William “Billy” Bray was a former miner from Cornwall who became known for his incredible joy and praise after encountering Jesus in 1823. He said, “I shouted for joy. I praised God with my whole heart for what he had done for a poor sinner like me.”
From then on, praise became a natural expression of his relationship with God. He became known as “God’s man with a shout.”
Praise is one of the true signs of our faith in God. Paul and Silas demonstrated this when they were beaten and imprisoned. Acts 16:25 says they “were praying and singing hymns to God.”
Throughout the Psalms we see every human emotion—tears, questions, fear, disappointment, waiting, rescue and thanksgiving. But as we reach the final Psalms, the whole book climaxes in praise.
Psalm 150 is the pinnacle of the book, and the final five Psalms are known as the “Hallelujah Psalms” because they begin and end with “Praise the Lord.”
C.S. Lewis wrote that “all enjoyment spontaneously overflows into praise.” Praise expresses our joy, but it also completes our enjoyment of God.
So what can Psalm 150 teach us about the power of praise?
1. Praise God everywhere
Psalm 150:1 Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens.
We are called to praise God wherever we are. Praise is not only something we do in church. It belongs in our homes, cars, workplaces, life groups and everyday lives.
Colossians 3:16 tells us to sing “psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”
And ultimately, our praise joins with heaven. Revelation 5:13 gives us a picture of every creature praising God and the Lamb. We are practising now for eternity.
2. Praise God in everything
Psalm 150:2 Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.
The Psalms don't teach us to ignore suffering. They teach us to bring our circumstances into the presence of God rather than allowing our circumstances to determine our view of God.
Praise is not only our response when everything goes well. We praise God because of who He is.
Psalm 100:5 declares: “For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”
Praise also comes before the breakthrough.
Habakkuk could say:
Habakkuk 3:17-18: “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Saviour.”
We see this in the victories of Jericho and Jehoshaphat. Praise and worship went ahead of the army, declaring trust in God before the victory was visible.
Praise isn't a formula for getting God to do what we want. It declares that God is worthy of our trust regardless of our circumstances.
Hebrews 13:15: Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.
Like David said:
Psalm 34:1 “I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.”
3. Praise God in every way
Psalm 150:3-5 describes praise with trumpets, harp, lyre, dancing, strings, pipes and cymbals.
This isn't quiet or reluctant praise. It is overflowing praise. Joy has a sound. Praise has a sound.
Psalm 8:2 says: Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies.
You don't have to be the best singer, dancer or musician. Praise is about the heart.
Find your expression of praise and praise God with everything you have.
4. Everyone should praise God
Psalm 150:6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.
The only qualification for praise is that you have breath.
Every breath is a gift from God, and every person is invited to respond to that gift with praise.
The question isn't simply whether we sing praise songs at church. Does praise characterise your life?
Psalm 146:2 declares: Praise the Lord, my soul. I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
Choose today to experience the power of praising God:
Everywhere.
In everything.
In every way.
If you're breathing: Praise Him. If you're waiting: Praise Him. If you're celebrating: Praise Him. If you're grieving: Praise Him. If you're believing for breakthrough: Praise Him. If you've seen the breakthrough: Praise Him.
