The Power of Praise and Edification
Preparations for the holiday season are underway as the wind blows the remaining leaves from the trees. Thanksgiving Day is next week – one of my favorite holidays. As thoughts of gratitude and thanksgiving for all our blessings swirl in our minds, our hearts are strengthened with hope and love.
Listen or Watch the Podcast Here
Today, I want to talk about the two parts of giving thanks that can powerfully impact our lives – praise and edification. You might not have considered praise and edification powerful practices, but literal battles have been won with praise alone! (Read 2 Chronicles 20:21-30)
Why is praise such a vital part of spiritual warfare? For the same reason, church services begin with praise and worship, bringing God on the scene! God is enthroned on the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3) – He dwells there. So, if you are facing a battle, start with praise. It will get your mind off your situation and on God – that's a win!
If you're new to this concept, you may wonder what to say in your praise. Start with the following:
Praise Him For all His Benefits
"Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits; Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's." Psalm 103:1-5
Glorify God and His ability to Hear and Help You
"Bless be the Lord, Because He has heard the voice of my supplications! The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him." Psalm 28:6-7
Praise Him Because You are His Heir
"Since we are receiving our rights to an unshakable kingdom we should be extremely thankful and offer God the purest worship that delights His heart as we lay down our lives in absolute surrender, filled with awe." Hebrews 12:28
Praise Him Because You Have Breath
The only other question about praising the Lord is, what do I praise Him with? The answer is anything - your life, your abilities, your resources, or to tell Him how loving and merciful He is, or the beautiful sacrifice and comfort of Jesus - about anything in your life you can use to praise God. All you have to do is see life through Him. Psalm 28:7b states, "And with MY song I will praise Him" [emphasis added]. Each of us has our unique song to sing to God, starting with our personal praise and glory of Him.
"Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament! Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness! Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp! Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with the stringed instruments and flutes! Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!” Psalm 150
Edification – The Sister to Praise
You might not be as familiar with edification as praise. Edification is something you do for others as well as yourself. It uplifts us when circumstances have us feeling down. It's your supernatural mood booster! Edification is based on grace, and its nature equips us with what we need in whatever situation we are in. It lifts you up and helps keep your head held high.
As a believer, we are to edify one another. Life will undoubtedly throw us some curve balls. That's when we need other believers to come alongside us and edify us with words of encouragement.
Ephesians 4:15-16 says, "but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head – Christ– from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love."
So, ask yourself what you can supply to someone else today. How can you be a blessing? You could send a text or voice memo or make a meal for someone. Every day, you should ask the Holy Spirit, "Who is someone I need to edify? What specifically do they need from me? The world is full of people crying out silently for help – you might just be their answer to prayer.
In doing something for someone else, you will, in return, be edified and immensely blessed.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving week as you express your thanks to God for all the many blessings in your life.
Check out our library of digital Resources here.
Recieve our weekly guide/newsletter here.