Lately, each time I come to the Lord in prayer or thoughts, my heart is very heavy. I feel it must be the state of the world weighing on me. I’ve promised myself that I would limit my social media use because there are so many distractions and opinions that it weighs me down. Is it any wonder that so many of us are depressed? If you are a believer and you read your bible, I’m sure you understand the days in which we are living. Not that these days are entirely depressing. If we can step back and view the full picture it’s clear to see that we are in the midst of a battle. Good vs. Evil, or more specifically, Our Heavenly Father vs. Satan. In these times it’s quite easy to be completely distracted. There are times I turn on the TV with the full intent of getting lost in whatever “feel good” movie I can find. Even the ones that are ridiculous and you know how they will end, just something that makes my heart or mind feel content. In the midst of that distraction though, I become aware of my lack of praise and that bothers me. He deserves our praise endlessly.

So, I’ve pondered on the ways that maybe we’re praising when we don’t know that we are actually praising the Lord. I am aware that praise needs to be intentional most of the time, but like a parent who stands back with pride at the things our children do and say because of our influence, I can’t help but wonder how the Lord may be doing the same when we unwittingly praise Him.

For example, without telling our lengthy story, my husband and I had a very long road to one another. We literally had two failed attempts at a relationship in 2010 and 2011. It wasn’t until 2021 when we were brought back together in a completely new way. We took off the worldly glasses we had been wearing our whole lives and put on some spiritual specs. I always say it took the Lord 10 whole years to refine us into the people that we both needed. Now I praise the Lord almost daily for my marriage. It wouldn’t be realistic if I said daily, we all have off days. I am human after all. However, I am so grateful for my husband and our family. Sometimes I just look at him and appreciate him in a way that I have never appreciated anyone. When I see my husband praying or studying his bible, it makes me love him even more than I already do, and I’m always amazed that my heart is capable of loving even more. And I wonder, when I am appreciating my spouse this way, is this offering a type of praise?

I do the same with my children. My daughter is starting gymnastics tomorrow. She’s a bit nervous and she said to me, “Mommy wish me luck, I mean pray for me tomorrow that I won’t be nervous!” I immediately smiled at her small correction. She knows there is no luck, only the Lord’s goodness. It made my heart happy to know that she is not only hearing what we discuss but she’s applying it to her life.

Or maybe when I’m admiring nature during a hike and in that moment acknowledging that He is the creator of all things and this beautiful place we call home, is that praise? Maybe even in those moments that we are completely caught up in joy because of something the Lord provided us with, be it a simple moment intime without even fully acknowledging the Lord, I feel that He must be happy in our joy because He provided it. I don’t know this to be a fact, but I think of these things and how intertwined our life is with our Heavenly Father even when we are consciously aware of it.

I wonder too, how often He gives us things that we don’t recall. As I was contemplating this post I had a vague memory of last night. To make this make sense, I have seen spiritual things since I was a young girl, and I’ve always remained open to it. (Maybe I’ll expand on that in a later post.) But I was thinking how last night I told the Lord, I just need you to show me that you hear me, my heart is so heavy. Then I recalled that late last night I woke up and saw something. I can’t remember what I saw but I remember thinking after that maybe that was the Lord saying I hear you. For that what can I do but be thankful?

This praise topic is so broad! It encompasses so much of our relationship with our Creator. I think a good way to end this post would be with a verse or two from Psalms.

Psalm 107 KJV

O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. ² Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;

~Amanda