
en hun zonde vergeven en hun land herstellen.’
(2 Kron. 7:14, NBG)

In de bijbel staat

God heeft ons de Heilige Geest gegeven,
die altijd bij ons is, en ons zal helpen
en bij staan in de strijdt..
Joh.14:15-16

Want onze strijd is niet tegen mensen,
maar tegen machten en boze geesten in
de hemelse gewesten..
Efezier 6:12

Bied weerstand aan het boze
en het zal van je wijken.
Dit zijn de kenmerken van de Geest:
de liefde.

De liefde is lankmoedig, zij is goedertieren,
zij is niet afgunstig, zij praalt niet,
zij is niet opgeblazen, zij kwetst niemands gevoel
zij zoekt zichzelf niet, zij wordt niet verbitterd,
zij rekent het kwade niet toe,
zij is niet blij over de ongerechtigheid,
Maar is blij met de waarheid,
alles bedekt zij, alles geloofd zij alles hoopt zij,
De liefde vergaat nooit meer.
1Cor. 13:4-7

Allen die door de Geest van God geleid
worden zijn zonen Gods.
Wij hebben de Geest van het zoonschap
ontvangen, door wie wij zeggen :
Abba Vader..
 

 

 

 

 What kind of faith does it require to praise God in just the good times?If there ever were a test of our faith…If there ever were a test of our motives of worship—it is when a storm rolls into our life. Sometimes God calms the storms, but sometimes He chooses to ride along with us. What does it mean to praise God in THIS storm? Notice the emphasis…this storm implies that we are going through it right now. I had been singing it wrong. It’s easy to say that I will praise God in THE storm, because we are going through the storm, but the word THIS says, at least to me, that we are going through the storm at the current time and that I can praise God during the storm. So who is correct? If we are going through difficulty, does that mean that we’ve sinned? Does it mean that we don’t have enough faith? To say these things means that we haven’t looked at the entire word of God.

One of my favorite verses from years ago, comes from Romans 8:28.

 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” 

To be real honest, it sure doesn’t seem that way when you are in the middle of a storm. It’s difficult at best to get your bearings in the middle of a storm. But if we look at another writer he says,

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever, you face trials of many kinds…”   Whoa back the truck up…We should consider trials a joy? Why is that? James continues,  “Because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything…”  So according to James trials and testing and the storms of life are not evidence of our lack of faith, but evidence that our faith is there and needs sharpening. Perseverance through the storm hones our faith. It strengthens our faith. I like the words James uses here. James in effect is saying that without trials we can never become mature believers. We can never become complete in our faith. Without the storms our faith will lack strength. Storms serve to strengthen our faith. So how do we praise God in THIS storm?
 David writes in Psalm 121,     “I lift up my eyes to the hills where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed he who watches over Israel will neither slumber or sleep. The Lord watches over you—the Lord is the shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all harm—he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”

We must remember that God has a plan for our life and it’s not of ours. God is God !

 

 

 

 

For the Lord is in his holy temple! Let all the earth keep silence before him. AND the Lord is GREAT and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are idols; but the Lord made the heavens. Honor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

Majesty! Worship his majesty!
Unto Jesus be all glory power and praise.
Majesty! Kingdom authority!
Flow from his throne unto his own,
His anthem raise.

So exalt, lift up on high the name of Jesus.
Magnify, come glorify Christ Jesus, the King.

Majesty! Worship his majesty!
Jesus who died now glorified,
King of all kings!

 

Praise to God is what we offer in acknowledgement of God's excellent being. You might think that praise is the same as saying "thank you," but there is a difference. Thanksgiving describes our attitude toward what God has done, while praise is offered for who God is. Psalm 18:3 says "I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise…"

All believers are commanded to praise God! In fact, Isaiah 43:21 explains that praise is one reason we were created, "This people I have formed for Myself; they shall declare My praise." Hebrews 13:15 confirms this: "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise - the fruit of lips that confess his name."

Praise originates in a heart full of love toward God. Deuteronomy 6:5 says, "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." Are you a Christian today? If so, you know that you love God because He first loved you! Without God's love, any praise you can offer is hollow. Love, born from a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, is an essential part of your praise.
Praise To God - How to Praise God
How can you bring praise to God? What can you do to make it an integral part of your life? Praise can be expressed in song, in verse, or in prayer and it is to be done continuously! Psalm 34:1 instructs, "I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips." Psalm 71:6 says, "From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother's womb. I will ever praise you."

Praise to God is expressed outwardly through our everyday actions, as well as inwardly in our thoughts. Praise is an act of Christian worship.

"Where do I begin?" you may ask. "How do I start praising God?" If praising God is new to you, try praising God for who He is to you, personally. Proclaim that God's goodness is without measure; it is abundant and overflowing! Here are some ways to get started:

* Praise God for His holiness, mercy, and justice (2 Chronicles 20:21, Psalm 99:3-4).
* Praise God for His grace (Ephesians 1:6).
* Praise Him for His goodness (Psalm 135:3).
* Praise God for His kindness (Psalm 117).
* Praise God for His salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Praise to God can be offered anywhere! In time, it will become as normal as taking a breath. Sometimes we praise God inwardly as in Psalm 9:2, "I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High." Other times we have opportunity to give glory and praise to our God publicly. Psalm 22:22 says, "I will declare your name to my brothers; in the congregation I will praise you." Search out opportunities to bring praise to God!
Praise To God - Who Praises God?
Praise to God, while offered particularly by His children as the freewill expression of grateful hearts, will one day be offered by everyone! The Bible says that when He comes again, all mankind will praise Him and acknowledge Him as Lord. He is King over all the earth. When we know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, our hearts long to praise His name. Philippians 2:9-11 tells us His name represents His being, describing who He is, "Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

The Bible also records:

* All nature praises God (Psalm 148:7-10).
* The sun, moon, and stars praise Him (Psalm 19:1 and 148:3).
* The angels praise Him (Psalm 148:2).
* Even the wrath of men is used by God to praise Himself (Psalm 76:10).
* Children are to be taught to praise God (Psalm 78:4).

Praise To God - Do You Proclaim His Praise?
Your praise to God is evidenced through your salvation. 1 Peter 2:9 says, "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."