I will be glad and rejoice in Your unfailing love, for You have seen my troubles, and You care about the anguish of my soul.
Psalm 31:7 NLT

In high school, there were days where I was so broken and crushed, all I wanted to do was skip school and go to my aunt Ann’s house. I’d open the back door, unannounced, and she’d greet me with a “Hello, darlin’!” in her joyful elderly voice. Tearfully collapsing on her 1970s laminate floor, I’d woefully express my problems in teenage slang that she probably didn’t understand. But as she sat in her pink suede recliner, with wrinkled eyes filled with cataracts and compassion, she would always say:

“Well, praise the Lord!”

I never understood it. Like, what was so praiseworthy about that, Annie Lee? I’d get over my annoyance quickly, though. Mainly because she’d offer me a cold glass of dark chocolate Ensure. (Yes, I love old-people drinks, I really do.)

What Aunt Ann understood, though, was the power of praise. And as I’ve grown in the things of the Lord, I’m understanding it too.

Let’s be real—when times are tough, praising God isn’t something we want to do. It feels unnatural. We’d rather plead with God, question God, beg Him to make things better. Praise, however, is the purest form of prayer. It shifts the focus off ourselves and onto Him. And here’s what happens when we do:

·       Praise draws Him close. When we exalt Him, thank Him, glorify Him—His Spirit shows up. God always abides and dwells within sounds of praise.

·       Praise makes us feel better. It’s a fact—praise brings us peace within chaos and relief from despair, allowing us to physically feel better. (Why? Because, again, praise draws Him close!)

·       Praise causes things to change. Not only within us but around us—hearts change, attitudes change, minds change, situations change, and people change—all because of our praise.

Maybe it’s not confidence we lack—maybe it’s praise we lack. When things go south, when insecurity tries to creep in, when life gets overwhelming—let’s start shouting, “Well, praise the Lord!” instead. Praise truly changes things—and it brings us a confidence that changes things too.

Lord, I praise You. You’re good, majestic, and powerful, and You love me. Thank You for showing up for me today as I praise Your Name. Amen.

 

This is an excerpt from A Confidence That Changes Everything: Devotions to Shine Bright in This Topsy-Turvy Life, the new book by Hannah Crews!