Why God Deserves Our Most Enthusiastic Praise | Eastern North Carolina Now

Publisher's note: This post appears here courtesy of the LifeZette, and written by Kimberly Faith.

    Have you ever wondered why it's so easy for us to enthusiastically cheer at the top of our lungs for our favorite sports team - while our praise of God is far more subdued?

    We often think it's weird when someone shouts out their praise or enthusiasm during a great sermon.

    Yet we have no issue with this enthusiastic response when a great play is made during a football game.

    Doesn't God deserve our most enthusiastic and unbridled praise?

    When something in our life enraptures our heart, it also evokes enthusiastic praise.

    Perhaps it's falling in love, winning a case, reaching a fitness goal, cooking a great meal, hearing a great song, a sporting event, etc.

    But whatever it is, it's not greater than God - who created our ability to experience.

    When we fail to have enthusiastic praise for the Creator, we should be concerned about our heart.

    Why?

    Because it may have become cold to the entire reason for which we were created.

    What does that mean?

    The Bible says we were created for God's glory (Isaiah 43:7).

    Thus, if our life does not reflect His praise - then we have missed our real reason for living.

    I remember the first time I heard that according to God's Word, my greatest purpose was to glorify God.

    I thought this verse must just mean something else.

    What kind of life would that be?

    I abandoned this thought for many years until, after many years of living for temporal pleasures and becoming exponentially less satisfied, I found myself in misery.

    God rescued my heart.

    As I yielded my heart to Him, my life became more and more about Him.

    It was natural.

    The more my life became a praise to God, the greater my satisfaction and joy.

    It is a great mystery how living for God's glory makes us more joyful.

    Now, God is the reason for my most genuine and enthusiastic praise and worship.

    "Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!" (Psalms‬ ‭150:1-6‬)