Because of sin, each of us tends to live a self-centered life, devoted to the cares of this world. Blinded by our own affairs, we fail to see the goodness of God manifested in our daily lives. “Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron” (Psalm 107:8–10).

One of the many reasons we have to praise the great God of heaven is because we are wonderfully made and because we were made to be a praise to our Maker. But we must understand the kind of praise that is acceptable to God. The psalmist said: “I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee” (Psalm 138:1).

What does it mean to praise God with the whole heart? The concept of “praise” is the act of expressing admiration. It is the offering of grateful homage in words or song, as in the act of worship. It is the life that is lived as a manifestation of our gratitude to our Creator and Redeemer. To praise with the whole heart means much more than a simple expression or exaltation of God—it means to have a personal knowledge of the God of heaven and to marvel at His infinite greatness. The better our understanding of the greatness of God, the more faithful we will be to praise the Lord Jehovah. We are counseled to educate ourselves to offer praises to our Maker as long as we live.

There are many reasons to praise the God of heaven. Let us “Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness” (Psalm 150:2).

Our praise toward God ought to be proportionate to His excellent greatness toward us. Therefore it is very important to seek a clear perception of the greatness of God. Among those who have been privileged to behold directly God’s glory, there has been a deep sense of reverence and humility.

The prophet Isaiah saw the Most High and attempted to describe this wonderful experience. He wrote, “In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts” (Isaiah 6:1–5).

God created the human race in His own image and endowed it with all the necessary capabilities to offer acceptable praise to His majesty. God has also given us the intelligence to make devices to be used as instruments of praise: “And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with instruments of musick of the Lord, which David the king had made to praise the Lord, because his mercy endureth for ever, when David praised by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood” (2 Chronicles 7:6).

Beside musical instruments, we have been given the most personal way of expressing praise: “The human voice that sings the music of God from a heart filled with gratitude and thanksgiving is far more pleasing to Him than the melody of all the musical instruments ever invented by human hands.”1

When the children of Israel gathered themselves for God’s worship, they were accompanied by many voices in chorus. “Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the Lord with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped” (2 Chronicles 29:30).

“Let the voices of the followers of Christ be so trained that instead of crowding words together in a thick, indistinct way, their utterance may be clear, forcible, and edifying. Do not let the voice fall after each word, but keep it up so that each sentence will be full and complete. Will it be worth disciplining yourself, if by so doing you are able to add interest to the service of God and to edify His children? The voice of thanksgiving, praise, and rejoicing is heard in heaven. The voices of the angels in heaven unite with the voices of the children of God on earth as they ascribe honor and glory and praise to God and to the Lamb for the great salvation provided.”2

On the occasion of the dedication of the temple built by Solomon, the glory of the God of heaven was seen in approval of the great edifice built by His people with the skills given by God Himself. At the great day of its dedication, a mighty manifestation of God was seen: “And the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord’s house. And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the Lord upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever” (2 Chronicles 7:2, 3).

In ancient times, the children of Israel were instructed to praise the God of heaven in true worship. After the many victories that the children of Israel were able to achieve against their enemies, it was their privilege and duty to offer thanksgiving services and hymns of praise. Every living creature should imitate that same practice.

Every day there are many reasons to offer thanksgiving to our Maker; each breath of life is a victory. The human heart beats constantly because God gives vitality to every living being.

During the time when the people of Judah were under the leadership of king Jehoshaphat and they were attacked by a coalition of their surrounding enemies, the Lord granted a mighty victory to His people as they expressed their praise: “And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth for ever. And when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten. For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, every one helped to destroy another. And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped” (2 Chronicles 20:21–24).

Part of the reformatory work of Nehemiah was to restore to the leadership of Judah those who would lead in expressing gratitude to God.

“And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions of the law for the priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited. And both the singers and the porters kept the ward of their God, and the ward of the purification, according to the commandment of David, and of Solomon his son. For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God” (Nehemiah 12:44–46).

