Ripples of Praise

I attend church to restore God's Spirit in my soul. The world can be a battering ram to that Spirit creating chinks and weak spots much like the holes in Swiss cheese. The praise and worship mends those holes reminding me of what is important - God.

So what exactly is praise? Commonly, we group praise along with worship as though these two actions are one, but are they? The dictionary defines worship as "homage or service to a deity", therefore by definition, we worship God when we pay him homage - singing, praying, attending services, etc., or in service by ministering to others or evangelism.

Praise is different from worship. The definition of praise is "express warm approval or admiration". When we tell others about who God is and what he has done in our lives; this is praise.

So why would God be concerned with our praise? Is it glory that he is after? Does he need us to remind him of his great works? Is it arrogance that requires our praise? NO!

Praise is a many- pronged fork.

• When we praise who God is and what he has done to unbeliever - it is evangelism.
• When we recount all that God has done in our lives to fellow Christians, it strengthens their Spirit.
• When we praise in the secrecy of our prayer closet - it reminds those dark spirits of the goodness of our Lord and who they have set themselves against.

But, praise is not linear - it has a ripple effect. As we speak to unbelievers our praise of God, not only are we evangelizing the unbeliever - but we are strengthening our own Spirit and reminding those dark spirits of their rebellion against the Lord of All.