Praising God for what He has done changes our perspective as we focus on the Lord, not ourselves. For many people, receiving praise is a beautiful and treasured experience. How often do we take time to give thanks and praise to others? More importantly, how frequently do we praise the Lord for what He has done?
Hebrews 13:15 Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name.[1] I believe all of us could grow in remembering to give thanks and praise to the Lord. Praise can be worship, prayers, and other ways the Lord leads you to praise Him.
I remember a testimony of a man who was in a plane crash in the Bearing Sea. Another passenger in the freezing water saw his friend disappear on a wave. As the wave took him away, his friend praised God. God did a miracle, rescuing both men. Like this faithful believer, we can praise the Lord no matter our circumstances.
Jesus is Worthy of Our Praise
Faithful men carried their paralyzed friend to a house where Jesus was ministering. But it was too crowded to get Him to Jesus. With quick thinking, they took their friend up on the roof, removed the tiles, and lowered Him right in front of Jesus. Luke 5:20 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.” [2] Jesus knew his most significant problem was not his paralysis but his sin.
As the religious leaders scoffed at Jesus’ forgiveness, He did something that surprised them. Luke 5:24 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” [3] The man immediately jumped up, picked up his mat, and began praising the Lord.
The Crowd Began to Praise Jesus
The religious leaders may have scoffed at Jesus for forgiving and healing the man, but the average person who saw this miracle was filled with wonder. Luke 5:26 Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe, and they praised God, exclaiming, “We have seen amazing things today!” [4]
As we praise the Lord, it helps us to look up, filling us with joy and pleasing Him. There is something about praise that seems to lift our spirits no matter the circumstance. Scripture gives us a beautiful verse that moves a person to praise the Lord because He is so good to us! Psalm 9:1 I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done. 2 I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High. [5]
To hear about praising God for what He has done, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/a-paralytic-healed
[1-5] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Tyndale House Publishers.