May 1, 2024

I often hear the question, “Why does God need our praise?” The question is often asked by people who are not religious; perhaps by doing so, denigrating faith in some way or another.

Answers to the question include: By praising God, we create a space between ourselves and God such that we can then draw nearer to God. By praising God, we declare who God is and our relationship with God. Also, and in my mind most important, it is right and good for us to praise God to remind ourselves that we are not God.

The Sunday worship service is certainly a formal setting for praise of God. We praise God by gathering in God’s name. We praise God through song. We praise God in the Word and at the Table. We praise God in prayer.

What does your praise of God look like outside of worship? As I write these words, I could say (in the fashion of the Psalmist), the sound of the falling rain declares God’s name. The Psalmist uses countless metaphors to describe the glory of God. What metaphor do you use to praise God?

Rev. Eric