We can be encouraged by others. We can be encouraged by God’s blessings. And we can be encouraged when circumstances turn our way. All these things lift our spirits.

But I’ve discovered that there’s one form of encouragement that soars way above all the rest. It’s the encouragement of praising God. Try it when you need a shot in the arm in a season of worry, doubt, staleness or pain. When you’re paralyzed with negative emotions, praising God can wipe them out.

Praise turns sorrow into joy, doubt into faith, worry into peace and dryness into life. When we turn our attention to God and give him praise for who he is, our spirit is flooded with the fulness of his Holy Spirit. He changes us. Our eyes go from inward to upward. Our emotions follow as we cast aside the things that have brought us down and place God front and center.

Praising God is easier than you think. It’s not made up of formal, stiff words. Your loving Father wants to hear your personal, heartfelt praise. In your own style. Whether you shout out or speak to God in the quietness of your heart, the simple words “Praise God!” are transformational.

“Praise God for your faithfulness!”

“Praise God for your holiness!”

“Praise God for your power!”

“Praise God for your love!”

“Praise God for your comfort!”

“Lord, you are holy, worthy, infinite, caring, tender, almighty, sovereign, all-knowing, in control, full of goodness!”

When you begin praising God for who he is, watch out! From deep within, your heart will change. The Lord will lift you out of the valley.

There are times, though, when you may not have the strength to lift up praise to God. Life has you so pounded down that you can’t muster the words. It’s OK. That’s when God speaks for you and with you. Go to the Psalms and read words of praise. Like this one…

“Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, you his servants; praise the name of the Lord. Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised. The Lord is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens. Who is like the Lord our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?” (Psalm 113:1-6 NIV)

It’s a great starting place. You can find so many more rich passages on praise with a simple Google search or in your Bible’s concordance.

Lift up your words of praise to God and experience his life-giving encouragement.  

(From my new devotional, Your Life With God: 30 Days of Encouragement. Available from Amazon in Kindle and paperback editions.)