“ ‘Whoso offereth praise,’ says the Creator, ‘glorifieth Me.’ Psalm 50:23. All the inhabitants of heaven unite in praising God. Let us learn the song of the angels now, that we may sing it when we join their shining ranks. Let us say with the psalmist, ‘While I live will I praise the Lord: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.’ ‘Let the people praise Thee, O God; let all the people praise Thee.’ Psalm 146:2; 67:5.”3

It was God’s plan that every created being be an instrument of praise. He has given us sufficient reasons to fulfill His desire—and even nature does not withhold its praise. The psalmist says: “Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord” (Psalm 150:6). When we realize that all the angelic host find their joy in expressing their words and songs of praise to their Creator, how much more should simple, sinful fallen humans make every effort to offer acceptable praise!

Natures itself rejoices and praises the Creator. “Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise him in the heights. Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts. Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light. Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the Lord: for he commanded, and they were created” (Psalm 148:1–5).

A deep recognition of the Majesty of heaven, the clear realization of His mighty creation, will inspire all humanity with the deepest gratitude toward the Creator because “the heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s: but the earth hath He given to the children of men. The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence. But we will bless the Lord from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the Lord” (Psalm 115:16–18).

The most acceptable praise that we can give to God is the fulfillment in our life of the great object for which we were created. To accept His plan of redemption is an expression of gratitude. The great center of adoration in heaven, Jesus Christ, left His glory in heaven to come to this sinful world to give His life as a ransom for our sin and make of every son and daughter of Adam a praise to His name. By His unfailing love and forgiving power, we can become a glory to His name. “And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me. And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it” (Jeremiah 33:8, 9).

“The religious services, the prayers, the praise, the penitent confession of sin ascend from true believers as incense to the heavenly sanctuary; but passing through the corrupt channels of humanity, they are so defiled that unless purified by blood, they can never be of value with God. They ascend not in spotless purity, and unless the Intercessor who is at God’s right hand presents and purifies all by His righteousness, it is not acceptable to God. All incense from earthly tabernacles must be moist with the cleansing drops of the blood of Christ. He holds before the Father the censer of His own merits, in which there is no taint of earthly corruption. He gathers into this censer the prayers, the praise, and the confessions of His people, and with these He puts His own spotless righteousness. Then, perfumed with the merits of Christ’s propitiation, the incense comes up before God wholly and entirely acceptable. Then gracious answers are returned.”4

“Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands: Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious. Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee. All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah. Come and see the works of God: he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men” (Psalm 66:1–5).

A gift is not a gift unless the person to whom it is given accepts it. Nobody wants to offer something that may be rejected. The most wonderful gift we can give to God is our own heart. The heart must be subdued by the love of Jesus, humbled by His amazing grace. Unless the heart is renewed by the conversion of a new birth and we possess the fruits of the Spirit, our offering will not be accepted. In order for the offering of praise to be accepted by God, it must come from a heart like that of a little child. “And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?” (Matthew 21:16).

“ ‘Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory, for Thy mercy, and for Thy truth’s sake’ (Psalm 115:1). Such was the spirit that pervaded Israel’s song of deliverance, and it is the spirit that should dwell in the hearts of all who love and fear God. In freeing out souls from the bondage of sin, God has wrought for us a deliverance greater than that of the Hebrews at the Red Sea. Like the Hebrew host, we should praise the Lord with heart and soul and voice for His ‘wonderful works to the children of men.’ Those who dwell upon God’s great mercies, and are not unmindful of His lesser gifts, will put on the girdle of gladness and make melody in their hearts to the Lord. The daily blessings that we receive from the hand of God, and above all else the death of Jesus to bring happiness and heaven within our reach, should be a theme for constant gratitude. What compassion, what matchless love, has God shown to us, lost sinners, in connecting us with Himself, to be to Him a peculiar treasure! What a sacrifice has been made by our Redeemer, that we may be called children of God! We should praise God for the blessed hope held out before us in the great plan of redemption, we should praise Him for the heavenly inheritance and for His rich promises; praise Him that Jesus lives to intercede for us.”5