Four Truths About The Power of Praise
I have been spending a lot of time in the writings of C.S. Lewis and Judson Cornwall. Both writers have truly transformed my understanding of praise and worship.
Praise and Worship are a very large part of my life. I have led worship for many years, and I find that being behind the piano in worship or writing music is one of my favorite places to be.
Praise is a part of us.
Think about it: the roar of a crowd when their team wins, the cheers around the table when you finally snag that Scrabble win, the applause that fills the room as an orchestra hits the final note. It’s in those wild cheers from parents as their little one takes a bow as Rock #2 in the kindergarten play, or in the joyful, tear-filled “YES!” when he asks her to be his wife.
Praise is woven into each of us—it’s something we were made to do.
Life overflows with moments of praise.
Parents praise their kids. Grandparents? Even more. Teachers cheer on their students, and coaches rally their teams. Deep down, praise is something we’re born with. It’s part of who we are. We praise what matters to us, what we believe in, what we love.
But what about our praises to God?
Most of us would say that He is what we love and value most. So why, then, is it so hard for so many of us to praise Him? In Reflections on the Psalms, C.S. Lewis calls praise “inner health made audible.” Isn’t that beautiful?
Praise is inner health made audible.
When our spiritual life is healthy, praise flows naturally from a heart that knows God. But for some, factors like “religious training,” lack of understanding, fear of embarrassment, or pride can block our spirit and stifle that natural praise.
Judson Cornwall once wondered, “Would we ever get so excited over Jesus and what He’s done for us that we’d have to release the pressure of excitement in shouts of praise?”
Four Truths About the Power of Praise.
Let’s dive into four powerful truths about praise. While there’s so much more to explore—entire books have been written on the power of our praise—these four truths will encourage you as your inner health finds its voice.
1. Praise Gives Us Access to God.
Psalm 100:4 tells us, “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.” This verse reflects the structure of Moses’ Tabernacle in the wilderness, which was divided into three areas: the Outer Court, the Inner Court, and the Holy of Holies, where God’s presence dwelled.
To approach God, there was only one entrance—a single gate leading into the Outer Court. From there, worshippers moved through the courtyard and, ultimately, into the Holy of Holies. Praise is our pathway through these sacred spaces, drawing us closer to God’s presence.
(In the days of Moses, only the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies—it was inaccessible to everyone else. But when our Great High Priest died (Hebrews 4:14-16), the veil to the Holy of Holies was torn, granting us direct access to God. Hallelujah!)
Thanksgiving is the gate we pass through to approach God, and praise is the court we enter.
Psalm 100:4 becomes so much richer when we understand its historical context.
It pains me to see people skip the praise and worship portion of a service. Even more, I’ve led worship at conferences where the pastor or visiting speaker skips out on worship, showing up only at the end just in time to speak. Praise and worship are not the “opening act” to the pastor’s message! Praise softens the soil of our hearts so the seeds of the message can be planted deeply.
If we desire direct access to God, we must come through praise.
Make It Personal.
How can you weave praise into your daily life, drawing closer to God? Try turning on praise music while you clean, drive, cook, or play with your kids—it can transform ordinary moments into worship.
Before you pray or dive into Bible study, take a moment to praise Him. Sing to Him before you start praying, or listen to worship music on your way to church. Let praise till the soil of your heart, making it ready for God to plant His Word in fresh, receptive soil.
2. Praise Changes You.
As a worship leader, I’ve seen a lot from the platform. I’ve watched the hardest hearts soften, witnessed genuine repentance, seen friendships mended, and marriages healed. I’ve watched children return to their parents and parents to their children. Praise has the power to change us—if we’re willing to let it.
Praise transforms relationships, hearts, and mindsets. In praise, our focus shifts from ourselves to the Lord, from our problems to His solutions, from pain to promise, from hurt to hope.
Proverbs 27:21 says, “As the refining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.” Judson Cornwall puts it this way in Let Us Praise: “So often when we have heated our Spirits in worship… thoughts, desires, and attitudes rise to the surface.”
In God’s presence, as we’re broken down and refined, our buried attitudes and hurts are brought to the surface, ready to be forgiven and cleansed.
One of my favorite places to visit is Colonial Williamsburg, and one of Steven’s favorite spots there is the silversmith’s shop. During our last visit, we watched the silversmith pour melted silver into molds. The difference in the silver before and after the fire was incredible. Before the fire, it was hard, rugged, and jagged. But as the fire worked on it, those jagged edges melted away, and the silver became smooth and pliable—like a mirror. Only then could it be molded.
In the refining fire of praise, God melts down our jagged edges, making us pliable in His hands. Only then can we be shaped into His image, becoming so clear and smooth that when others look at us—or when we look at ourselves—we reflect Jesus.
Make It Personal.
Do you feel like you are always being heated? Your jagged edges are constantly being worked on? Every worship service turns into tears at the altar?
That is okay, my friend. Be patient. God is working to purify you into His image. Let Him do His work. Let go of everything you are holding onto that doesn’t look like Him. Remember, you are growing, you are changing, you are being molded! Keep praising until the work is done!
