We Were Made for This: The Power and Purpose of Praise
“Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, and His praise in the assembly of saints…
For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation…
Let the saints be joyful in glory… Let the high praises of God be in their mouth…”
— Psalm 149:1, 4–6
Psalm 149 is a powerful call to worship—a reminder that praise is more than a passing moment or a Sunday ritual. It’s a lifestyle. It’s our purpose. It’s what we were created for.
And it’s not just about music, either.
It’s about presence.
It’s about connection.
It’s about lifting our eyes and hearts to the One who gives us life.
Praise Is More Than a Feeling
C.S. Lewis once wrote:
“Just as a car is made to run on gas, God made us to run on Himself.”
God is powerful, sovereign, and holy—and He designed us to be filled by Him. Apart from Him, we have no energy, no direction, and no true fulfillment.
That’s why praise matters.
It’s not because God needs it.
It’s because we do.
Praise shifts our perspective. It changes our attitude. It opens the door to joy, peace, and healing. When we worship, we remember who He is—and in doing so, we also remember who we are.
Praise Strengthens Faith
Praise isn’t about manipulating God or convincing Him to act.
It’s about trusting Him even when the outcome is uncertain.
True praise says, “Lord, even if the situation doesn’t change, I believe You are still good.”
Sometimes the victory we long for will come in changed circumstances.
Sometimes, it will come in us—in the transformation of our hearts.
Either way, when we praise, we invite God into the very center of our lives. And that strengthens our faith more than anything else.
When Praise Feels Hard
Let’s be honest:
It’s easy to praise when everything is going well.
When our prayers are answered and our hearts are full, praise flows naturally.
But what about when we’re hurting?
Discouraged?
Depressed?
That’s when praise becomes a sacrifice.
“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise…”
— Hebrews 13:15
Years ago, I heard a pastor preach about this. He asked, “If praise comes easily, where is the sacrifice?” That stayed with me.
There are moments when lifting our voices in praise feels like lifting the weight of the world.
But when we praise anyway—when we choose to glorify God in spite of the pain—that offering is precious to Him.
The Bible doesn’t command us to feel thankful. It tells us to be thankful.
Praise doesn’t deny the pain. It simply holds it alongside the truth that God is still worthy.
Praise as an Act of Surrender
Praise is an active agreement with God—an acknowledgment of who He is and who we are in light of Him. It’s not just emotional. It’s theological. It’s personal. It’s powerful.
“God is enthroned in the praises of His people.”
— Psalm 22:3
“Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; they will still be praising You.”
— Psalm 84:4
When we praise, we step into alignment with heaven.
We quiet our striving.
We lift our eyes.
We remember the One who holds all things—and holds us.
Worship in Spirit and Truth
When Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well, He said:
“The time is coming—and now is—when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth… for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.”
— John 4:23
Worship isn’t about location or performance.
It’s about relationship.
It’s about approaching the Father through the Son, with hearts made pure by the blood of Jesus.
We worship when we sing.
We worship when we sit in stillness.
We worship when we work, when we pray, when we choose gratitude, when we offer kindness, when we glorify God in even the smallest things.
Because worship is the soul’s response to encountering the living God.
This Is What We Were Made For
Praise and worship aren’t side notes in our faith.
They are central.
They bring purpose, power, unity, and peace.
When we praise, we are fulfilling the very reason we exist.
We’re doing what our souls were created to do.
And in that moment, we are most fully alive.
So today—wherever you are, however you feel—praise Him.
Sing aloud on your bed.
Dance in the living room.
Whisper thanks through tears.
Lift your hands in stillness or in song.
And know this:
God takes pleasure in His people.
A song which speaks to me
Worth Pondering
No Place for Hopelessness
As believers, there’s one word that should never be erased from our vocabulary—hope.
No matter how dark the valley.
No matter how long the night.
If the Lord is present, then so is hope.
Always.
Hope That Holds Us
We may walk through grief, uncertainty, and hardship. We may have seasons where our faith feels fragile and our future unclear. But the presence of God means hope is never out of reach.
“And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love…”
— 1 Corinthians 13:13
Hope abides.
Even when everything else feels unstable.
Even when we don’t feel it.
Hope is still there—quiet, steady, real.
So we hold on tightly.
Hope That’s Anchored
Our hope isn’t flimsy.
It’s not a vague wish or a fragile optimism.
“Always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you…”
— 1 Peter 3:15
Our hope is anchored in Jesus Christ Himself—unshakable, alive, present.
Which means our hope can withstand any attack.
It can endure any storm.
Because it doesn’t depend on us.
It depends on Him.
Hope That Cannot Be Separated
Paul reminds us in Romans 8 that nothing can separate us from the love of God.
Not trouble.
Not hardship.
Not our own failures.
Not death. Not life. Not anything in all creation.
“Neither height nor depth… nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
— Romans 8:38–39
And if His love is always present…
Then so is hope.
Looking Beyond the Now
Hope isn’t denial.
It’s not pretending things are fine when they aren’t.
It’s looking beyond what is to what will be.
We have to train our hearts to look past the immediate—to the promises of God.
Because it’s that hope—rooted in who He is—that will carry us through.
So today, if your heart feels heavy…
If your circumstances feel overwhelming…
If it seems like hope is far away—
Remember this:
If the Lord is present, then so is hope.
And He is present.
Always.
