REASONS TO PRAISE THE LORD (Part One)

Praise is not just a song we sing or words we say — it’s a heartfelt response to who God is and our love for Him. We praise Him for His character, His attributes, and His abilities.

The Bible commands us to praise God approximately 250 times, which tells us it’s not optional — it’s essential. Praise should be a natural and significant part of every believer’s daily walk.

Think of the song “10,000 Reasons” by Matt Redman — it reminds us that there are so many reasons to praise the Lord, we couldn’t possibly count them all.

In 1 Chronicles 16, God’s people were celebrating because the ark of God — the symbol of His presence — had been returned to its rightful place. In their joy, they lifted up praise, and in doing so, they revealed powerful reasons why we too should praise God today and every day.

Let’s look at three of them.

1. Praise God Because He Is Great

“Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim His greatness. Let the whole world know what He has done.” — 1 Chronicles 16:8“For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised; He is also to be feared above all gods.” — 1 Chronicles 16:25

When we say someone is “great,” we mean they do things excellently. God is great because everything He does is excellent. Every action, every plan, every work of His hands is flawless.

That includes what He’s doing in your life right now — even if it doesn’t feel “great” in the moment. Trust Him. In time, He will work it out for good (Romans 8:28).

His greatness also means He is bigger than anything or anyone we face — bigger than our problems, struggles, fears, or addictions. Whatever we face, our God is greater.

2. Praise God Because He Does Wonderful Things

“Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; talk of all His wondrous works.” — 1 Chronicles 16:9“Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples.” — 1 Chronicles 16:24

God doesn’t do anything halfway. Every single thing He does is wonderful, glorious, and amazing.

Just look at creation: the endless variety of flowers, the breathtaking beauty of a sunrise or sunset, the intricate design of every living creature. He could have made everything plain and simple, but instead, He filled the world with extravagant beauty.

And the same is true in your life. He is working in ways that are glorious and amazing — shaping you into the person He created you to be.

3. Praise God Because He Is Holy

“Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord.” — 1 Chronicles 16:10“Save us, O God of our salvation; gather us together, and deliver us from the Gentiles, to give thanks to Your holy name, to triumph in Your praise.” — 1 Chronicles 16:35

God’s holiness means He is completely without sin. He is perfect in every way. That means:

• He will never make a mistake in your life.

• He will never act out of pettiness, bitterness, or human weakness.

• Everything He does is pure, just, and good.

Because He is holy, His work in your life is also perfect — even when you can’t see the full picture yet. And His desire is to shape us to be more like Him: holy in our thoughts, actions, and hearts.

These are just the first three reasons we can praise God every day — His greatness, His wonderful works, and His holiness.

In our next teaching, we’ll continue exploring even more reasons to lift our voices and hearts in praise to the Lord. Until then, keep your eyes on Him, your heart thankful, and your mouth filled with praise.