Give God Permission

Give God Permission
Psalm 138:1-3

Praise … a word we hear at least 5,000 times in a church service … the word that is included in the first phrase out of the worship leader’s mouth, “Give God a hand of praise” or maybe you hear your Pastor or one of he ministers say it, “God is worthy of the Praise.” Whenever it happens… however it happens at some point during a worship service you hear something about Praise but how many of us really understand what praise is and the power it has? By the end of this writing I pray that the words God has given to me will help take your praise to a new level!!

So, what is praise? We have heard people say that praise is thanking God for what he has done, and this is true but could there be more to it than that?? Those who know me know that I always look words up in my handy Webster’s dictionary and here is a definition that changed EVERYTHING for me:

Praise – “the offering of grateful homage in words or song”

Looking at this definition nothing really deep seems to be there but of course God gives revelation. The words, “offering” and “homage” are used in this definition. An “offering” is something that is based completely on you… you can give it or not and if you decide to offer anything you make the decision on how much or how little you want the one to have that you are offering to.

Now “homage” has to do with “anything done to show honor or respect.” Just think about the President of the United States … if he were to come to your area for whatever reason he would get the best of the best service… he would stay at the finest hotel.. drive the most secured vehicle… actually he wouldn’t drive but his driver would be the safest and after leaving your area the President will feel that he is honored and respected there because of how you prepared for him and treated him while he was there. Praise is the same way… you decide based n your honor and respect for God how much you will show him how much you appreciate him.

The last part of the definition says that all of this is done in “words or song.” This simply means that SOMETHING has to come out of your mouth! Sure God knows what we think… how we feel… He knows EVERYTHING about us but if we never open our mouths to express to him how much we appreciate and love him we will never experience the TRUE benefit of praise.

Our personal praise gives God permission to keep doing great things in our lives.

Did you know that a lot of the blessings, favor and benefits that we experience as believers is connected to our praise or lack of praise to God? Praise is equivalent to Thank You. When someone gives you a gift and you don’t say thank you it leaves the impression that you are not appreciative and they are hesitant to give you anything again for fear of you being unappreciative. It is the same way with God when we give him the praise that he deserves we give him permission to keep doing great things in our lives. Just to make it clearer, permission means “authorization granted to do something.” Now THAT changes everything… at least for me it does!!

God has done things for us, in us, to us… that nobody else DESERVES the credit for.

If that doesn’t help you, how about this… just think for a second over your life… there are certain instances in life where you really can’t credit anybody for the success, deliverance, or victory in MANY situations but God. What about the time you slept with that person and you could have been pregnant but because God said no you didn’t have to go through it. What about that time you were ready to give it all up and you were about to take all those pills (slit your wrist, or hang yourself) and someone or something interrupted what you thought was going to be your final moments? Need I go on? I hope you get my point… God gets the credit for all that stuff and MORE!!!

Praise is showing your honor and respect to God in words or songs by giving him what you want him to have.

Lastly, Praise is totally and completely up to you. Praise should not be something that has to be pulled out of you … it is something that should be gladly given … unless you really don’t appreciate God and all that he has done. Praise, my brothers and sisters is simply giving God what you want him to have. So the nest time you are in worship service or where ever you are and someone talks about praise or giving God the praise… Open your mouth and give God PERMISSION to keep being God in your life by using your own person word and song!

© Copyright June 19, 2009 LaTrisha E. Milton