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Every autumn, people in the U.S. and Canada celebrate Thanksgiving. We give thanks for health, safety, prosperity, freedom and more. It is good to express our gratitude to God for our blessings\u2014and even our challenges. But in all our \u201cthanksgiving,\u201d we may tend to neglect praise. Praise is different from giving thanks. In fact, some (such as me, for instance) might say that praising God is becoming a lost art in our lives, homes and churches.<\/span><\/p>\n

Giving thanks focuses on our blessings; giving praise focuses on God\u2019s attributes and accomplishments. Both are expressed directly to God and both may reflect on what God has done, but praise may be a bit larger and higher than thanks, because it is not confined to what He has done for us. Giving thanks comes fairly easily to most people, but praise can seem less natural. If that\u2019s the case for you, try reclaiming the lost art of praise by following the examples of the psalmists. Praise God for: <\/span><\/p>\n

God\u2019s Name\/The Names of Jesus<\/span><\/strong>
\u201cI will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing the praises of your name\u201d (Psalm 18:49, NIV). See also Psalm 54:6.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

God\u2019s Might<\/span><\/strong>
\u201cBe exalted in your strength, Lord; we will sing and praise your might\u201d (Psalm 21:13, NIV). <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

His Kingship<\/span><\/strong>
\u201cYet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises\u201d (Psalm 22:3, NIV). See also Psalm 47:7, 146:10.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

God\u2019s Deeds<\/span><\/strong>
\u201cI wash my hands in innocence, and go about your altar, Lord, proclaiming aloud your praise and telling of all your wonderful deeds\u201d (Psalm 26:6-7, NIV). See also Psalm 72:18, 75:1, 105:2, 106:2.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

God\u2019s Attentiveness<\/span><\/strong>
\u201cPraise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy\u201d (Psalm 28:6, NIV). See also Psalm 68:19.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

His Holiness<\/span><\/strong>
\u201cSing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people; praise his holy name\u201d (Psalm 30:4, NIV).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Wonders of His Love<\/span><\/strong>
\u201cPraise be to the Lord, for he showed me the wonders of his love\u201d (Psalm 31:21, NIV). See also Psalm 66:20. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

God\u2019s Righteousness<\/span><\/strong>
\u201cMy tongue will proclaim your righteousness, your praises all day long\u201d (Psalm 35:28, NIV). See also Psalm 48:10.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

God\u2019s Greatness<\/span><\/strong>
\u201cGreat is the Lord, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, his holy mountain\u201d (Psalm 48:1, NIV). See also Psalm 145:3.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

God\u2019s Word<\/span><\/strong>
\u201cIn God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise\u201d (Psalm 56:10, NIV). See also Psalm 112:1, 119:164.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

His Creation<\/span><\/strong>
\u201cLet heaven and earth praise him, the seas and all that move in them\u201d (Psalm 69:34, NIV). See also Psalm 139:14.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

His Faithfulness<\/span><\/strong>
\u201cFrom birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother\u2019s womb. I will ever praise you\u201d (Psalm 71:6, NIV). See also Psalm 89:5. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

God\u2019s Beauty and Splendor<\/span><\/strong>
\u201cMy mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendor all day long\u201d (Psalm 71:8, NIV). See also Psalm 104:1. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

His Promises<\/span><\/strong>
\u201cThen they believed his promises and sang his praise\u201d (Psalm 106:12, NIV).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

God\u2019s Goodness<\/span><\/strong>
\u201cPraise the Lord, for the Lord is good\u201d (Psalm 135:3, NIV).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Those themes are just the beginning, of course. But they are a beginning. Why not focus some of your prayers<\/span> these next couple weeks on each of these themes, praising God, for \u201cHow good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!\u201d (Psalm 147:1, NIV).  <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In a season of giving thanks for what you have, don\u2019t forget to give praise for what God offers. by Bob Hostetler   Every autumn, people in the U.S. and Canada celebrate Thanksgiving. We give thanks for health, safety, prosperity, freedom and more. It is good to express our gratitude to God for our blessings\u2014and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":5607,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,8],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n