3. Praise is a relationship. It is not a ritual.
Psalm 81:10 says, “I am the Lord, YOUR God . . .”
Isn’t it beautiful to know He is ours and we are His? Praise draws us into a closer relationship with Jesus.
One of my favorite verses is Exodus 25:8, where God tells Moses to build a sanctuary “that I may dwell among them.” He didn’t ask for a grand cathedral glittering with jewels or statues of gold. He simply wanted a tent. It wasn’t about the structure—it was about relationship. God wanted a place just to be with us. That truth brings tears to my eyes. The God of all creation could be anywhere, do anything, have everything, and yet He chooses to be with you, dear friend.
I’ve visited stunning churches, places of architectural beauty, yet some of these are void of God’s Spirit. And I’ve sat in simple living rooms with a handful of believers, where the presence of God felt so real it was almost tangible.
God doesn’t want a building to dwell in;
He wants to dwell in us.
He desires a genuine relationship with us, and that relationship is fostered through praise.
But sometimes, ritual can get in the way of pure praise. A.W. Tozer put it well: “Worship is no longer worship when it reflects the culture around us more than the Christ within us.” In 1962, Tozer grieved, “It is scarcely possible in most places to get anyone to attend a meeting where the only attraction was God.” Oh Lord, forgive us. How true Tozer’s words are even today. On one hand, we have modern “praise and worship” gatherings that, at first glance, might resemble a rock concert more than a worship service. We “praise” the singers more than the One we’re singing about. Lasers, fog machines, and screens often take the place of a simple altar and humble hearts.
Don’t get me wrong; there’s a place for creativity—I love the arts! I own my own theater! But when churches adjust worship to “fit in” with culture, it stops being worship. When our praise becomes a ritual performance, it drifts away from a true relationship with the Father.
Then there’s the other side: rigid “religion” that dictates exactly when, where, and how we should worship, with strict rules and patterns. Many churches stick to a routine of “three fast songs, two slow songs,” leaving no room for the Spirit to move. It’s all ritual, and the relationship is missing.
Can God move in the midst of lasers, fog machines, and guitars? Absolutely. Can He move in structured worship? Of course. He is God. I’m not suggesting how you should praise; I’m saying that when cultural rituals replace relationship, it’s no longer true praise. True praise doesn’t come from modern trends or rigid systems. True praise flows from a genuine relationship with Jesus.
Psalm 22:3 tells us He inhabits the praises of His people—He lives in and abides in our praise. My dear friends, He just wants a relationship with you.
Make It Personal.
Any relationship needs communication, and our relationship with Christ is no different. Talk to Him, my friend—not with a list of “I need” and “I want,” but with heartfelt praise. Tell Him how wonderful He is, thank Him for saving you, and declare that He is worthy. And then, give Him the chance to speak to you too!
4. Praise defeats the enemy.
The first mention of praise in the Bible appears with the birth of Jacob’s son, Judah, in Genesis 29:35.
The name Judah means praise, and everywhere Judah’s name appears in the Bible, it signifies praise.
In Revelation 5:5, we’re reminded that our Lord Jesus, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah—the Tribe of Praise—has already overcome! Yet so many of us live in fear of the enemy, whether it’s “the devil,” our own thoughts, or even people in our lives.
At A Symphony of Praise, I don’t often speak about the devil. Why give him a platform? Besides, I believe he has no power beyond what we allow him. Non-praisers often focus on the enemy, who “prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). But remember, he’s just an imposter—he has no real power.
On the other hand, Praisers know their true Lion—the Lion of Judah—and understand that He has already conquered every enemy that might cross their path.
In the Bible, Judah—the tribe of praise—is always active, always leading. As Judson Cornwall writes in Let Us Praise, “Saints who would learn to do battle for the Lord should first learn how to praise, for God sends praise as the shock troops to drive the enemy back.” In Judges 1:1-2, after Joshua’s death, the Israelites ask God who should go first against the Canaanites. God’s answer? “Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand.” Praise went into battle first.
Again, in 2 Chronicles 20:21, King Jehoshaphat appoints singers to lead the army, praising “the beauty of holiness” ahead of the warriors. With only praise as their weapon, Judah’s enemies were defeated before they even drew their swords.
How many battles do we fight needlessly, drawing our swords of worry, shields of fear, and words of war? What would happen if we simply trusted that the Lion of Judah has already won the battle?
What could change if we set aside our warring words and lifted our voices in praise instead?
Make It Personal.
Dear friend, what are you battling today? Fear? An unsaved spouse? A difficult coworker? Your kids? Your health? Self-doubt? Try this: instead of struggling in your own strength, put on a powerful praise song and sing over your situation. Sing over your spouse, your kids, your fears, and your thoughts. Lift up a victorious song and rejoice over your life.
We could fill countless pages with the powerful truths of praise, but these four give us a glimpse into why praise belongs in our daily lives. Praise grants us access to God. It transforms us from the inside out, helping us reflect our Father. Praise is rooted in relationship with our Creator—not empty ritual. Praise defeats our enemies and draws us closer to God’s will for our lives.
Lift up a mighty praise today!
Shout with joy!
God lives in your praise, so let Him dwell in you as you offer Him all your praise.
