"Why Should We Praise Him?"

Remember back when you were dating that 'special
someone'? He/she was so wonderful you couldn't use enough
adjectives to describe that person to your friends, right? How
about that fabulous meal you had the other night...you just had
to tell the cook it was the most scrumptious meal you'd had in a
long time, because it was! And that sunset on the river coming
across the bridge on the way home...you said aloud to yourself
in the car, "Wow. That's gorgeous, God. Thank you."

When our hearts are tender our enjoyment of the world
around us spontaneously overflows into praise. C.S. Lewis said,
"The humblest and most balanced people praise the most, while
the cranks, misfits and malcontents praise the least. Those are
incomplete and crippled lives who are tone deaf, have never
been in love, never known true friendship, never cared for a
good book, never enjoyed the feel of the morning air on their
cheeks, or never enjoyed a game of football." When someone or
something is great, we somehow know instinctively that our
appreciation of it is not truly complete until we express it.
Lewis also said, "The worthier the object the more intense the
delight and the praise. To fully enjoy is to glorify."

We then naturally desire to invite others to praise with us.
And so we ask, "Isn't she beautiful? Wasn't that great? Don't
you just love it?" That's what the Psalmist is doing when he
instructs us to praise the Maker of heaven and earth. That's
how it is when we recognize, even in our finite way, something
of the greatness of God, His love, His mercy, His grace and His
participation in our lives. We just have to praise Him!

So, whether you sit quietly in your arm chair, sing in the
shower, walk the beach in quiet meditation, raise your hands on
Sunday morning - (or don't), dance with glee or clap and laugh
out loud, whatever your personal expression, let's all praise
Him!

"An offering of a free heart I will give you, God, and praise
Your name." Psalm 54:6

Submitted by Karla Thurmer

Adapted from 'A Word About Praising - Reflections on the
Psalms'; C.S. Lewis; Inspirational Press, 1994; Copyright 1958.