Praise unlocks our souls, completes our joy, bedrocks our worship, unleashes our hearts, and takes all its targets to better levels. Praise is so powerful. Champion it. Apply liberally. Never run out.

Don’t be like the man who told his wife when he married her that she was fantastic and that he loved her dearly and then never really expressed it again.

Decades later, when his wife finally inquired as to why he never spoke another word on this subject, the husband simply replied, “Honey, I told you I loved you when we married and I’ll let you know when I change my mind.”

Indeed, we all love to receive praise — acknowledgment from others for work well done, second-mile service, selfless sacrifice, attitude and effort excellence, outstanding performance and skill. When delivered sincerely, it lands so well. It’s hard to feel like you could ever get too much.

But when you don’t receive it, you feel emotionally starved, underappreciated, alone. Praise sure is powerful.

The LORD feels the same way. And He’s preeminently worthy of it. That’s why Psalm 135 was written, as a prompt for people to let loose and liberally, categorically, sincerely praise God. Eleven times in this chapter the call goes out to praise Him.

So let’s give God the honor due His name. Continually. Let’s be champions of praise.

And one more thing … Why not be great at praising others too? Become an expert at catching people doing things right. Highlight the good, not just the bad. Commend, affirm, encourage.

Treat others like you would love to be treated. Creating a praise culture like this lifts everything.

Reflect: How liberal are you with the praise you dispense? As liberal as with the praise you seek to receive? How much praise from your lips is being regularly expressed to God, to others? Becoming an expert at catching others doing things right and letting them know?

A prayer to consider: LORD, I exist to the praise of Your glory. What honor! May my life and lips ever praise You. Help me to lavish it on others too, pushing my praise both up and out passionately. This is powerful living.

Championing praise, just like Jesus, is my heart’s desire. Grant it for my good and Your great glory! Amen.