From Silence to Song: How to Find Your Heart of Praise

It’s one of those buzz phrases Christians love: “heart of praise.” You can’t help imagining a room full of people with their hands in the air, bodies swaying, faces plastered with euphoria. Christian YA fiction books (particularly from 10+ years ago) are loaded with worship scenes like this. This is what people imagine when they think of praise and worship.

I’m not trying to poke fun. Organized worship with fellow believers is a beautiful thing. (One reason why young Christians absolutely need to go to church.) But if you want to get closer to God, once-a-week worship isn’t going to cut it. You need a heart of praise, the kind that worships him almost constantly. It doesn’t mean keeping your hands in the air or sprinkling “Praise Jesus!” and “Amen!” in every conversation you have with friends. It’s also not about achieving—and maintaining—a spiritual high.

A heart of praise means training the central, innermost part of you (your heart) to revere, honor, and glorify God in everything you do. Everyday praise can be loud in its quietude, and teens who cultivate a heart of praise now will reap the rewards almost immediately.

Because the bi-product of a heart of praise is drawing closer to God.

How to Acquire a Heart of Praise

“Two prisoners looked out of prison bars; one saw mud, the other saw stars.”

Anonymous

This quote beautifully conveys the observation that we see what we want to see. Did you know that 60% of the world’s population does not have a properly functional toilet? (If you have one, take a moment to thank God for it right now.) Does knowing this make you feel more grateful for being one of the lucky 40%? What a rich life you live!

You don’t have to wait until you feel like praising God. Don’t give your feelings that much power over your happiness.

But then there are the bills your family is struggling to pay, and your dear Grandma died last month, and there’s that bully breathing down your back in gym class, and Mom just found a lump. What does indoor plumbing matter when your life is crumbling like an abandoned coal mine? You’re just not feeling the whole “heart of praise” thing right now.

If that’s the case, then this should help: You don’t have to wait until you feel like praising God. Don’t give your feelings that much power over your happiness. Take charge and praise him now when you adopt a new perspective.

New Perspective #1: All of Creation

Step outside for a moment. What do you see? Are the trees bare, having already lost their leaves for the winter? Maybe it’s cloudy and the breeze has a bite to it and you want to go back inside and curl up under a blanket. But pause for a moment.

Imagine that the trees shaking in the breeze are clapping their hands in praise of their Creator, then bowing at his feet as the gusts grow stronger. Notice the specks of glitter in the stones beneath your shoes. Examine the clouds blanketing the sky. You might have called them dreary before, but do you see it now? They’re spreading themselves at God’s feet, churning and dancing, because how can something sit still when it’s so close to God?

I’m not trying to make you go cuckoo. In fact, you don’t have to imagine this, because it’s real and it’s really happening all around you. See what the Psalms say:

“Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy…”

Psalm 98:7-8

“Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars. Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies.”

Psalm 148:3-4

Keep reading Psalm 148 and you’ll find the sea creatures, the lightning and hail, the mountains and fruit trees and cows, birds, kings and young children—the whole earth praising God and declaring his glory. When you start seeing the world this way, instead of focusing on the gloom and sorrow, you will find it impossible to not feel praise in your heart.

You will also realize you are not alone in praising him.

Look at the stars, not the mud, and you will discover a heart that longs to praise the King. 

New Perspective #2: All of Eternity

“Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.”

Matthew 13:43

Consider this illustration:

If the black segment represents your life on earth, then the rest of the line is your eternal life by comparison. Note how it goes off the page. Even if you live to be 107, your earthly life compared to eternity is like one minute of a whole day, one page of a whole book, or one foot of a million miles.

A mere blip.

Your earthly life compared to eternity is like one foot of a million miles.

The awesome news is, if you believe in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, that stubby little black segment is the only portion of your existence where you will find pain, trouble, and suffering. The rest of the line?

An eternity of knowing him—more and more of his power, and glory, and love. Like climbing a mountain with the most amazing view you’ve ever seen only to find the clearest, most beautiful lake on the other side. And after that, a mystical forest teeming with intrigue. And then a geothermal spa that invites you to dive in. And you never run out of extraordinary places to explore.

If you want to have a heart of praise, then keep your eyes on eternity and thank God for forever!

New Perspective #3: All of God’s Love

“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.”

Ephesians 3:17-18

I am convinced few people know just how much God loves them. It shows in the way we view ourselves and others, in our insecurities and egos, our lifestyle choices, our habits. Even I struggle to grasp the vastness of his love.

But it’s true, God loves you, and it goes so much further than him simply saving your hide from hell. If God’s love is something you aren’t sure about, please check out my post How to Really, Truly Know God Loves You.

How to Get Closer to God: Give Thanks in Everything!

Just like the National Day of Prayer shouldn’t be the only time you talk to God, Sundays shouldn’t be the only time you worship God, and Thanksgiving Day shouldn’t be the only day you give him thanks. Everyone has something to be thankful for in our earthly lives (flush toilets anyone?), but true gratitude becomes easier when you keep your eyes on eternity.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 6:23

What is it that ails you? Pain? Depression? Cancer? Hate? Fear, sorrow, evil, anxiety, temptation…? This too shall pass. Thank God for Jesus, because through him, you have the gift of eternal life.

Thank God for forever!

More on Cultivating a Heart of Praise and Gratitude

• I Think It’s Gonna Be A Great Day!: 4 Bible Truths For Bad Days
• Find Lasting Joy, Right From the Source
• Desiring God as the Ultimate Source of Pleasure
• Want to go deeper? Check out the Bible reading plan 21 Days to Cultivate a Grateful Heart from YouVersion Bible app.