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PRAISE AND WORSHIP
CONSUMED WITH HIS PRESENCE
Contributor Writer: Joyce Dodson

Praise is so often limited to a fast tempo song nevertheless praise is so much more than that. Webster defines praise as to commend or glorify, to show value or merit but I prefer to define it as thanking God for what he’s done, giving rightful glory and honor to his name. Who can limit praise to just a song. Psalms 150 gives us several ways to praise our God. And being living vessels our whole lives should show forth the praises of our Lord.
     Who should praise God? Psalms 150:6 says, “Let everything that has breath praise ye the Lord.” God doesn’t force us to praise him because we are free will beings but praise benefits us not God. Psalms 103:2 says, “Praise the Lord O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” Now isn’t that awesome a God who gives to us for praising him when he already gave the ultimate sacrifice by dying for our sins, but he still loads us with benefits daily. What a loving God we serve.
However anyone can praise God but John 4:23 says, “The hour cometh, and now is when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth for the Father seeketh such to worship him.”
     So that brings us into a more intimate relationship with God. He seeks a worshipper that means he adores you, he loves you, and admires you. Worship is your intimate time with God. Intimate means belonging to, characterizing ones deepest nature, or very close association, personal. But I see intimate as IN TO ME, that’s God saying come on my child get in to me. In worship it’s all about Him. You’re not worried about what or who’s around you but you’re into God. He’s like a consuming fire. And to consume is to fill and to overtake. So God consumes you that he becomes so big that you’re not worried about anything else because in worship nothing matters but Him. Worship is personal there’s no one way to define it. God’s omniscient power is unmatchable, but that intimate relationship with God is what allows us to be true worshippers worshipping and praising our Father in spirit and in truth.