Friendship quotes
A man who has friends must himself be friendly, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Proverb 18:24
A loyal friend laughs at your jokes when they’re not so good, and sympathizes with your problems when they’re not so bad.
Arnold Glasgow
Few delights can equal the mere prence of one whom we trust utterly – George MacDonald
If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting Robin
unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain. – Emily Dickinson
And my very favorite one of all time: “Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another,
What! You too? I thought I was the only one.”
C.S. Lewis
Discouragement: A Crossroad of Choice
Lately, I’ve been in a bit of a battle with discouragement.
It creeps in quietly sometimes—when life feels overwhelming, when progress feels slow, when the path ahead seems too steep or unclear. And tonight in church, while listening to our pastor teach from the book of Nehemiah, I found myself reflecting on that very feeling.
Discouragement is powerful. If we’re not careful, it can drain our strength, cloud our vision, and leave us stuck.
But it’s also a crossroad—a moment of decision.
Because when discouragement comes (and it will), we are faced with a choice:
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We can give in to it.
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We can assign blame.
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Or we can let it propel us toward purpose and renewal.
Nehemiah chose the third option. And what a difference that choice made.
Nehemiah: A Man Who Didn’t Stay Down
Nehemiah was a Jewish exile living in Persia—a man of trust and integrity who served as cupbearer to King Artaxerxes. His position was no small thing. As cupbearer, he had constant, intimate access to the king, and the role itself required loyalty, wisdom, and a steady spirit.
When news reached Nehemiah that the walls of Jerusalem had not been rebuilt—even after the temple had been restored—his heart broke.
A city without walls was vulnerable.
It couldn’t protect itself.
It couldn’t flourish.
It couldn’t be whole.
Nehemiah was discouraged. But he didn’t let that discouragement stop him.
From Discouragement to Action
Instead of spiraling into despair, Nehemiah turned to prayer and planning.
He poured out his heart to God, and then—when the moment came—he acted with boldness and clarity.
The king, who clearly cared for Nehemiah, noticed his downcast face and asked what was wrong. Nehemiah responded honestly, said a quick prayer under his breath, and asked the king for everything he needed to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
And the king said yes.
Armed with prayer, purpose, and provision, Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem and led the people in one of the most remarkable restoration projects in Scripture. The wall was rebuilt—because discouragement didn’t get the final word.
What We Can Learn from Nehemiah
We all face seasons where we feel like the walls have crumbled—where things feel too broken or too big to fix.
And when discouragement hits, we still have a choice.
We can:
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Let it drag us into depression and inaction
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Use it as justification for blame or bitterness
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Or let it refine us—motivate us—push us toward something better
Nehemiah chose to let his discouragement fuel his purpose.
He turned to God first. He leaned into wisdom and boldness.
And God worked through him to bring restoration.
Choosing Growth in the Face of Discouragement
Discouragement doesn’t disqualify us. It invites us to choose how we’ll respond.
Will we wallow in it—or grow through it?
Will we let it hold us back—or will we hand it to God and let Him move?
“We can choose to allow discouragement to motivate us to find a way to solve the problem and not wallow in it, feeling sorry for ourselves. We can choose to grow from it. We can choose to allow God to work His mighty changes in us for His glory.”
It is, ultimately, our choice.
And sometimes the hardest, holiest thing we can do is simply choose to try again—to pray, to plan, to ask, and to press on in faith.
A Final Thought
If you’re feeling discouraged today, know this:
You are not alone.
You are not without options.
And you are not without hope.
Bring your discouragement to the Lord.
Let it be the beginning of something new.
Like Nehemiah, let it move you—not into despair, but into purpose.
You have the freedom and responsibility to choose.
Choose to rise. Choose to grow.
Choose to trust that God is not finished with your story yet.
A Hymn I Needed to Hear
Be Thou My Vision Hymn
Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
More Random Quotes Which Speak to Me
Hold Thou Thy cross
before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom
and point me to the skies;
Heaven’s morning breaks,
and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord,
abide in me. – Henry Francis Lyte
In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. – Martin Luther King Jr.
I have a great need for Christ; I have a great Christ for my need. – Spurgeon
I am not what I ought to be. I am not what I wish to be. I am not even what I hope to be. But by the cross of Christ, I am not what I was. – John Newton
Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all. – Dale Carnegie
Psalm 77
I cried out to God with my voice – to God with my voice; and He gave ear to me. In the day of my trouble, I sought the Lord; my hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing; my soul refused to be comforted. I remembered God, and was troubled; I complained and my spirit was overwhelmed. You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled I cannot speak. I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times. I call to remembrance my song in the night; I meditate within my heart, and my spirit makes diligent search.
Will the Lord cast off forever? And will He be favorable no more? Has His mercy ceased forever? Has His promise failed forevermore? Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies?
And I said, “This is my anguish; but I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High.” I will remember the works of the Lord; surely I will remember Your wonders of old. I will also meditate on all Your work, and talk of Your deeds. Your way, O God, is in the sanctuary; who is so great a God as our God? You are the God who does wonders; You have declared your strength among the peoples. You have with Your arm redeemed Your people, the sons of Jacob and Joseph.
The waters saw You, O God; the waters saw You, they were afraid; the depths also trembled. The clouds poured out water; the skies sent out a sound; Your arrows also flashed about. The voice of Your thunder was in the whirlwind; the lightening lit up the world; the earth trembled and shook. Your way was in the sea, Your path in the great waters, and Your footsteps were not known. You led Your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
Run with Patience 