How often do you take time to just praise the Lord? I find when I ask myself that question that the answer is “Not enough.”
Yes, I add to my written “gratitude list” regularly. I try to remember to thank God when I see a prayer answered in my life. But sometimes I find that I’m still in the spotlight at those times – whereas if I’m praising God, then all the focus is on Him.
Praising God can take the form of music, which is uplifting and ministers to my soul. Meditating on words from the Bible that give praise to God also encourages my heart.
Here I’ve gathered ten passages that are centered on praise. I didn’t type out the entire passage, but included a verse(s) that I particularly like. Many of the selections below contain praise to God for the works He has done as well as praise for His attributes, Who He is. I hope to keep that same twofold focus as I offer my own praise to God.
1. Exodus 15:1-19 Here Moses recounts God’s victory over the Egyptians at the Red Sea.
The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him. [verse 2]
2. I Samuel 2:1-10 Hannah praises God after the birth of her son Samuel.
There is none holy as the Lord: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God. [verse 2]
3. II Samuel 22 David is the author of so many praise passages! Could his emphasis on praise be one of the reasons David was called a man after God’s own heart? (I Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22) Here he is praising God for delivering him from his enemies, including King Saul.
As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him. For who is God, save the Lord? and who is a rock, save our God? God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect. He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet: and setteth me upon my high places. [verses 31-34]
4. I Chronicles 16:7-36 Celebrate with David as the ark of the covenant returns to Jerusalem.
Sing unto the Lord, all the earth; shew forth from day to day his salvation. Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvellous works among all nations. For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared above all gods. [verses 23-25]
5. I Chronicles 29:10-20 David speaks to the people about his son Solomon becoming king, and the temple he will build for God.
Thine, O Lord is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name. [verses 11-13]
6. Psalm 103 I love that the Hebrew word for “Psalms” is “Praises.” Here’s a psalm of David.
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: [verses 1-2]
7. Psalm 145 At one point, I wrote a post about this being my favorite praise passage.
I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever. Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. [verses 1-3]
8. Isaiah 25:1-9 And when it comes to favorites, Isaiah’s the prophet I most like to read.
O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth. [verse 1]
9. Luke 1:46-55 Mary’s Magnificat, or hymn of praise
And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. [verses 46-47]
10. Revelation 5:8-14 This scene is set in heaven. Yet another reason to spend time praising God here, to get ready for doing it in eternity!
Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. [verse 12]
Are there are other Bible passages that you use to praise God? I’d also like to gather a list of hymns that praise God, so let me know if you have a favorite one of those as well!
Related posts:
What Mary Teaches Me About Praising God
Praying and Praising with Scripture
Praise Ye the Lord
“Sometimes I find that I’m still in the spotlight at those times – whereas if I’m praising God, then all the focus is on Him.” Oh my goodness, YES! That is so true! Saving this lovely post to share during worship team devotions. 🙂 I’m also glad to have it as a resource for the “P” in a PROMPT “thing” I’m trying to do these days to take my thoughts captive. The “P” is for “praise,” and the point is exactly what you say: simply to praise God. (The other elements, some of which you mention above, are to remember what God has done, offend the enemy by speaking Scripture out loud, meditate on God’s Word, pray for needs, and thank God.) I’m looking forward to more regular infusions of your grace and wisdom and humor now that I am able to officially say I WAS the mom of a graduate. 😉 Blessings on your weekend!
Oh, Elizabeth, thanks for sharing your PROMPT thing! I might have to borrow that idea, if you don’t mind 😉
Hope that everything associated with the graduation went well, and that in the not-too-distant future, you’ll share some of what you learned through that whole process (especially for those of us who are following close behind!)
Absolutely…borrow away! I’ve already thought of this post several times when I needed a “P.” And yes, thanks for asking: all went well. God helped me to live beyond myself and be who I’m not and do what I couldn’t and feel what I didn’t (and, maybe more importantly, not feel so much of what I normally would have) on my own. At the end of the night, after her party, my graduate said she felt “happy and loved.” Which was all I ever really wanted. 🙂 I’ve got a post in mind called “Graduation Ideas That Worked in Real Life,” but the most important thing I did was to promise God and my family and anyone else who would listen that I would keep the main thing the main thing: that at the end of the whole season, if Lydia could say she felt loved and happy and cherished, that would be a win. Having this (uncharacteristic) mindset helped A LOT when, say, the roof of our historic barn where we had the party blew off in an windstorm and the roofing company we found to replace it said they would “do their best” to get it done before her party. Which meant half our barn leaked when it rained. Their “best” was not good enough, and it still isn’t done, but God helped me not to freak out…and, graciously, He also provided a beautiful sunny evening for the party. But the victory was before that. So, there’s my sneak-peak tip. NOT that you need it: I can’t imagine you freaking out about anything! But my entire circle of family and friends who know me was literally waiting for about 6 months for me to L-O-S-E it. The most rewarding thing was the several times my mom told me, “Honey, I am so proud of how you’re handling all this.” Mercy: even as we get older, we still want to make our mamas proud, don’t we? 😉 Okay, sorry for the novel-length response. I’ll quit now but will just add that as you get closer to this season of your life, feel free to shoot any questions my way! And thank you again for this post…can’t wait to share it with worship team tomorrow!
It’s so very encouraging to hear how God gave you victory in all that happened!!! And don’t think that I wouldn’t lose it in a similar situation!
Love that you can look back and give God the glory. Isn’t He gracious to let us see how we can be filled with His Spirit and overcome things that would take us down if we operated in our flesh? Happy for you, your family and friends that you were able to celebrate Lydia in a way that meant so much to her!
Happy weekend!!
Like you I don’t praise God enough. And I’m convicted about that almost every time I pray. These verses are a great place to start in praising the Lord! I like to “sing” hymns in my mind when I pray to praise Him. Some of my favorites are “Holy, Holy, Holy,” “Great is Thy Faithfulness,” and “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise.” As you mentioned these hymns don’t mention me at all; they just focus on God.
Thank you for sharing those hymns – definitely some of my favorites as well!!
It’s been a rough week and this reminder helped me so much. Thank you, Tracey, for helping me adjust my focus off of my heartache and on to the God of All Comfort.
So sorry to hear it’s been a rough week – I continue to pray for you!!! I have no idea the depth of the heartache you’re experiencing, but continue to trust that God will grant you grace and healing for your heart.
And I am praying for you and your family, too
Thank you so much. It’s been a difficult week – prayers are much appreciated!!