"The Greatest Value of Praise"
Many Christians lump praise and thanksgiving together, Not realizing
that there's a difference between them. Praise recognizes God for who He
is. Thanksgiving recognizes Him for what He has done.
Both
ingredients are necessary in our relationship with God. I've found that
it's usually better to start with praise first, because even during
tough times when we don't really feel
like thanking God, we can always praise Him for who He is. He's the same
every day: loving, patient, kind, and giving--He's perfect. So we are
never w/o reasons to praise Him. Once we begin, it doesn't take long for
our praise to turn into thanksgiving for what He has done.
When we praise God, He inhabits us. When we thank God, He blesses us.
Paul Billheimer said, "Praising God decentralizes self. It is a shift of
center from self to God. One cannot praise God without relinquishing
occupation with self. Praise produces forgetfulness of self and
forgetfulness of self is health".
Chad O
