This is Praise

As we step into a new year, we're invited to discover the transformative power of praise as our foundation for everything that follows. This message explores praise not as a religious duty or a means to get what we want from God, but as a profound ministry unto the Lord Himself. Drawing from 1 Peter 2:5-10 and Revelation 1:5-6, we're reminded that every believer is part of a royal priesthood, called to offer spiritual sacrifices of praise. The beauty here is that praise isn't about begging God for things or reciting our wish lists—it's about laying aside our demands to simply fellowship with Him. When we vocalize our adoration, something powerful happens in our spirits. We're transformed from glory to glory, not through our own effort, but through genuine worship. The practical implications are stunning: a life of praise becomes a weapon in spiritual warfare, a path to higher spiritual ground, and a way to minister directly to God's heart. Perhaps most challenging is the call to praise God even for the difficult people in our lives, recognizing that every encounter is an opportunity for His love to flow through us. As we learn to thoroughly enjoy our relationship with God—to delight ourselves in Him—we discover that He takes care of everything else. This isn't escapism; it's the secret to living victoriously in a world that desperately needs to see authentic worship in action.