Praise and worship are two critical aspects of Christianity. Many believers interchange these words because praise and worship are both ways that we express our love and appreciation for God. While there are many similarities between praise and worship, there are also fundamental differences. We must understand that praise and worship are different expressions of our adoration towards God and have specific purposes.
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What is Praise?
Praise to God is an expression of thanks. We can easily understand this because we praise others for jobs well done in our everyday lives. Giving praise to God means joyfully recounting and thanking God for all he has done for us. Praise is an integral part of the Christian faith. Praise is an acknowledgment and thankful appreciation of what God has done for us.
We praise God in many ways, including using our lips to sing, shout, pray, read scriptures, and speak words of appreciation. Praising God is an expression of gratitude that can include using our talents to play various instruments. Lastly, praise to God can involve using our bodies as we clap, jump, run, dance, or raise and wave our hands with thankfulness in our hearts.
In the Bible, there is a beautiful story about a man who was lame from birth and encountered Peter as he sat asking for alms. As he looked at Peter expecting to receive something, the Bible says that he was healed in the name of Jesus and began to praise God.
“Then Peter said, silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God
Acts 3:6-8 KJV
We praise God for His goodness and works. We also praise His name. There is always a reason to praise God. We can praise Him for life, His creation, and provisions. The Bible teaches that everything should praise God (Psalm 150:6). When we praise God, we acknowledge His greatness and show Him that we love and appreciate all He has done for us.
It is important to remember that we praise God for all of our blessings and even for the tough times that come to make us stronger. We don’t just praise God when everything seems to be going perfectly. We also praise God in difficult times. We praise God while we face hard times to declare our faith and as a way of thanking God in advance for His help in our time of need. When we praise God amid challenging times, we declare trust in Him, and He helps us overcome our challenges. Offering praise to God during our difficulties is a statement and posture that communicates our belief in God’s control and ability to work things out for our good.
What is Worship?
Praising God and thanking Him leads us to worship Him, which is why many people use the words interchangeably. Worship is a more profound expression of adoration and reverence for God. When we worship God, we praise Him for who He is and not just for what He has done. Worship is reserved only for God. We are commanded only to worship God as nothing, and nobody else is worthy of our worship. When we worship, we acknowledge God’s greatness with thankfulness. Still, worship also communicates our willingness to humbly submit our lives to the Kingdom of God because we understand He is the Almighty and our everything.
Worshipping is humbling ourselves before God in surrender because we understand who God is is different from what He does. When we worship, we open ourselves up to the presence of God and invite Him to come into our hearts, fill us with His love and peace, correct us, change us, and lead us.
When we worship God, we go beyond praise as we willingly exchange our will for God’s. As Christians, we strive to live a life of humble submission, giving glory to God, and in this way, our life becomes worship. According to the Bible, whether we eat or drink or whatever we do, we should do it all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). Worship, therefore, becomes our natural response when we entirely give God lordship over every area of our lives, as summarized by Paul in Romans 12.
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:1-2 ESV
In the Bible, Jesus states that God is a spirit and we must worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24). If praise is saying thank you to God for what He has done and will do, and worship praises God for who He is, then while they are different, they are both critical to our Christian journey.
Where and When Do We Praise and Worship God?
The practice of praise and worshipping God is not limited to a specific place or time. It is a lifestyle change transcending the boundaries of a Sunday morning service. When we embrace praise and worship as a way of life, we invite the presence of God to dwell within us and continuously transform us from the inside out.
In the Bible, when Jesus met the woman by the well, she asked Jesus where people should worship. At that time, there were differences between where the people of Samaria worshipped and where the Jews worshipped. She asked, “Our fathers worshipped in this mountain, and ye say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.” (John 4:20). Jesus’s response indicated that it no longer mattered where, but what was important was how we worship. Jesus explained that we must be true worshippers. God is a spirit; we worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:20-24).
True worship is more about the heart. Praising and worshipping God should not be something we only do on Sunday or at church. Although praise and worship can happen at church, to only praise and worship God corporately on Sunday is equal to limiting all the blessings that praising and worshipping God brings. Trust me, we need the benefits of praise and worship every day, not just once a week, and God is seeking those who worship Him at all times.
When we wake up in the morning, we should take some time to praise God for His goodness and His love. We could sing a song of praise, read a passage of Scripture, or take a few minutes to meditate on His greatness with gratitude. As we go about our day, we can praise God for what we see, hear, and experience. We thank Him for the beauty of nature, the kindness of others, and even the challenges we face. Additionally, before we go to bed, we can reflect on the day and praise God for all He has done. You could pray a prayer of thanksgiving or sing a song of praise.
What Happens When We Praise and Worship God?
One of the most significant transformations that can occur through praise and worship is a heightened sense of intimacy with God. As we express our adoration and gratitude through praise and worship, we create an atmosphere that invites His presence to dwell among us. In this sacred space, we experience a closeness to God that transcends our earthly limitations, allowing us to connect with God on a spiritual level. This deepening of intimacy can profoundly impact our faith journey, strengthening our relationship with God and increasing our understanding of His love and grace. As we grow in our faith, we become a light to others, bringing God more glory.
When we genuinely adore God, our focus shifts from ourselves and our desires to the desires of our Heavenly Father. This shift in perspective aligns us with the will of God, allowing Him to guide and direct our paths. In this state of surrender, we become vessels through which God’s blessings can flow to us and through us to others.
When we surrender in worship, we invite God into our lives so that He can work in our hearts and minds to conform us to His image, and we begin to see practical changes. Praise and worship experiences increase our joy and happiness. When we focus on God’s goodness and His love, it helps us to feel more joyful and content. Praising and worshipping God reduces stress and anxiety as it helps calm our minds and bodies and helps us cope with difficult situations. As we relax and become less stressed, we can experience better relationships. We become more kind, compassionate, forgiving, and loving toward others, leading others to the Kingdom.
Pray a Prayer of Praise and Worship
Worship is a gift from God, and one of my favorite ways to worship God is by praying. When we pray, we can praise and worship our Heavenly Father while we invite Him into our lives. Let’s make worship part of our daily lives to experience more joy and blessings. No matter how you choose to praise and worship God, the important thing is that you do it from a heart of love and gratitude. When you praise and worship God, you are not only honoring Him, but you are also drawing closer to Him. Let’s pray together now.
