When Praise Is Difficult

When I received a letter from Betty, I knew it would uplift me. Betty is in a nursing home. Because of a painful knee operation, she walks with a walker. Her husband has been childlike for years because of a stroke. But Betty has learned the secret of extravagant praise. Her letter began, "Praises be unto our God forever! He is worthy of all honor, glory, and praise. The longer I serve Him the sweeter He grows." God has delivered her, not out of the situation, but in it!

When we don't feel like praising the Lord, we can do what one young man did during a difficult time. Throughout his day he would keep a yellow note pad close by and record anything he thought of for which he could praise the Lord.

The next morning during his devotions, he would set his timer for five minutes and begin thanking God for the things he had written down the day before. He said, "Within three minutes, I was 'in the gate' and by the end of the five minutes, His presence would just wash over me."

When Praying Hyde's prayers weren't answered, He invariably discovered a lack of praise in his life. He would then pray for a spirit of praise. If we don't feel like praising the Lord, we can ask the Lord to give us grace to offer sincere praise. This is a prayer He would be pleased to answer.

Thank You, Jesus, that through praise I draw near You.

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name" (Psalm 100:4).

"Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him" (Psalm 33:1).

"A psalm of David, regarding the time he pretended to be insane in front of Abimelech, who sent him away. I will praise the LORD at all times. I will constantly speak his praises" (Psalm 34:1 NLT).