Fight to Praise

Praise /prāz/: express warm approval of or admiration of. Ways to rejoice, pray, and thank God for what He is doing, has done, and will do.

Psalms is filled with the word "praise." Even when that's not how David felt, that's what he wrote. Why would he do that? I'm sure we've all been in situations that didn't feel praiseworthy and, if we were honest, were difficult to praise God in. Difficult circumstances truly reveal your heart posture. The way we respond to God in those moments says every word without us even speaking. Praise is not our flesh's natural response. There are, have been, and will be moments where we must fight to praise. We have to command our spirit to praise. To praise, not ourselves, but the Lord. It requires discipline and devotion. At times, we can feel the fleshly resistance. It's like when our parents tell us no or to wait, we respond with complaints, and frustration. We can respond the same way with the Lord. In His no's, waits, and in our hard seasons, praising Him is not our first (or even second) response.

So why is it worth it to fight to praise?

1. We were created to praise Him. That is our purpose. To praise Him and bring all glory to His Name in everything we do. Our spirits long for this, we may not realize it because of our flesh's desires getting in the way, but it is true. There's a peace that comes from praising Him because we are fulfilling our calling. We are doing what we were made to do.

2. It reminds our souls. Even if our circumstances aren't ideal or life is difficult at the moment. When we praise, we remind our souls of our purpose, the gratitude God deserves, and the faithful and good God He is. Despite life's greatest trials, His faithfulness and goodness never change. Sometimes we must remind our souls of that and command them to praise. Defeating the flesh, listening to our spirit.
   

3. Praising Him fully satisfies. ‭"Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you." Psalm 63:3-5
   

4. He made us. Praise connects us to our Creator. Again, we fulfill our purpose when we praise. "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." -Psalm 139:14 We praise Him because our souls know Him and His works well and they are WONDERFUL.
   

5. When we look to Him we have a holy radiance. ‭"Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together. I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame." Psalm 34:3-5
   

6. Brings Hope and reminds us where to place our Hope. ‭ "Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God." Psalm 42:11 This is commanding our souls. This is reminding ourselves of Truth. This is fighting to praise. In the disturbance and downcast moments, continue to hope in God, and fight to praise.

This is what praise does and it looks so different from the world. If and when we fight to praise, even in the hardest moments of life, we shine. When life is dark. When the world is dark. When we fight to praise, we illuminate the darkness with Hope, Light, and Life. Praise is worth it. In every season. In every way. So fight for it. Our souls know it, know Him. The flesh tries to silence the longing of our souls. So yes, there will be days and seasons where we will literally need to fight to praise. Writing down the things we're thankful for, even "the little things" are actually pretty big and are perspective shifting. Be fully present where our feet are, being content, and knowing God has purpose for you right where you are. That's praise. Reading His Word. Praying with gratitude. Glorifying Him with our lives. Letting everything point back to Him. Praise doesn't only look like singing. Praise can be incorporated into everyday things. It doesn't always come naturally. It goes against our flesh and worldly things. But man it is so worth it. So, so worth it.

Fight. To. Praise.

Going back to our definition at the beginning... praise looks like being thankful and glorifying Him for things that have come, are coming, and will come. Isn't it beautiful that praise works in every season? That when we praise Him for the past, we remind our souls what He's done. Which commands our souls to praise Him presently. Therefore, when we praise Him for the past and the present, we command our souls to choose praise instead of fear for the future. Praise before it happens. Praise if it never happens. Praise for what's to come, what's better than we can even imagine.

Fight. To. Praise.

Psalm 150 talks about praising the Lord with all things from dancing, to trumpets, to loud clashing cymbals, with everything, no matter what we have or don't have, praise Him with everything... Praise the Lord.